Lofting circle to smaller oval using arc profile?

SketchUp Pro
1

I can envision the shape I want, but I cannot figure out how the get it. The shape is a circle that lofts to a smaller oval using an arc profile.

I’m familiar with Follow Me. I can get it to create the arc profile shape following around the circle path. I can also get it to create the arc profile shape following around the oval path. What it won’t do, and I fully accept that it is not designed to do it, is follow both circle and oval paths with the two ends of the arc profile shape at the same time.

I’ve also tried Extrusion Tools and Curviloft, but I couldn’t get either of them to generate the shape I’m after. I’m not saying they can’t, just that I couldn’t figure out how to use those extension to get to my desired shape.

I’ve uploaded an example SKP file that has the circle path, the oval path, and the arc profile shape all lined up to use with Follow Me. The file also contains the two Follow Me shapes I can get, as well as some notes that should help understand and visualize the shape I’m after. Think “round knob that tapers down to a smaller oval shaped grip area” that also indicates a rotational index for the knob’s position.

Note that the sizes of things in the example are not important at this time. Also, the sizes should be more that large enough not to be running into SU’s small geometry limitations.

I’d really appreciate any advice from the SU sage community on how they might generate my desired shape.

Thanks in advance.

Circle to Oval Extrude.skp (638.1 KB)

2

By welding the longitudinal edges you can then scale the oval.
I have exploded the curve to make those edges hard and easily selectable.
GIF 8-01-2026 1-40-59 PM

3

And here it is using Quad Face Tools to select those edges while still smooth.
GIF 8-01-2026 2-17-29 PM

4

Another option using Tig’s Extrusion Tools.
GIF 8-01-2026 2-55-18 PM

5

Thanks Box!

I was able to reproduce your actions in my original file.

‘Course, I generally go out of my way to keep a circle a circle, and not let it get blown apart into curve segments. Exploding the curve, doing the Follow Me, reselecting all of the follow me generated geometry, and welding it back together in preparation for the final Scale of the upper circle/curve would have never occurred to me to “squish” the top circle back into the oval shape.

Well done and thanks again!

6

If you use the polygon tool they will be hard edges without exploding the curve.