# Lofting cross sections that share an edge

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [December 25, 2023, 5:10am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544 "2023-12-25T05:10:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sirogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@Sirogi](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sirogi)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 5:10am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544/1 "2023-12-25T05:10:38Z")

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![IMG_0719](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/c/4/c48379c90d3bd79f766da73cc2de2b7d44b1fdd6.jpeg)

Lofting is disabled for the cross sections in the ave image. What are the alternatives?

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 6:24am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544/2 "2023-12-25T06:24:48Z")

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**Loft** works provided each sketched arc have their own edge. The edges can be located so that they overlap each other- occupying the same space.

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**Author:** ![Sirogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@Sirogi](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sirogi)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544/3 "2023-12-25T17:55:45Z")

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Thank you for testing! Went back and rebuilt my curves from scratch, just in case… still refused to give me the loft tool as an option (I’m on iPad, if it helps) spaced the profiles in z slightly, and sure enough it works. Am using a fitted spline if it makes a difference, slightly scaled down with every copy.,

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**Author:** ![Sirogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@Sirogi](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sirogi)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544/4 "2023-12-26T01:41:26Z")

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![IMG_0720](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/8/a/8a57da5b3c8508dd80893f423f14ee32a2b6b06e.jpeg)

Tried a different approach, creating the cross sections, then providing 2 guide curves so it lofts to a point. Also wouldn’t work. Have successfully used this approach in many other packages, assumed it would be standard… maybe a more advanced request, but a “macro” that would throw in a plane and make a curve out of the intersected ribs would have cut the tedium down 🙂

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 3:59am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544/5 "2023-12-26T03:59:48Z")

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You cannot loft to a point. You’ll need to loft the ends separately.

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**Author:** ![Sirogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@Sirogi](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sirogi)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 8:05am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544/6 "2023-12-26T08:05:18Z")

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Awesome video as ever… worth a lengthy explanation! And a great solve.  
Just curious what is the limitation of lofting to a point? Is it generating an invalid solid? I recall rhino being able to birail loft to a point, is it because it deals with surfaces?

I’ll try again when am on my mac. For whatever reason, its not giving me the loft tool, if i pick 2 shapes with coinciding edges. But your video is the proof its doable, thanks again!

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**Author:** ![Sirogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@Sirogi](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Sirogi)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 9:09am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/lofting-cross-sections-that-share-an-edge/29544/8 "2023-12-29T09:09:17Z")

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Just for posterity. it was user error.  
Expected to select all the profiles ahead of time and hit loft (shouldn’t that work, btw?).

Instead, looking closer at the video by TigerMike… you enter the tool first. then select profiles once the loft tool is active.

it’s the little things. Thanks again!