I'm wondering if there's a way to predict the orientation of a sweep profile.

Let's say I want to make this shape. It's just a simple revolve object with a swept profile cut out of it:



My issue is that when I create the sweep, I'm not sure how to orient the profile. This is a simple V shape swept along a curve. Here's the state just before creating the sweep. How do I know which way to orient the profile? It turns out the top V is the right one in this case, but it was a matter of trial and error. Is that just how it goes? Try, undo, repeat? Or is there a way to predict up front how to orient the profile curve?

Hi LM, it will be predictable when the sweep path is planar and the profile is on that same plane:





But in your case there with a non-planar path curve it will be hard to predict. So in that case it's better not to use "auto place" mode where you put the profiles off to the side of the path. Instead move the profile directly on the path curve and then it will use it from that position:





I do want to add in some controls in the future for controlling "auto place" mode better, probably something like a direction line showing on the profile and a matching direction line on the path that you could modify.

- Michael

Aha! Place it directly on the path: simple and effective. Thank you!