Glossary of EM.Cube's Standard Geometric Objects

Box Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Solid → Box

TO DRAW A BOX:

1. Activate the Box Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the first bottom vertex.
3. Drag the mouse away from the first vertex to establish the desired base plane area. Left-click a second time to establish the opposite bottom vertex.
4. Drag the mouse up and away from the base plane to set the desired height. Left-click a third time to complete the box.

PYTHON COMMAND: box(label,x0,y0,z0,base_x,base_y,height[,cap_top,cap_bottom])

BOX PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
size_X	real numeric	project units	-	dimension along X-axis
size_Y	real numeric	project units	-	dimension along Y-axis
size_Z	real numeric	project units	-	dimension along Z-axis
fix_center_X	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes X-coordinate of base
fix_center_Y	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes Y-coordinate of base
cap_top	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at top
cap_bottom	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at bottom base

The property dialog of the box object.

The geometry of the box object.

Cylinder Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Solid → Cylinder

TO DRAW A CYLINDER:

1. Activate the Cylinder Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the center of the bottom base.
3. Drag the mouse away from the origin to create the desired base radius. Left-click a second time to establish the cylinder's base.
4. Drag the mouse up and away from the active work plane to establish the cylinder's height. Left-click a third time to complete the cylinder.

PYTHON COMMAND: cylinder(label,x0,y0,z0,radius,height[,start_angle,end_angle,cap_top,cap_bottom])

CYLINDER PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
base_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
height	real numeric	project units	-	-
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle
cap_top	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at top
cap_bottom	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at bottom base

The property dialog of the cylinder object.

The geometry of the cylinder object.

A cylinder with a nonzero end angle.

Cone Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Solid → Cone

TO DRAW A CONE:

1. Activate the Cone Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the cone's base plane origin.
3. Drag away from the origin to define the base plane's radius. Left-click a second time to define the base plane.
4. Drag the mouse away from the base plane to establish the height. Left-click a third time to complete the cone.

PYTHON COMMAND: cone(label,x0,y0,z0,base_radius,height[,top_radius,start_angle,end_angle,cap_top,cap_bottom])

CONE PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
base_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
top_radius	real numeric	project units	0	-
height	real numeric	project units	-	-
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle
cap_top	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at top
cap_bottom	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at bottom base

The property dialog of the cone object.

The geometry of the cone object.

A cone with a nonzero top radius.

Pyramid Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Solid → Pyramid

TO DRAW A PYRAMID:

1. Activate the Pyramid Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the first point of the rectangular base plane.
3. Define the desired area of the base plane by dragging the mouse away from the first point. Left-click a second time to establish the base plane.
4. Drag the mouse away from the base plane to establish the desired height. Left-click a third time to complete the pyramid.

PYTHON COMMAND: pyramid(label,x0,y0,z0,base_x,base_y,height[,top_x,top_y,cap_top,cap_bottom])

PYRAMID PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
base_size_X	real numeric	project units	-	-
base_size_Y	real numeric	project units	-	-
top_size_X	real numeric	project units	0	-
top_size_Y	real numeric	project units	0	-
height	real numeric	project units	-	-
top_offset_X	real numeric	project units	0	-
top_offset_Y	real numeric	project units	0	-
fix_center_X	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes X-coordinate of base
fix_center_Y	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes Y-coordinate of base
cap_top	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at top
cap_bottom	Boolean	-	TRUE	places a cap at bottom base

The property dialog of the pyramid object.

The geometry of the pyramid object.

A pyramid with nonzero top dimensions.

A pyramid with nonzero top offset values.

Sphere Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Solid → Sphere

TO DRAW A SPHERE:

1. Activate the Sphere Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the origin point. Drag the mouse outward from the origin to establish the radius.
3. Left-click a second time to complete the sphere.

PYTHON COMMAND: sphere(label,x0,y0,z0,radius[,start_angle,end_angle])

SPHERE PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle

The property dialog of the sphere object.

The geometry of the sphere object.

A sphere with a nonzero end angle.

