Surfaces > Revolve

Creates a surface by sweeping a curve around an axis, creating an effect similar to that of a lathe.

Revolve Control

Periodic: Turn on this option to obtain a periodic surface (in the V direction), that is a closed full-revolution (360 degrees) surface.
Sweep Angle: The angle of revolution (in the current angular units). After creating the surface, you can also change this angle by using the manipulator handles.

This option only appears if Periodic is turned off.
Segments: Lets you specify the number of individual surfaces that will form the revolution. The surfaces each have the same sweep angle, are grouped, and curvature continuous with each other.

This option only appears if Periodic is turned off.
Degree: The degree in the V direction of the new surface, from 1 to 7, with 5 being the default.
Spans: The number of spans in each segment of the revolved surface.

For sweeps of 360 degrees, 6 - 8 sections is usually sufficient. Using more than 12 section is not recommended and generally does not improve the surface.

Axis Options

Axes: Local – Revolve around the object’s (or group’s) pivot point and local axes.

Only one curve or group of curves can be selected when using Local mode. Group the objects to revolve them around the rotation pivot and local axes of the group, or use Global mode.

Global – Revolve around the global (world) axes, or the origin and axes of the current construction plane.

In this mode, you can select several ungrouped curves, individually, or by box selection, either before or after entering the tool.
X, Y, Z: Revolves around the X, Y, or Z, axis (either Local or Global).

After creating the surface, you can move and rotate this axis using the manipulator handles.
Picked: Revolves around a picked vector object. You can also enter the vector object's name in the Picked Vector field.
Manip: This option is set automatically when you use the manipulator handles to modify the axis of revolution.
Retain Vector: Click this button to create a vector object corresponding to the axis of revolution in the view windows.

This button does not appear when the Picked option is selected.

Control Options

Chain Select: If this box is checked, selecting a curve also selects all other curves that are tangent continuous with it.
Create History: Save the history of the new surface for later editing. If you turn Create History on, when you modify the curve that was revolved to create a surface, the surface updates. You can also bring back the manipulator handles for further editing.
Continuity Check: Turn on this option to confirm curvature continuity between the individual surfaces when Segments is greater than 1. You should see green locators marked "C" between the surface segments.

Note If you are building degree 1 (polygonal) surfaces , then a yellow "T" will indicate tangent breaks between the surfaces.
Auto Recalc: Turn on this option to have the new surface automatically re-calculated and displayed as you modify the option values or make adjustments to the manipulators.

If it is off, you must press the Recalc button in the option window to update the surface.

Buttons

Recalc: When Auto-Recalc is turned off, use this button to re-calculate and re-display the surfaces after modifying the options.
Undo All: Deletes the revolved surfaces and de-selects the input curves so you can make new selections.
Next: De-selects everything and re-invokes the tool.

All the curves selected within the same invocation of the tool belong to a single history command and can be modified simultaneously when the Revolve tool is re-entered through Query Edit.