Revolve

You can use the Revolve tool to create solid bodies that are symmetrical about an axis. Some shapes that are commonly created using Revolve include cylinders, cones, spheres, or any axial symmetry, round shape. The Revolve tool also includes a height parameter that allows you to generate shapes such as coils, springs, and threads.

Profile and Axis	Revolved Sphere

To create a Revolve, you will need a profile and an axis of revolution. The profile can be a closed sketch or a face. The axis can be an axis of the grid, a construction axis, a sketch line, or a linear edge. The Revolve tool rotates the profile about the axis to generate the solid geometry. By default, the profile is revolved 360°, but you can modify the angle value as necessary. To generate a helical shape, you can specify a height for the revolve.

To learn more, explore the sections below.

• Using the Revolve tool
• Creating helical bodies

Using the Revolve tool

To use the Revolve tool: 

1. Ensure you have the elements necessary for the Revolve, including:
   • Profile - A sketch region or face representing half of the finished body's cross-section. 
   • Axis - An axis, line, or linear edge element at the center of rotation for the body.
2. Go to Tools > Revolve.
   For other methods of accessing this tool Accessing tools.
   
   
3. Select the profile.
4. Select the axis.
   
   
   
   
5. If necessary, adjust the angle for the revolve using these techniques:
   • Drag the arc arrows to define the angle dynamically.
   • Select the arc arrows or angle dimension label to enter a value using the numpad.
   • If using a keyboard, type a value when the angle dimension label is highlighted.
6. If necessary, adjust the height for the revolve to create a helical shape (see Creating helical bodies).
7. Select Done.
   Note:  When using Revolve from the adaptive menu, select an empty area of the grid to complete the tool.

Creating helical bodies

Helical bodies are created by defining a height value within the Revolve tool. 

To create a helical body: 

1. Ensure you have the elements necessary for the Revolve, including:
   • Profile - A sketch region or face representing half of the finished body's cross-section. 
   • Axis - An axis, line, or linear edge element at the center of rotation for the body.
     
     
     
     
2. Go to Tools > Revolve.
   For other methods of accessing this tool Accessing tools.
3. Select the profile.
4. Select the axis.
   
   
   
   
5. If necessary, adjust the angle for the revolve using these techniques:
   • Drag the arc arrows to define the angle dynamically.
   • Select the arc arrows or angle dimension label to enter a value using the numpad.
   • If using a keyboard, type a value when the angle dimension label is highlighted.
     Note: Every 360° equals a complete revolution of the helix. You can use the numpad calculator to type 360 x 'number of revolutions' to create the necessary angle value.
     
6. Adjust the height for the revolve using these techniques.
   • Drag the linear arrows to define the height dynamically.
   • Select the linear arrows or distance dimension label to enter a value using the numpad.
   • If using a keyboard, type a value when the distance dimension label is highlighted.
     
     
     
   • Select Done.
     Note:  When using Revolve from the adaptive menu, select an empty area of the grid to complete the tool.

For more information on using this tool, check out the Revolve bodies and Helixes tutorials on our website.