Description

The Revolve command requires a selection of database curves or boundaries. This command then creates new database surfaces of revolution (one for each selected curve or boundary) about an axis selected within the command. Database boundaries (u-min, u-max, v-min and v-max curves) are also created and are considered child entities to the surface of revolution.

Revolve
Use the Revolve command to create database surfaces of revolution.

The Currently Defining frame includes a set of radio buttons that allow you to control what you can currently select or define. Upon entering the Revolve command, Axis is toggled, allowing you to define the axis for the revolution. Toggle Generatrix to instead select a new curve or curves to revolve. The Revolve command automatically overrides the Mask so that only database curves or boundaries can be picked. Note that neither the curves to be revolved nor the axis have to be linear. Upon selecting the axis, the pending database surfaces of revolution are rendered in yellow in the Display window.

Use the Angle text field to specify the number of degrees for the surface to be revolved around the axis. This angle has a valid range of (0.0, 360.0] and defaults to 360.0 degrees. Note that negative values can be specified to reverse the revolution direction.

The Axis Selection frame provides three methods for defining the axis:

  • Curve: Select a database curve or boundary to use as the axis of revolution. If the selected curve is not linear, the endpoints are used to define the axis of revolution. Curve is the default option.
  • 2 Points: Select two points either in the Display window or by entering them directly using the XYZ text field.
  • Point and Direction: Select a point and a direction to define the axis of revolution. The point can be selected either in the Display window or directly entered into the XYZ text field. Specify a primary axis for the direction using the X, Y, or Z radio buttons or specify a non-primary axis by entering a vector into the Vector text field.

Use Delete Last Point to delete the most recently selected or entered point when using either the 2 Points or Point and Direction axis specification options. Use Clear Axis to clear the currently defined axis and start the axis specification process over from the beginning.

 

Tip: If you are unable to create a revolved surface from your selected generatrix and axis, you may need to adjust your fit tolerance to make it slightly larger. This reduces how stringently local discontinuities in your curves are treated.

Tolerance Frame
Adjust the Fit Tolerance in situations where the default tolerance does not preview a pending surface of revolution.

Use the Tolerance frame to adjust the Fit Tolerance used by the Revolve command for those cases where the default tolerance does not produce a pending surface of revolution. Uncheck the Use Default checkbox then enter a new tolerance value into the Fit Tolerance text field.

Demonstration