Helix Spline
 
 
 
Command entry: Create panel (Shapes) Splines Object Type rollout Helix
Command entry:Create menu Shapes Helix

Use Helix to create open flat or 3D helices or spirals.

Examples of helixes

Procedures

To create a helix:

  1. Go to the Create panel and turn on (Shapes).
  2. Click Helix.
  3. Choose a creation method.
  4. Press the mouse button to define the first point of the Helix start circle.
  5. Drag and release the mouse button to define the second point of the Helix start circle.
  6. Move the mouse and then click to define the height of the Helix.
  7. Move the mouse and then click to define the radius of the Helix end.

Interface

Rendering rollout

All spline-based shapes share these parameters. See Splines for explanations of these parameters.

Interpolation

The helix differs from other spline-based shapes in that it always uses adaptive interpolation: the number of vertices in a helix is determined by the number of turns.

Creation Method rollout

The Helix shape uses the standard creation methods of Center or Edge. Most spline-based shapes share the same Creation Method parameters. See Splines for an explanation of these parameters.

Parameters rollout

Once you have created a helix, you can make changes using the following parameters:

Radius 1

Specifies the radius for the Helix start.

Radius 2

Specifies the radius for the Helix end.

Height

Specifies the height of the Helix.

Turns

Specifies the number of turns the Helix makes between its start and end points.

Bias

Forces the turns to accumulate at one end of the helix. Bias has no visible affect when the height is 0.0.

Helical spline varied only by bias settings

  • A bias of –1.0 forces the turns toward the start of the helix.
  • A bias of 0.0 evenly distributes the turns between the ends.
  • A bias of 1.0 forces the turns toward the end of the helix.
CW/CCW

The direction buttons set whether the Helix turns clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW).