# Connect 2 cylinders by loft

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [December 21, 2025, 8:52am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013 "2025-12-21T08:52:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nespresso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Nespresso](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Nespresso)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 8:52am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/1 "2025-12-21T08:52:36Z")

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Hello,

I want to create an air duct to connect an older table saw with my new vacuum.

I designed first the connecting rings to print and validate diameters. This is done. Now I would like to connect them by loft.

Could you help me how this works? So far I found desciritions for plane areas only.

Thanks, Frank

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/8/7/87ca7aa4a3153ce3c7ceace99d544a2913426d04.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![JST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@JST](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/JST)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 10:54am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/2 "2025-12-21T10:54:54Z")

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“Loft” only works with closed sketches, in your case these must be circles, not rings. If you make two cylinders, select the opposite surfaces and loft will work. Then use the “shell” command.

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/3 "2025-12-21T13:28:42Z")

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[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/7/77d3c5f46bbfdefda87f31baceb9b7e0a23447f9.jpeg "Loft alternative with tubes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwSD2YkkmjM)

* * *

I intentionally made the pipes not only with different diameters, but also with different wall thicknesses. With this configuration, Loft + Shell won’t give the desired result. This approach, however, allows you to model almost any shape.

For example:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/5/a58ab47823c2d34084be97d8120a30221b361542.jpeg)  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/8/38b44317ca88f555fede897d22b0b10db091ca5b.jpeg)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/8/9/89a5e3470455ddd06285666ad505ae8a3b8d66e8.jpeg)  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/e/7e2acdf2323523c89ec70a615cab34ac3bf2cc0c.jpeg)

![demo](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/d/3/d3cffc3b207860e0e74b4ec22e7456a0a4c2480f.gif)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nespresso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Nespresso](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Nespresso)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/4 "2025-12-21T21:45:59Z")

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Thanks very much @Xdrakosha !!!

Great manual, it worked very well.

Cheers!

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**Author:** ![Nespresso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Nespresso](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Nespresso)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2025, 8:58am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/5 "2025-12-29T08:58:22Z")

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Hi there,

I would like to ask another question. Revolve works fine, I upgraded my models and it is a great tool.

Now I added another Tube from the side and there I have the following issue. The connected cylinder has at some point barely contact, on the other side overlapping too much.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/5/8/589d41e40725ee7fd8e5beced55955080eaa0549.jpeg)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/f/3f83812a2348257f926bce5ce7eadbb65ad5324c.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/6 "2025-12-29T10:16:17Z")

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> [@Nespresso](#):
>
> The connected cylinder has at some point barely contact, on the other side overlapping too much.

Use “Replace face” tool. Or if that was an extrusion you can “Extent to object” it:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/b/3b82f0a40707948ecfccc1df9b5111dd28eb8435.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nespresso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Nespresso](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Nespresso)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/7 "2025-12-29T10:59:01Z")

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Thanks. That worked.

To generate the hole for the connecting tube, I added a construction axis, a construction plane and did a circular with same inside diameter which I then extruded through the wall of the main cylinder.

Would there be a better way to do this?

But result is fine for me, it saves a lot support in my printer.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/2/72c140f513cb91886b11299cb66ea1df838d0965.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2025, 1:13pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/8 "2025-12-29T13:13:13Z")

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> [@Nespresso](#):
>
> To generate the hole for the connecting tube, I added a construction axis, a construction plane and did a circular with same inside diameter which I then extruded through the wall of the main cylinder.

More or less, that’s how it’s usually done. But if you already have the sketch for the tube, you can use it right away without adding additional axes or planes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nespresso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Nespresso](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Nespresso)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 10:01am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/connect-2-cylinders-by-loft/40013/9 "2025-12-30T10:01:01Z")

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Thanks again!