Revolve Surface

Introduction

This topic will explain the Revolve Surface function, will explain where to find the function, and explain the options found in it. This topic will also explain creation with quick steps and examples, and provide links to related topics.

The Revolve Surface Function

The Revolve function creates a revolved surface from a 2D geometry chain based on the settings that you define in the Data Entry Manager. To perform the function, you chain select the curve to revolve, and confirm the selection to create the CAD preview. You then click OK to create the surface as shown in the CAD preview. When the CAD preview is turned off, the surface is created when you confirm the selection.

To open Revolve Surface:

In the Surfaces group, of the Create 3D ribbon, click Revolve Surface.

The parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

Preview - Select the check box to enable the CAD preview, which displays what the result will be before you create it. Once all geometry is selected, the preview is shown.
Preview - Clear the check box to turn off the CAD preview.

Preview	Preview

Revolve Curve

	(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
The list box will list the entity currently selected for the function.

Rotation Angle - defines the amount of rotation around the axis the selected geometry is to be revolved.
90°
180°
270°
360°

With Caps- creates surfaces on the top and bottom of the extruded curve, thus making a solid.

With Caps - omits the top and bottom surface of the extruded curve and creates a hollow shell.

With Caps	With Caps

Axis

Pick Axis - the axis will be defined manually, with an existing axis, or a defined vector.
Pick Axis - the axis will be defined by selecting a line, or surface edge.

The following parameters vary depending on the Pick Axis option that is chosen:

Pick Axis

Along X Axis - sets the X axis as the axis to revolve around.
Along Y Axis - sets the Y axis as the axis to revolve around.
Along Z Axis - sets the Z axis as the axis to revolve around.
Customized Axis - allows for a custom axis to used for the axis to revolve around.

Pick Axis

Rotation Axis

	(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
The list box will list the entity currently selected for the function.

Note: The direction defines the vector of the rotation. The direction values are always visible, but can only be edited when Pick Axis is not selected, and the Customized Axis option is chosen. When it is, type in the desired values in the X,Y, Z boxes to define the direction from the Origin Point.

Origin X - sets the X value for the center of rotation.
Origin Y - sets the Y value for the center of rotation.
Origin Z - sets the Z value for the center of rotation.

Geometry	X0, Y0, Z0	X0,Y-1, Z0	X0,Y-1, Z1

Direction X - lists the x value for the vector of the rotational axis.
Direction Y - lists the y value for the vector of the rotational axis.
Direction Z - lists the z value for the vector of the rotational axis.

Direction X1, Y0, Z0	Direction X0, Y1, Z0	Direction X0, Y0, Z1

OK - finalizes the function.
Cancel - exits the function.

Quick Steps - Revolve Surface

Open the function.

The Revolve Curve list automatically has function.
Chain select the wireframe to be revolved.

The chain is added to the Revolve Curve list.

Once the chain is selected, the Preview appears. This assumes that the default settings are sufficient to create a Revolve. If they are not, a preview will appear once the parameters allow for the creation of a Revolve.
Set the axis of revolution.
To create the surface click OK.

The feature is added to the CAD Tree.

You can repeat this process for any other surfaces.
To close the function, click Cancel.

Examples

Example 1 (Enter the Revolve Axis)

Note: In the images below, the Show Axis X-Y toggle has been disabled in the Axis X-Y group of the Settings Part Display dialog. The Gnomon has been used to show the axes of rotation.

In the Quick Access Toolbar, click Open.
In the Open dialog box, navigate to C:\BobCAD-CAM Data\BobCAD-CAM V**\Examples.

Note: This is the default install location. If you performed a custom install, navigate to the location in which you installed the software.

Select revolved surface example.bbcd,and click Open.

The file opens.

Leave the file in the ISO 2 view.
In the Surfaces group, of the Create 3D ribbon, click Revolve Surface.

The Revolve Surface parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.
Deselect the Preview check box.

Note: This step is not necessary to the creation of a Revolve and is used in this example only to allow us to see the result of the chain selection easier.

In the graphics area, hover over the entity shown below, and press and hold Shift, before clicking the entity to chain-select the entire chain.

Tip: Notice that the direction arrow is now displayed on the geometry. When you chain select an entity for functions that have a direction, the nearest snap point of the entity that you select is defined as the end of the chain. Alternatively, you can click an entity to define the start of the chain, and then hold Shift and click the end of another entity to define the end of the chain. The steps in this example eliminate the extra selection. When you are selecting a closed chain to revolve, the start and end location of the chain are not important.

Select the Preview checkbox.

The Preview displays.
In the Rotation Angle box, enter a value of 90.00 and press Tab.

The Preview Updates.
Select the With Caps checkbox.

The Preview updates to show the Revolve Surface being created as solid instead of a single revolved surface.
To create the geometry as shown in the CAD preview, in the Data Entry Manager, click OK. The profile is revolved 90 degrees around the X-axis and a Revolve feature is created in the CAD Tree.
To end the function, click Cancel.

This concludes Example 1. Leave the file open and continue to Example 2 to learn more about Revolve Surface.

Example 2 (Pick the Revolve Axis)

After completing Example 1, press Ctrl+Z to undo the last revolve. Or, in the quick access toolbar, click .
In the Move group of the Utilities ribbon, click Rotate.

The Rotate parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.
Hover over the an entity in the chain, then hold Shift and click that entity to chain select the entire chain.

The entities are added to the Selected Geometry list.
For the Angle Around Axis group, enter:

X 10.0000
Y 10.0000
Z 10.0000

For the Origin group, enter:

X 1.0000
Y 1.0000
Z 1.0000

The Preview updates for each entry. With the values entered, the preview should match the one seen in the image below.

Click OK to finalize the rotation.

The Preview updates to show the results should the current values be applied again.
In the Surfaces group, of the Create 3D ribbon, click Revolve Surface.

The Revolve Surface parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.
Click the entity shown in the image below to set the start point and direction of the Revolve Curve.

The Start arrow appears.
Hold Shift and click the entity shown in the image below to set the end point of the Revolve Curve.

The Preview appears.

Notice it is not the result obtained from Example 1. Since we have rotated the wireframe, it's intended rotation axis is no longer parallel to the X Axis.
In the Rotation Axis group, click Pick Axis. This will allow us to select the rotation axis for the function from geometry in the graphics area.

The preview disappears.
Click in the Rotation Axis list to give it focus.

The Rotation Axis list highlights to allow us to select the Rotation Axis.
Click the entity shown in the image below.

Once selected, the Preview displays.
Click OK to finalize the Revolve.

The surface is created in the graphics area and a Revolve feature is created in the CAD Tree.

Note: Notice, even though we have With Caps selected, we have not created a solid. To create a solid that does not revolve a full 360 °, a closed chain needs to be selected as the Revolve Curve.

To end the function, click Cancel.

This concludes the examples.