How to use the extrude and weave tool in Aspire in Vectric software | Modeling Tools

Overview

This video demonstrates how to use the Extrude and Weave Tool in Vectric Aspire to create 3D components by sweeping a vector cross-section or 3D component along one or more vector drive rails. It covers basic extrudes, multiple cross-sections, span matching, rail editing options, closed shapes, and component-based extrusions with overlap.

Steps

Open an existing example file: File → Close, then File → Open Existing File from the project folder. Select the extrude example.
Tile the windows to see both 2D and 3D views.
Go to the Design tab, under Modeling Tools, click the Extrude and Weave Tool icon.
Specify a Drive Rail:
- Select a vector in the 2D view.
- Click Use Selection.
- Confirm the start point (green node) and direction arrows.
Specify a Cross Section:
- Select a vector cross-section.
- Optionally set a Combined Mode and Name.
- Click Apply to create the extruded component.
Review the result in the 3D view. The component is no longer associated with the original vector after creation.
To delete a component, right-click it in the Levels panel and select delete.
To use multiple cross-sections:
- Select the drive rail and click Use Selection.
- Click each cross-section and assign it to a position on the rail using the start/end point markers or by clicking a node.
- Use Sweep Between Spans to blend from node to node, or turn it off for a linear blend between cross-sections.
To edit a cross-section’s contribution:
- Right-click the node on the drive rail to Un-smooth, Smooth, Delete, or move the cross-section.
- After making changes, click Apply to update the component.
To control height independently of the rail vector:
- Enable Scale to Exact Height and enter a value (e.g., 1 inch).
- Disable it to return to the natural height of the cross-section vector.
For closed-shape rails:
- Select the closed vector and click Use Selection.
- Enable Create Square Corners to produce sharp external corners instead of rounded sweeps.
To start a new component while keeping the tool open, click Start New Component.
To reverse the sweep orientation, use the Reverse Rail option on the rail.
To extrude a 3D component along a rail:
- Select the rail and click Use Selection.
- Choose Component as the source.
- Select the component from the dropdown (e.g., a grape leaf).
- Set Overlap percentage:
  - 0% = components sit end-to-end with a gap/clear transition.
  - Higher values = overlapping placement as the component follows the rail.
- Click Apply.
To explore weaving, open the weave example from the project folder and return to the Extrude and Weave Tool to begin weaving vectors using a vector cross-section.

Key Points / Warnings

The extrude tool requires at least one drive rail and either a vector cross-section or 3D component.
After applying, the resulting component is not linked to the original vector.
Sweep Between Spans requires all cross-sections to have the exact same number of spans.
If the software displays span counts on the cross-sections, it means the counts are unequal and the sweep cannot be created until they match.
You can add spans by node-editing a vector: press N, then insert a new point.
Use Un-smooth on a rail node to create a crease in the sweep; use Smooth to return to a smooth transition.
Cross-sections can be reordered, moved, or deleted using the right-click menu on the rail markers.
Scale to Exact Height overrides the natural height of the extruded shape.
Create Square Corners is useful for closed rails with corners; disable it for rounded sweeps.
When using a component as the cross-section, the Overlap percentage controls how much each repeated component overlaps the next.
The transcript ends just as the weave example is being opened, so the remaining weave-specific settings are covered in a separate video/documentation section.