Ellipsoid Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Solid → Ellipsoid

TO DRAW AN ELLIPSOID:

1. Activate the Ellipsoid Tool.
2. Left-click to define the first X-radius anchor point.
3. Drag the mouse to the desired length. left-click a second time to define the ending X-radius anchor point.
4. Drag the mouse away from the X radius to establish the desired Y-radius. Left-click a third time to define the Y radius.
5. Drag the mouse away from the active plane to define the Z radius. Left-click a fourth time to complete the ellipsoid.

PYTHON COMMAND: ellipsoid(label,x0,y0,z0,radius_x,radius_y,radius_z[,start_angle,end_angle])

ELLIPSOID PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
radius_X	real numeric	project units	-	-
radius_Y	real numeric	project units	-	-
radius_Z	real numeric	project units	-	-
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle

The property dialog of the ellipsoid object.

The geometry of the ellipsoid object.

An ellipsoid with a nonzero end angle.

Torus Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Solid → Torus

TO DRAW A TORUS:

1. Activate the Torus Tool.
2. Left-click to define the center point.
3. Drag the mouse away from the origin and left-click a second time to establish the Major Radius of the torus.
4. Drag the mouse away from the Major Radius construction path to establish the Minor Radius. Left-click a third time to complete the torus.

PYTHON COMMAND: torus(label,x0,y0,z0,radius_major,radius_minor[,start_angle,end_angle])

TORUS PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
major_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
minor_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle

The property dialog of the torus object.

</tr>

The geometry of the torus object.

A torus with a nonzero end angle.

Generating Platonic Solids

Besides EM.Cube's standard solid objects, i.e. box, cylinder, cone, pyramid, sphere, ellipsoid, and torus, you can use Solid Generator to create five types of Platonic solid objects:

1. Tetrahedron
2. Hexahedron
3. Octahedron
4. Dodecahedron
5. Icosahedron

A icosahedron with side length 20 (scale = 10).

1. Click the Solid Generator button of the Object Toolbar or select Menu Object Solid Solid Generator to open the Solid Generator Dialog.
2. Select one of the five platonic solid types Tetrahedron, Hexahedron Octahedron, Dodecahedron, or Icosahedron.
3. The dialog shows the number of faces, edges, nodes and the side length of the standard platonic solid of the selected type. Specify the Scale based on the displayed Side Length.
4. Before you create the solid and add it to the Navigation Tree, you have an opportunity to preview it. To do so, click the Preview button of the dialog. A yellow ghost of the solid appears in the Project Workspace. You can change the range or modify the function at this time. Once you are satisfied with the generated solid, click the Create to finalize its creation and add it to the list of object on the Navigation Tree.

Rectangle Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Rectangle Strip

TO DRAW A RECTANGLE STRIP:

1. Activate the Rectangle Strip Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the X/Y axial triangulation point.
3. Drag the mouse outward from this point to define the desired area of the rectangle strip. Left-click a second time to complete the shape.

PYTHON COMMAND: rect_strip(label,x0,y0,z0,side_x,side_y)

RECTANGLE STRIP PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
side_X	real numeric	project units	-	dimension along X-axis
side_Y	real numeric	project units	-	dimension along Y-axis
fix_center_X	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes X-coordinate of base
fix_center_Y	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes Y-coordinate of base
rect_loop	Boolean	-	FALSE	if TRUE, creates a rectangular loop
loop_width	real numeric	project units	-	-

The property dialog of the rectangle strip object.

The geometry of the rectangle strip object.

Locking the base of a rectangle strip.

The different drawing modes of rectangle strip.

Circle Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Objects → Surfaces → Circle Strip

TO DRAW A CIRCLE STRIP:

1. Activate the Circle Strip Tool.
2. Left-click to define the origin
3. Drag the mouse away from the origin to establish the desired radius. Left-click a second time to complete the circle strip.

PYTHON COMMAND: circ_strip(label,x0,y0,z0,outer_radius,inner_radius[,start_angle,end_angle])

CIRCLE STRIP PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
outer_radius	real numeric	project units	-	circle's outer radius
inner_radius	real numeric	project units	0	inner radius creating a ring object
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle

The property dialog of the circle strip object.

