Fusion 360's Sweep command has a "Twist" option. The Twist option rotates the Profile as it travels along the Path. Using the Twist option can create useful shapes that would be difficult to create with any other tool. It can also create odd but interesting shapes that are great for decorative flourishes.
Although these shapes have few applications in basic mechanical design, they are seen frequently in ornate architectural columns and facades.
Fusion 360's Sweep with Twist command can produce amazing and complex shapes like spiral columns, springs and coils with just a few clicks. However, understanding where to place the path and profiles to get the desired effect takes some understanding as well as a bit of practice.
You can radically change the result of the Sweep/Twist command just by changing the location of the Path in relation to the profile. A slight change in the location of the path can dramatically alter the result and produce effects like a double twist or springy coil. When the path is more complex than a simple straight line, the results can be very dramatic.
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| A collection of possible shapes using the same profile and path. Only the location of the path changes between each example. |
The shape of the profile can also change the result. For instance, twisting a circle along a centered path does not produce any noticeable twist. But when the path is set at the edge of the circle, the result is a spiraling column.
