03.03.2020 | Parabola, Revolutions and 3D Forms

Using AutoCAD to create a Parabolic Revolution Surface.

Introduction of 3D Orbit, Revsurf and Pedit commands:

- 3D orbit provides interactive viewing in 3D.

- Revsurf creates a mesh by revolving a profile about an axis.

- Pedit provides several options when a polyline is selected.

Create a 2D parabola using an axis, points, and circumferences.

Add thickness to the parabola using the command Offset to repeat the curved line of the parabola. The ends were joined to create one unique object by using Pedit join.

Having this, use command 3D orbit to make it possible to transform the parabola into a three-dimensional object. 

The commands Surftab 1 and Surftab 2 were modified so the revolution surface would be rounder.

Revsurf is used after this to revolve the parabola around the axis. The Revsurf command is entered and then: 

- pick the parabola line, 

- then the axis, 

- and select it to start at 0º and ending at 360º.

If instead of revolving around the horizontal axis we revolve around the vertical/perpendicular line to the axis, a hyperboloid is obtained.