Unable to sweep object along a path

[james.126519]

I am creating a set of assembly drawings for a commercial window system. I am trying to figure out a way to represent a bead of silicone sealant along the joint of two assembled parts. for some reason i can not sweep the path of the joint.

I have attached a drawing with the three parts assembled, and a green polyline depicting the path i want to sweep across. also there is a simple 2 objects put together with the silicone swept at the joint for an example of what i am trying to accomplish.

If anyone could take a look and maybe suggest another method? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[jaberwok]

(without looking) have you tried Extrude along a polyline path?

[james.126519]

yes i did try that also. i think the path I am trying to sweep along is too complex...

does anyone know at what point does the geometry say "nope, cant sweep that"?

(without looking) have you tried Extrude along a polyline path?

[mmccarter]

Without looking also, one alternative for this type of thing is to manually copy and make a few cross sections at relavent points along the path at the correct rotation and use these to LOFT to try and create the solid this way.

I too have had to create solids along paths which seemed to confuse AutoCAD and ended up creating them in another program (the excellent Rhino).

[danzashishimai]

I have not understood what profile you want to use.

The path is very complex!You have 2 possibilities:
1. To use a smaller profile;
2. To divide the path in parts and to make sweep more times.

[CStigler]

A single sweep along this path would create multiple self-intersections, no can do. You'll need to perform multiple sweeps. It's ok for individual sweeps to overlap each other, you just can't do that in a single operation. Once you do the multiple sweeps you can union them all together.