The geometry of the circle strip object with zero inner radius.

The geometry of the circle strip object with a nonzero inner radius.

A circle strip with a nonzero start angle.

Radial Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Radial Strip

TO DRAW A RADIAL STRIP:

1. Activate the Radial Strip Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the origin point.
3. Drag the mouse away from origin and left-click a second time to establish the radius and the first leg of the radial strip.
4. Drag the mouse to the desired location to define the angle of the radial strip. Left-click a third time to complete the radial strip.

PYTHON COMMAND: radial_strip(label,x0,y0,z0,radius,base_lenght,angle)

RADIAL STRIP PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
base_length	real numeric	project units	0	A nonzero value creates a flattened base
angle	real numeric	degrees	-	wedge angle

The property dialog of the radial strip object.

The geometry of the radial strip object.

A radial strip object with a nonzero base length.

Ellipse Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Ellipse Strip

TO DRAW AN ELLIPSE STRIP:

1. Activate the Ellipse Strip Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the X/Y axis origin.
3. Drag the mouse away from the origin to the desired location. Left-click a second time to create the ellipse.

PYTHON COMMAND: ellipse_strip(label,x0,y0,z0,radius_x,radius_y[,start_angle,end_angle])

ELLIPSE STRIP PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
radius_X	real numeric	project units	-	radius along X-axis
radius_Y	real numeric	project units	-	radius along Y-axis
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle
fix_center_X	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes X-coordinate of base
fix_center_Y	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes Y-coordinate of base

The property dialog of the ellipse strip object.

The geometry of the ellipse strip object.

Triangle Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Triangle Strip

TO DRAW A TRIANGLE STRIP:

1. Activate the Triangle Strip Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the triangles origin.
3. Drag away from the origin and left-click a second time to define Leg 1 of the triangle.
4. Drag away from leg 1, left-click a third time to define Leg 2 and complete the triangle.

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: Side 1 establish the length of first leg of the triangle. Side 2 establishes the length of the second leg of the triangle Angle defines the opening angle of the origin vertex (the angle between leg one and leg two). Hold down the Shift key while positioning the third point of the triangle to constrain the origin angle to 15º increments.

PYTHON COMMAND: triangle_strip(label,x0,y0,z0,side1,side2,angle)

TRIANGLE STRIP PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
side_1	real numeric	project units	-	-
side_2	real numeric	project units	0	-
angle	real numeric	degrees	-	wedge angle

The property dialog of the triangle strip object.

The geometry of the triangle strip object.

Taper Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Taper Strip

TO DRAW A TAPER STRIP:

1. Activate the Taper Strip Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the base length midpoint.
3. Drag outward from this point to define the desired length and angle of the base side. Left-click a second time to define the base.
4. To establish the height, drag the mouse away from the base to the desired location. Left-click a third time to complete the Taper Strip.

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: Taper Length establishes the distance between the base and top sides of the trapezoid. If the Exponential check box is checked, the two slanted sides of the trapezoid are replaced by exponential curves passing through the same vertices.

PYTHON COMMAND: taper_strip(label,x0,y0,z0,base_width,top_width,length,is_expo)

TAPER STRIP PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
base_width	real numeric	project units	-	-
taper_length	real numeric	project units	-	-
top_width	real numeric	project units	-	-
top_offset	real numeric	project units	0	A zero value creates an isosceles triangle
exponential	Boolean	-	FALSE	creates an exponential taper transition
create-half	Boolean	-	FALSE	keeps left half of taper strip only

The property dialog of the taper strip object.

The geometry of the taper strip object with exponential side walls.

A taper strip with linear side walls and a nonzero top offset.

Regular Polygon Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Regular Polygon

TO DRAW A REGULAR POLYGON:

1. Activate the Regular Polygon Tool.
2. Left-click to create the origin of the Regular Polygon.
3. Drag away from the origin and left-click a second time to define the Regular Polygon's diameter.
4. Drag the mouse to increase or decrease the number of sides desired. Left-click a third time to finish drawing the Regular Polygon.

