extrude along path offset

[mmyoung]

Having the ability to select the point from which a profile is extruded (rather than always extruding from the center) would give us the opportunity to but a "bead" around solid objects by extruding along a contour, very very useful.

This would add one step to the extrude procedure, so maybe it would be an option. You would select the profile(s) and the path, then choose the point from which the extrude would originate.

Edited October 23, 2008 by mmyoung

[Pat Stanford]

You already have this ability with an extra step.

After you do the extrude, double click it and edit the Profile. You will see that the "geometric" center of the profile is at the 0,0 point. Move the object so the point you want to run along the profile is at the 0,0 point and exit the editing mode.

Pat

[billtheia]

We can do lots of things via workaround in VW. It would be nice to be able to do some of them WITHOUT the workaround.

I too would like to have control over the "handle" in an extrude along path as part of the initial operation rather than as an extra editing step.

[AndiACD]

Hi Pat,

i'm afraid i have to agree with Michael and Bill here, and in the VW i use, "Extrude along a Path" is a real nightmare and rarely follows the path as expected, no matter how you try to edit it. And last i saw, hadn't improved much in recent editions.

[Gytis]

I dunno....I think I have to agree with Pat here. For me, Extrude Along Path works consistently and as expected, with the one sore point of having the profile center being the default for the path. Though it IS an added step, the level of control relative to 0,0 and profile elements is excellent, IMHO.

Snap Loupe and improved cursor in 2009 has made it even better.

[AndiACD]

Gytis, That's good to hear. If it has now come of age, i will be impressed when i get to try it out.

You should see some of the monstrosities that came out of my attempts to use it. Any adjustment of the profile location gave, lets say, unusual results.

[mmyoung]

Thanks Pat! That's working out really nicely for us.

The way we control the tilting and banking of an extrude, in order to extrude a fancy profile into a railing or trim, is to make a loft of many carefully placed profiles. Wouldn't it be good if you could specify that the profile maintained its orientation, so for example the "top" of the profile would remain normal to the Z axis, or something like that. Would save hours.