Spindle

Use the Spindle primitive to create a cylinder with conical caps.

• Create panel > (Geometry) > Extended Primitives > Object Type rollout > Spindle button
• Default menu: Create menu > Extended Primitives > Spindle
• Alt menu: Objects menu > Extended Primitives > Spindle

Examples of spindles

Procedure

To create a spindle:

1. From the Create menu, choose Extended Primitives Spindle.
2. Drag the mouse to define the radius of the base of the spindle.
3. Release the mouse button, and then move the mouse vertically to define the height of the spindle. Click to set the height.
4. Move the mouse diagonally to define the height of the conical caps (toward the upper left to increase the height; toward the lower right to decrease it).
5. Click again to finish the spindle.

Interface

Creation Method rollout

Edge

Draws the object from edge to edge. You can change the center location by moving the mouse.

Center

Draws the object from the center out.

Parameters rollout

Radius

Sets the radius of the spindle.

Height

Sets the dimension along the central axis. Negative values create the spindle below the construction plane.

Cap Height

Sets the height of the conical caps. The minimum value is 0.1; the maximum value is ½ the absolute value of the Height setting.

Overall/Centers

Determines what the Height value specifies. Overall specifies the overall height of the object. Centers specifies the height of the midsection of the cylinder, not including its conical caps.

Blend

When greater than 0, creates a fillet where the caps meet the body of the spindle.

Sides

Sets the number of sides around the spindle. Higher numbers shade and render as true circles with Smooth on. Lower numbers create regular polygonal objects with Smooth off.

Cap Segs

Sets the number of concentric divisions along the center of the spindle's top and bottom.

Height Segs

Sets the number of divisions along the spindle's major axis.

Smooth

Blends the faces of the spindle, creating a smooth appearance in rendered views.

Slice On

Turns on the Slice function. Default=off.

When you create a slice and then turn off Slice On, the complete spindle reappears. You can therefore use this checkbox to switch between the two topologies.

Slice From, Slice To

Sets the number of degrees around the local Z axis from a zero point at the local X axis.

For both settings, positive values move the end of the slice counterclockwise; negative values move it clockwise. Either setting can be made first. When the ends meet, the whole spindle reappears.

Generate Mapping Coords

Sets up the required coordinates for applying mapped materials to the spindle. Default=on.

Real-World Map Size

Controls the scaling method used for texture mapped materials that are applied to the object. The scaling values are controlled by the Use Real-World Scale settings found in the applied material's Coordinates rollout. Default=off.