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: This tool creates a regular polygon with an arbitrary number of sides within a circumscribing circle of a specified radius.

PYTHON COMMAND: polygon_reg(label,x0,y0,z0,radius,n_sides)

REGULAR POLYGON PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
radius	real numeric	project units	-	radius of circumscribing circle
side_count	integer numeric	-	-	number of side of regular polygon
top_width	real numeric	project units	-	-

The property dialog of the regular polygon object.

The geometry of the regular polygon object with N = 8 (octagon).

Spiral Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Spiral Strip

TO DRAW A SPIRAL STRIP:

1. Activate the Spiral Strip Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the origin of the Spiral Strip's inner-radius.
3. Drag away from the origin to expand the inner radius. Left-click a second time to set the inner radius and create the starting point for the outer radius.
4. Drag the mouse away from the second point to expand the outer radius (or closer to contract the radius). Left-click a third time to complete the spiral.

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: Checking the Inner Taper box creates a rounded taper at the inner edge of each spiral arm by drawing an exponential curve from a user-defined edge inset point to that edge's opposite corner vertex. Checking the Outer Taper box creates a rounded taper at the outer edge of each spiral arm by drawing an exponential curve from a user-defined edge inset point to that edge's opposite corner vertex.. Inset Distance establishes an imaginary offset point positioned away from the corner vertex from the inner or outer edge. The Inner Radius setting is not available when the Dual Arm option is enabled.

PYTHON COMMAND: spiral_strip(label,x0,y0,z0,width,radius_inner,radius_outer,n_turns,spiral_dir,is_dual)

SPIRAL STRIP PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
inner_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
outer_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
strip_width	real numeric	project units	-	-
turns	integer numeric	project units	2	number of spiral turns
ccw	Boolean	-	TRUE	if TRUE, creates counterclockwise right-handedness
dual_arm	Boolean	-	FALSE	creates a dual-arm spiral
inner_taper	Boolean	-	FALSE	if TRUE, tapers spiral strip from inner end
inner_inset	real numeric	project units	0	when inner_taper is TRUE, a nonzero value creates inner inset
outer_taper	Boolean	-	FALSE	if TRUE, tapers spiral strip from outer end
outer_inset	real numeric	project units	0	when outer_taper is TRUE, a nonzero value creates outer inset
taper_pointing	list: {inward, outward}	-	inward	sets the direction spiral's end tapers point to

The property dialog of the spiral strip object.

The geometry of the spiral strip object.

A dual-arm spiral strip object.

Polystrip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → Polystrip

TO DRAW A POLYSTRIP:

1. Activate the Polystrip Tool.
2. Click anywhere on the active work plane to create nodes. The Polystrip's contour is rendered as soon as the second node is defined. A Polystrip must have at least three nodes.
3. The Polystrip can be closed at any time by either double-clicking on the workplane to establish a closing node, or by pressing the C or ENTER key, which connects the last drawn node with the first. Once closed, the surface area is filled.

PYTHON COMMAND: polystrip(label,(x0,y0,z0),(x1,y1,z1) ... )

EDITING NODES

Each Polystrip node can be selected by clicking on it in the work plane. You can also force nodes to snap to the nearest grid point by activating Snap to Grid (View → Grid Settings).

DIALOG PARAMETERS

Index reports the unique order number of the currently selected node. Active Node shows the X, Y and Z coordinates of the currently selected node.

NURBS Strip Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Surface → NURBS Strip

TO DRAW A NURBS STRIP:

1. Activate the NURBS Strip Tool.
2. Click anywhere on the active work plane to create nodes. The NURBs contour is rendered as soon as the second node is defined. A NURBS Strip must have at least three nodes.
3. The NURBS Strip can be closed at any time by either double-clicking on the workplane to establish a closing node, or by pressing the C or ENTER key, which connects the last drawn node with the first. Once closed, the surface area is filled.

