Hi Warren,

> Is the general idea in MoI "large sweeping actions" rather than "small, cumulative actions"?

It kind of depends on the particular circumstance. But it can make things easier for filleting if you have larger pieces because a single large non-segmented curve or large surface piece will be all smooth inside of it. So that can tend to avoid ending up with things meeting up at some slight shallow angle.

Slight shallow angles between pieces will tend to cause problems with filleting.

- Michael

" ... I tend to create my extrusion shapes by boolean'ing together a series of 2D shapes first"

I've had good luck building smooth 2D profile closed curves by drawing the critical segments first, then use Blends to bridge the gaps. That is, use Blend to create the radius transitions to complete the closed curve.

This has given me no problems when it comes time to extrude and fillet the resulting solid.

Perhaps Michael can chime in and explain if a Blend on two line segments will always be tangent where they join.

I may be drawing curves in a more complex way than necessary, but I find Blend works well for 2D drawings.

Click image to enlarge.

Ed

A great way of creating tangent relationships.

HI ed,

> Perhaps Michael can chime in and explain if a Blend on two line segments
> will always be tangent where they join.

Yup, a blend between 2 line segments will be tangent to each line segment.

- Michael

Does this the same in the 3D Space when curves are and come from anywhere orientation ?
I suppose yes but ...

Hi Pilou,

> Does this the same in the 3D Space when curves are and come from anywhere orientation ?

Yes, the blend will still be tangent to each curve even if the curves are not in the same plane.

The blend part itself will not be flat in cases like that, it will bank around to meet up with the curves.

- Michael

Thx now I am sure! :)

Nice! That's really helpful, thanks for the Blend tip.