Description

An initial circular shape, called the "base", can be created by defining its center and a perimeter point. Handles in the radial direction can be dragged to change the radius of the shape under constriction. A set of handles normal to the base shape can also be dragged to extrude it in this direction to form a volumetric solid.

Draw Shapes Cylinder
Once the initial circular shape has been created, drag the green handles to change its radius and extrude it to form a volumetric solid.

The contents and functionality of the Entity Type, Grid Type, Mode and Point Placement frames do not dependent on the type of the shape under construction (a Cylinder in this case). The first three frames are described in the Draw Shapes section; the last one is described in the Point Placement section.

On the other hand, the contents and functionality of the Enclosing Parameters, Shape Parameters, and Shape Options frames are dependent on the type of shape under construction. The Enclosing Parameters frame contains the commands needed to define the characteristics of the shape under construction in Enclosing mode with respect to a set of selected entities being enclosed by the new shape (refer to the Draw Shapes section for more details on the available modes). The Shape Parameters and Shape Options frames contain the commands needed to define the general characteristics of the shape under construction. Here we describe the contents of these three frames for the specific case of a shape of type Cylinder.

Enclosing Parameters

Draw Shapes Enclosing Cylinder
Use the Enclosing Parameters frame to define the characteristics of the shape being created with respect to the set of selected entities being enclosed by the new shape. This image shows the commands available for a cylindrical shape.

After a shape has been created in Enclosing mode, you can scale it by specified factors using the Scale Factor entry fields. For the case of a cylindrical shape, there are entry fields for scaling the shape's Radius and Length separately. Note that you can only scale the shape to a larger size; this means that the specified factors must be larger than 1.0.

There are also Radius and Length Margin entry fields that allow you to specify a set of margins with respect to the set of selected entities being enclosed by the shape. These margins will effectively increase the size of the shape by the specified amount in each corresponding direction. Note that you can only increase the size of the shape; this means that the specified margins must be larger than 0.0.

The enclosing shape can be aligned in either one of the three coordinate directions using the corresponding radio button: X-Axis, Y-Axis, and Z-Axis. It can also be aligned to the current view if the To View option is selected. Note that the latter option is selected by default. You can also chose whether the enclosing shape is symmetric with respect to the X, Y, or Z direction by selecting the appropriate Symmetry option: In X, In Y, or In Z.

The last command in this frame is Align to Selection. When this button is clicked, Fidelity Pointwise will attempt to determine the primary direction of the enclosed entities and will align the enclosing shape with that direction.

Shape Parameters

Draw Shapes Params Cylinder
Use the options in the Shape Parameters frame to define the characteristics of the shape being created. This image shows the commands available for a cylindrical shape.

In the Shape Parameters frame, the Radius and Length text fields can be used to precisely set the desired radius and length of the cylinder under construction.

The Lock Top command will allow you to resize the base and top surfaces independently. When checked on (default), the radius of both surfaces is changed simultaneously using either the appropriate handles or the Radius text field. On the other hand, when this command is unchecked, the Top Radius text field becomes enabled and can be used to change the radius of the top surface independently from the base.

Shape Options

Draw Shapes Options Cylinder
Use the options in the Shape Options frame to define the characteristics of the shape being created. This image shows the commands available for a cylindrical shape.

In the Shape Options frame, the Full, Half, and Quarter commands are used to specify whether the full, half, or a quarter of the cylindrical shape under construction should be preserved once the latter is finalized. If the Half option is selected, only the 0° - 180° half of the shape will be preserved. If the Quarter option is selected, only the 0° - 90° quarter of the shape will be preserved. Note that the Angle Range command can be used to specify a precise angular range defining the portion of the cylinder that should be preserved after the shape is finalized. Refer to the figure in the Box section to see how these angles are measured in reference to the local coordinate system.

When only a portion of the geometry under construction is preserved, new sides will be exposed. For a cylindrical shape, these new sides should look similar to what is shown in the figure in the Box section. The Sides, Base, and Top commands are used to specify whether the sides, base, and top planar or spherical surfaces are to be preserved once the shape is finalized. Note that the Sides option will become enabled once new sides are exposed.

Demonstration

Drawing Cylinders

Creating Grid Shapes

Quickly Create Shapes with Enclosing Mode

A Common Problem When Meshing Cylinders