PYTHON COMMAND: nurbs_strip(label,(x0,y0,z0),(x1,y1,z1) ... )

EDITING NODES

Each NURBS Strip node can be selected by clicking on it in the work plane. You can also force nodes to snap to the nearest grid point by activating Snap to Grid (View → Grid Settings).

DIALOG PARAMETERS

Index reports the unique order number of the currently selected node. Active Node shows the X, Y and Z coordinates of the currently selected node.

Generating Complex Surfaces

Besides EM.Cube's standard planar objects, i.e. rectangle strip, circle strip, radial strip, ellipse strip, triangle strip, taper strip, regular polygon, spiral strip, polystrip and NURBS strip, you can use Surface Generator to create a large variety of other surface objects. Practically, any imaginable planar or non-planar surface can be synthesized in EM.Cube. These include:

The curve generator.

A mathematical surface defined by z = sin(2*x)*exp(-y/2): (left) polymesh version, (right) smooth generic surface version.

1. Click the Surface Generator button of the Object Toolbar to open the Curve Generator Dialog.
2. From the Model dropdown list, select the Custom Function, which is the default option. Also specify the Orientation of the surface, which is the XY principal plane by default.
3. Specify the range of the surface including Start, Stop and Step values along the two specified dimensions.
4. In the "Parameters" section, define the function representing the surface. This has the form z = f(x,y) in XY Plane, x = f(y,z) in YZ Plane or y = f(z,x) in ZX Plane.
5. As in the previous case, you can choose between the two Polymesh or Generic Surface options. You can also preview the curve before finalizing its creation.

The surface generator dialog.

Line Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Line

TO DRAW A LINE:

1. Activate the Line Tool.
2. left click anywhere on the workplane to begin drawing the line.
3. left-click a second time to complete the line.

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: When the check box Lock Center is checked, changing the line's length expands or shrinks it equally from both ends. To create a line perpendicular to the current work plane, hold down the Alt key while dragging the mouse to establish the line's end point.

PYTHON COMMAND: line(label,x0,y0,z0,len[,dir])

LINE PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
length	real numeric	project units	-	-
fix_center	Boolean	-	FALSE	fixes midpoint coordinates

The property dialog of the line object.

Drawing a vertical line object.

Drawing a horizontal line object.

Circle Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Circle

TO DRAW A CIRCLE:

1. Activate the Circle Tool.
2. Left-click at the desired location on the active grid to establish the origin.
3. Drag your mouse away from the origin to set the desired radius.
4. Left click a second time to complete the circle.

PYTHON COMMAND: circle(label,x0,y0,z0,radius,start_angle,end_angle)

CIRCLE PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
start_angle	real numeric	degrees	0	start azimuth angle
end_angle	real numeric	degrees	360	end azimuth angle

The property dialog of the circle object.

The geometry of the circle object.

The local coordinate system (LCS) of the circle object.

A circle with a nonzero end angle.

Super-Quadratic Curve Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Super-quadratic Curve

TO DRAW A SUPER-QUADRATIC CURVE:

1. Activate the Super-Quadratic Curve Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the initial X/Y diameter triangulation point.
3. Drag the mouse away from this point to define the desired size.
4. Left-click a second time to complete the superquad.

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: The parameter Order changes the radius of the four corners of the super-quadratic curve. The second-order super-quadratic curve (n = 2) corresponds to an ellipse. Entering a higher value for the order decreases the corner radius and make the curve look like a rectangle with rounded corners. Checking the Rectangle box creates a rectangular curve with no corner rounding.

PYTHON COMMAND: superquad(label,x0,y0,z0,diam_x,diam_y,order)

SUPER-QUADRATIC CURVE PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
diameter_X	real numeric	project units	-	diameter along X-axis
diameter_Y	real numeric	project units	-	diameter along Y-axis
order	integer numeric	degrees	2	a higher order resembles a rectangle with rounded corners
is_rectangle	Boolean	-	FALSE	if TRUE, draws a rectangle
fix_center_X	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes X-coordinate of base
fix_center_Y	Boolean	-	TRUE	fixes Y-coordinate of base

The property dialog of the super-quadratic curve object.

