How does Extrude and Weave work in Aspire, and how do I fix common problems with direction, cross-sections, and the weave effect?

Overview

Extrude and Weave sweeps a profile along one or more drive rail vectors. Unlike Two Rail Sweep (which uses two rails to define width), Extrude and Weave uses one or more drive rails as the path, and the cross-section defines the full profile shape. It can extrude either vector cross-sections or a 3D component along the rails. The Weave option additionally raises and lowers the extruded shape at crossings of the drive rail vectors to create interwoven Celtic-style or basket weave patterns.

Inputs

Drive Rails: one or more open or closed vectors that the shape follows. Hold Shift while clicking to select more than one. For weave effects, two interlocking or crossing vectors are typically used.

Cross-Sections: open vector(s) representing the profile of the extruded shape. They must be open vectors. Alternatively choose Use a Component and extrude a 3D component instead (see below).

Workflow

1. Draw the drive rail vector(s)
2. Draw the cross-section profile vector (an open vector)
3. Open Extrude and Weave from the Modeling tab
4. Select the drive rail vector(s) and click Use Selection

• Rails turn orange with a green start node and directional arrows

5. Select the cross-section vector and click the rail to attach it (a check mark shows a valid place to attach it). Two cross-sections are always created when you attach the first one, one at the start and one at the end
6. Click Apply to preview
7. Enable the Weave under/over at crossings checkbox if you want the interlocking weave effect

The Clear Rails button empties the current selection and deletes the current shape.

Options That Shape the Result

• Multiple cross-sections (blending): select a different open vector and click further along the rail to add another cross-section. The shape blends from one cross-section to the next across that span. The same cross-section vector can be used at several positions, and a colored node on each cross-section preview shows which direction it is hung across the curve. To put the same cross-section at every node of a rail (for example a rectangular border), right-click it and choose Add To All Rail Nodes.
• Removing cross-sections: right-click a cross-section and choose Delete Cross Section, or right-click a part of the curve with no cross-section for Remove All Cross Sections. If you remove the start or end cross-section without replacing it, the shape starts or stops at that cross-section and does not reach the end of the line.
• Create sharp corners: when ticked, the tool makes a sharp corner where the drive rail has discontinuities (such as the corners of a rectangle). When unticked, the shape rounds around them. Use it for geometric frames and panels.
• Sweep between spans: active only when the cross-sections have the same number of spans and nodes. The shape then flows from a span or node in one cross-section to the same one in the next.
• Smooth: by default the shape flows smoothly through each cross-section. Right-click a cross-section and untick Smooth to go straight from cross-section to cross-section. The middle node of the cross-section preview is blue when smooth and white when not.
• Scale to Exact Height: scales the calculated shape so its maximum height equals the value you enter.
• Weave: raises and lowers the shape at crossings using Z Under and Z Over percentages with either Scale Shape or Add Base. For the full detail and rope or basket weave workflows, see the entry on the Weave option.

Common Problems and Fixes (quick list)

For the complete troubleshooting checklist, see the entry on why an Extrude and Weave result is wrong.

Problem: Shape extruding in the wrong direction

Cause: the rail direction arrows are going the wrong way.

Fix: right-click the drive rail vector and choose Reverse Rail. The arrows flip and the shape extrudes the other way. On a closed rail you can also right-click a node and choose Make Start Point, or right-click the vector and choose Insert Start Point.

Problem: Cross-section is flipping or mirroring unexpectedly

Cause: the colored indicator node is on the wrong end of the cross-section, so the profile hangs the wrong way across the rail.

Fix: mirror the cross-section vector in the 2D view (or re-attach it by clicking from its other end) and Apply again.

Problem: Cross-section vector not accepted

Cause: the cross-section vector is a closed vector (loop). Only open vectors work as cross-sections.

Fix: break the closed vector at one node in Node Edit mode (right-click a node and cut the vector) so it becomes an open vector.

Problem: Profile looks stretched or squashed at bends

Cause: the cross-section is mapped proportionally along the rail by default, which can stretch the shape on tight curves or corners.

Fix: add cross-sections at corner and transition nodes with Add To All Rail Nodes (right-click the first cross-section). For sharp corners where the rail has discontinuities, also tick Create sharp corners.

Problem: Weave effect not appearing, or going under/over in the wrong order

Cause: the weave only happens where drive rails actually cross each other, and the first selected drive rail determines which strand goes on top.

Fix: make sure your drive rail vectors genuinely cross over each other. To swap which strand is raised, right-click the first drive rail you selected and choose Reverse Rail.

Using a 3D Component Instead of a Cross-Section

Select Use a Component in the Cross Sections / Sweep Interior section of the form, select the component from the dropdown list (you cannot pick it from the views or the Component Tree), then choose Stretch to drive rail length or Fill with multiple copies. The component's X direction controls how it flows along the rail. This works well for rope borders, vine stems, scallop borders and any complex profile that is easier to build as a component. For orientation, overlap, flipping and tilt, see the entry on using a 3D component as the cross-section.

Editing Vectors Without Losing Selection

If you need to edit a rail or cross-section vector mid-workflow:

1. Click in the blank 2D view area to focus it
2. Press N for Node Edit mode or T for Transform mode
3. The rails deselect and the Use Selection button changes to Reselect Rails
4. Edit the vector
5. Click Reselect Rails. All vectors are re-selected in the same order as before

Weave Pattern Toolpath

Once you have created a weave component, machine it with 3D Roughing (if needed) and 3D Finishing toolpaths. The weave is a 3D component, not a 2D vector, so you cannot use 2D Profile or V-Carve toolpaths directly on it. Use a vector boundary (Create Vector Boundary from the component) to limit the 3D finish pass to just the weave area.