Curve / Bevel Object.

Support Modeling
1

I’m confused with this property, it would suggest to me (a bear of very little brain) that I should be able to supply an object already created and have a curve take on that shape. But this property only accepts a curve.

I’m trying to make a ribbed pipe. I’ve watched a couple of youtubes which seem to do things the other way around. Create the profiled length of pipe as a mesh then add a curve modifier.

Can this process be done the other way around? To give a curve a profile? Or do I have a load more modelling to do?

Thanks.

2

The bevel object basically gives the curve a cross section profile.
https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/modeling/curves/properties/geometry.html#bevel

Bevel Object
The Bevel Object controls the cross section of the extruded curve. The Bevel Object can only be another curve both 2D or 3D, and opened or closed. Editing the handles and control points of the Bevel Object will cause the original Object to change shape.

If you want to make a ribbed pipe then use a combination of array and curve modifiers unless the ribs go along the pipe not across it

Can this process be done the other way around? To give a curve a profile? Or do I have a load more modelling to do?
You could use the screw modifier using the object as the pipe profile https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/modeling/modifiers/generate/screw.html