The geometry of the super-quadratic curve object.

The local coordinate system (LCS) of the super-quadratic curve object.

Comparing super-quadratic curves of different orders.

Parabola Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Parabola

TO DRAW A PARABOLA:

1. Activate the Parabola Tool.
2. Left-click to set the Focal Point.
3. Drag away from the focal point and left-click a second time to set the desired Offset.
4. Drag and left-click a third time to complete the Parabolic Curve.

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: The parameters Axial Length and Aperture adjust the size of the opening of the parabola. Changing the value of either one automatically adjusts the value of the other. Checking the box labeled Create Half bisects the parabola and removes its bottom half. You can revolve the resulting half-curve to create a paraboloid.

PYTHON COMMAND: parabola(label,x0,y0,z0,focal_length,axial_length,half_only)

PARABOLA PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
focal_length	real numeric	project units	-	-
axial_length	real numeric	project units	-	-
aperture	real numeric	degrees	-	is determined automatically by focal and axial lengths or can be set independently
create_half	Boolean	-	FALSE	if TRUE, draws the left half only

The property dialog of the parabola curve object.

The geometry of the parabola curve object.

Drawing a half-parabola.

Hyperbola Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Hyperbola

TO DRAW A HYPERBOLA:

1. Activate the Hyperbola Tool.
2. Left-click to define the X-radius origin. Construction guides will appear to aid in the drawing process.
3. Drag the mouse away from the origin to establish the desired X-radius. Left-click a second time.
4. To establish the Y-radius and the hyperbola's leg length, drag the mouse to the desired location and left-click to complete the Hyperbola.

PYTHON COMMAND: hyperbola(label,x0,y0,z0,diam_x,diam_y,axial_length,half_only)

HYPERBOLA PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
diameter_X	real numeric	project units	-	diameter along X-axis
diameter_Y	real numeric	project units	-	diameter along Y-axis
axial_length	real numeric	project units	-	-
create_half	Boolean	-	FALSE	if TRUE, draws one half of one branch only
negative_branch	-	FALSE	if TRUE, draws the negative branch only

DIALOG PROPERTIES

X Diameter Y Diameter Axial Length establishes the distance between the start and end points of the hyperbolic curve.

Neg. Branch create a mirrored version of the hyperbolic curve. Create Half bisects and removes the bottom half of the hyperbolic curve. You can revolve the resulting curve to create a hyperbolic dish.

EDIT HANDLES

Edit handles, available in shape edit mode, allow you to modify common shape attributes using your mouse. The diagram on the left provides a reference of the parameters controlled by the resize (RED) edit handles. Edit handles turn blue when the mouse cursor hovers on top of them. This color change indicates that the handle is active. Click and drag on any active handle to reshape the object.

Spiral Curve Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Spiral

TO DRAW A SPIRAL CURVE:

1. Activate the Spiral Curve Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the inner-radial origin of the Spiral.
3. Drag away from the origin to expands the inner radius (drag inward toward the origin to reduces the inner radius).
4. Left-click a second time to set the inner radius and create the anchor point for the outer radius.
5. Drag the mouse away from the second point to expand the outer radius or closer to reduce the radius.
6. Left-click a third time to complete the spiral.

PYTHON COMMAND: spiral_curve(label,x0,y0,z0,radius_inner,radius_outer,nturns,spiral_dir,is_dual)

SPIRAL CURVE PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
inner_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
outer_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
turns	integer numeric	project units	2	number of spiral turns
ccw	Boolean	-	TRUE	if TRUE, creates counterclockwise right-handedness
dual_arm	Boolean	-	FALSE	creates a dual-arm spiral

DIALOG PROPERTIES

Inner Radius defines the distance between the spiral's origin and the starting point of each spiral arm. Outer Radius sets the distance each spiral arm will radiate outward from the inner radius. Number of Turns defines the number of spiral revolutions of each arm Counter Clockwise (CCW) flips the clockwise drawing direction of the spiral arms.

