Freeform tube

[Michelvh]

I'm trying to draw something like the attached picture but I spent hours on this and have no real control over it's path.

How SHOULD I draw this?

MNP.4 tube.pdf

[Pat Stanford]

I am assuming you used Extrude Along Path.

 

Start and draw a NURBS curve with as few vertices as possible. Work in standard rectilinear view (i.e. Top, Front, Right, Left, Back). Use the settings of the Reshape tool to make sure you only move the NURBS control points in the direction you want them to go. Once you get the curve smooth and following the path you want, use that as the path object for Extrude Along Path.

[AlanW]

@MichelvhHi, what i tend to do is draw a polyline in plan view and round off the corners then convert to nurbs then adjust the vertexs in the x,y or z mode to have them move in the correct orientation. HTH, if not i can run a short video.

Untitled1.vwx

[Michelvh]

Thanks for your help. 

I'll give this a try as soon as I can get back around to that project.