Cones Panel

The normal axis is the vector created by the bottom center node to the normal vector node. The major axis is the vector created by the bottom center node to the major vector node. The normal vector, bottom center, and major vector should form a 90 degree angle. If they do not, the major axis is calculated at 90 degrees using the normal axis. When you create a cone, the top radius may be equal to 0, if you want to have the cone end at a point. The radius must always have a value greater than zero. If a ratio other than one is specified in full cone, it is applied to the vector perpendicular to the normal axis. You can use the user-controlled method to specify the vector to which the ratio will be applied. For partial cones, zero degrees starts on the major axis. The ratio is applied to the vector perpendicular to the major axis and normal axis.

Full Cone Subpanel

Use the Full Cone subpanel to create a full conical or cylindrical surface and/or mesh.

Figure 1. Nodes Selected	Figure 2. Cone Created, Surface Only Meshing Enabled

Option	Action
bottom center	Select the node that represents the bottom center of the cone.
normal vector	Select the node that represents the normal vector of the cone.
cone/cylinder	Choose the type of cone.
meshing option	mesh, keep surf Create a surface from the selected entities and generate a mesh on the created surface. The created surface is retained along with the mesh. mesh, dele surf Create a surface from the selected entities and generate a mesh on the created surface. The created surface is deleted and only the corresponding mesh is retained. mesh w/o surf Create a mesh between the selected entities using linear interpolation without creating a surface. surface only Create a surface from selected entities, but do not generate a mesh. Use the resulting surface to perform any desired geometry cleanup functions or automeshing.
radius	Radius of the cone at its base.
top radius	Radius of the cone at its tip. Enter 0 for a pointed cone, or a non-zero value for a cone with a flat top.
ratio	Determine how circular the base of the cone/cylinder is. Enter a value of 1 for a perfectly circular base, or enter a smaller decimal values to create an increasingly oblong base/cross-section.
height	Height of the cone or cylinder.

User Controlled Subpanel

Use the User Controlled subpanel to create 3D partial cone surface primitives.

Figure 3. . This example uses a top radius of 0.5, base radius of 3, height of 4, start angle 45, end angle 320, and axis ratio 1.0.

Figure 4. . This example uses the same settings as the previous one, but with axis ratio 0.5.

Option	Action
bottom center	Select the node that represents the bottom center of the cone.
normal vector	Select the node that represents the normal vector of the cone.
major vector	Vector between the bottom center node and the major vector node determines the zero-degree point of an arc defining the curved surface of the partial cone. This arc extends in a direction based on the normal vector using the right-hand rule, with its start angle and end angle specified relative to this vector.
cone/cylinder	Choose the type of cone.
meshing option	mesh, keep surf Create a surface from the selected entities and generate a mesh on the created surface. The created surface is retained along with the mesh. mesh, dele surf Create a surface from the selected entities and generate a mesh on the created surface. The created surface is deleted and only the corresponding mesh is retained. mesh w/o surf Create a mesh between the selected entities using linear interpolation without creating a surface. surface only Create a surface from selected entities, but do not generate a mesh. Use the resulting surface to perform any desired geometry cleanup functions or automeshing.
radius	Radius of the cone at its base.
top radius	Radius of the cone at its tip. Enter 0 for a pointed cone, or a non-zero value for a cone with a flat top.
ratio	Determine how circular the base of the cone/cylinder is. Enter a value of 1 for a perfectly circular base, or enter a smaller decimal values to create an increasingly oblong base/cross-section.
height	Height of the cone or cylinder.
start angle	Specify the start angle for the cut an incomplete cone or cylinder (that is, a cone/cylinder with a section cut out). No surface will be created between the start and end angles. Figure 5. Example: Start Angle. This cone was created with a start angle of 90* and end angle of 360*.
end angle	Specify the end angle for the cut of an incomplete cone or cylinder (that is, a cone/cylinder with a section cut out). No surface will be created between the start and end angles.

Command Buttons