The X, Y, Z LCS coordinates originate at the center of the spiral.

EDIT HANDLES

Edit handles, available in shape edit mode, allow you to modify common shape attributes using your mouse. The diagram on the left provides a reference of the parameters controlled by the resize (RED) edit handles. Edit handles turn blue when the mouse cursor hovers on top of them. This color change indicates that the handle is active. Click and drag on any active handle to reshape the object.

Helix Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Helix

TO DRAW A HELIX:

1. Activate the Helix Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the origin of the inner-radius.
3. Drag away from the origin to expand the inner radius, (toward it to contract the inner radius).
4. Left-click a second time to set the inner radius and to establish the anchor point from which you will set the height of the helix.
5. Drag your cursor "up" and away from the second anchor point to increase the height of the helix.
6. Left-click a third time to complete the helix.

PYTHON COMMAND: helix(label,x0,y0,z0,radius_inner,radius_outer,height,nturns,helix_dir)

HELIX PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
inner_radius	real numeric	project units	same as outer radius	-
outer_radius	real numeric	project units	-	-
height	real numeric	project units	-	-
turns	integer numeric	project units	2	number of spiral turns
ccw	Boolean	-	TRUE	if TRUE, creates counterclockwise right-handedness

DIALOG PARAMETERS

Inner Radius defines the distance between the spiral's origin and the starting point of each spiral arm. Outer Radius sets the distance each spiral arm will radiate outward from the inner radius. Number of Turns defines the number of spiral revolutions of each arm Height establishes the elevation of the outer radius of the helix. Counter Clockwise (CCW) flips the clockwise drawing direction of the spiral arms.

The X, Y, Z LCS coordinates originate at the base center of the helix.

SNAP POINT EDIT HANDLES

Edit handles, available in shape edit mode, allow you to modify common shape attributes using your mouse. The diagram on the left provides a reference of the parameters controlled by the resize (RED) edit handles.

Polyline Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → Polyline

TO DRAW A POLYLINE:

1. Activate the Polyline Tool.
2. Click anywhere on the active work plane to create nodes. The Polyline's contour is rendered as soon as the second node is defined. A Polyline must have at least two nodes.
3. The Polyline can be closed at any time by either double-clicking on the workplane to establish a closing node, or by pressing the C or ENTER key, which connects the last drawn node with the first.

PYTHON COMMAND: polyline(label,(x0,y0,z0),(x1,y1,z1) ... )

EDITING NODES

Each Polyline node can be selected by clicking on it in the work plane. You can also force nodes to snap to the nearest grid point by activating Snap to Grid (View → Grid Settings).

If the polyline shape was originally drawn unclosed, you can place a checkmark in the Close option box to connect the first drawn anchor point with the last drawn anchor point. Closing the "loop" allows you to fill the polyline shape, creating a planar object whose perimeter and surface area matches the drawn polyline's outline.

DIALOG PARAMETERS

Index reports the unique order number of the currently selected node. Active Node shows the X, Y and Z coordinates of the currently selected node.

NURBS Curve Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Curve → NURBS

TO DRAW A NURBS CURVE:

1. Activate the NURBS Curve Tool.
2. Click anywhere on the active work plane to create nodes. The contour of the NURBs Curve is rendered as soon as the second node is defined. A NURBs Curve must have at least two nodes.
3. The NURBs Curve can be closed at any time by either double-clicking on the workplane to establish a closing node, or by pressing the C or ENTER key, which connects the last drawn node with the first.

PYTHON COMMAND: nurbs_curve(label,(x0,y0,z0),(x1,y1,z1) ... )

EDITING NODES

Each NURBs Curve node can be selected by clicking on it in the work plane. You can also force nodes to snap to the nearest grid point by activating Snap to Grid (View → Grid Settings).

If the NURBs Curve shape was originally drawn unclosed, you can place a checkmark in the Close option box to connect the first drawn anchor point with the last drawn anchor point. Closing the "loop" allows you to fill the polyline shape, creating a planar object whose perimeter and surface area matches the drawn polyline's outline.

DIALOG PARAMETERS

Index reports the unique order number of the currently selected node. Active Node shows the X, Y and Z coordinates of the currently selected node.

Generating Complex Curves

Besides EM.CUBE's standard curve objects, i.e. line, circle, super-quadratic curve, parabola, hyperbola, spiral curve and helix, you can use Curve Generator to create a large variety of other curve objects. Practically, any imaginable curve can be synthesized in EM.CUBE. These include:

1. Planar Cartesian curves represented by equation y = f(x).
2. Planar polar curves represented by equation r = f(?).
3. 3-D parametric curves represented by equations x = x(t), y = y(t), and z = z(t).

Moreover, you can create planar curves on any of the three principal XY, YZ or ZX planes.

1. Click the Curve Generator button of the Object Toolbar or select Menu Object Curve Curve Generator to open the Curve Generator Dialog.
2. Select one of the three curve types Cartesian, Polar or Parametric. For the Cartesian type, also specify the Orientation, which is the XY principal plane by default.
3. Specify the range of the curve. This includes Start, Stop and Step values. For polar curves, the angles are expressed in radians.
4. In the "Parameters" section, define the function representing the curve. For the Cartesian type, this has the form y = f(x) in XY Plane, z = f(y) in YZ Plane or x = f(z) in ZX Plane. For polar curves, the function is defined as r = f(t), where t and r represent the angle and radius, respectively. For parametric curves, t is the parameter, and the x, y and z coordinates are all expressed as three functions of t.
5. Curve Generator offers two options for the curve to be generated: Polyline or NURBS Curve. The latter is the default option. Change Curve Type if you want to create a polyline.
6. Before you create the curve and add it to the Navigation Tree, you have an opportunity to preview it. To do so, click the Preview button of the dialog. A yellow ghost of the curve appears in the Project Workspace. You can change the range or modify the function at this time. Once you are satisfied with the generated curve, click the Create to finalize its creation and add it to the list of object on the Navigation Tree.

Point Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Special → Point

TO DRAW A POINT:

1. Activate the Point Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the location of the point.

PYTHON COMMAND: point(label,x0,y0,z0)

POINT PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinate of point
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinate of point
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinate of point

Fractal Tree Tool

ICON:

MENU: Object → Special → Fractal Tree

TO DRAW A FRACTAL TREE:

1. Activate the Fractal Tree Tool.
2. Left-click to establish the location of the fractal tree. A default horizontal fractal tree appears in the project workspace.
3. The Fractal Dialog opens up on the lower right corner of the screen. You have two options: fractal tree with linear or cylindrical branches. You can also set the number of fractal levels.
4. Make sure to click the OK button of the dialog to complete the fractal construction.

PYTHON COMMAND: fractal_tree(label,x0,y0,z0,key_type,key_size,n_level,sep_angle,n_gen,prune_factor,thickness,thick_factor)

FRACTAL TREE PARAMETERS

Parameter Name	Value Type	Units	Default Value	Notes
LCS_X	real numeric	project units	-	X-coordinates of base
LCS_Y	real numeric	project units	-	Y-coordinates of base
LCS_Z	real numeric	project units	-	Z-coordinates of base
rot_X	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about X-axis
rot_Y	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Y-axis
rot_Z	real numeric	degrees	-	local rotation about Z-axis
key_object_type	Line or Cylinder	-	Line	-
level_count	integer numeric	-	3	number of fractal levels
separation_angle	real numeric	degrees	30	angle between two adjacent branches
generation_factor	integer numeric	-	3	Number of new branches generated at each node
prune_factor	real numeric	-	0	A number between 0 and 1 representing the percentage of branches randomly deleted
thickness	real numeric	project units	1	diameter of branches
thickness_factor	real numeric	-	0.2	A number between 0 and 1 representing the percentage of tapering of each cylindrical branch upward

 

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