Creating a parametric cone

In this task, you will use the Cone command to create a parametric cone.

1 After starting the command, in the Point drop-down list select the type of placement point for the cone you are going to create:
Base center The point you specify will be the center of the cone base.
Center of mass The point you specify will be the center of mass of the cone.
To go on with this task, select Base center.
 
2 Click in the position you want to place the base center of your cone at (or use the Snap commands to place the cone with reference to an existing entity inside the model). As soon as the placement point is specified, a set of handles is displayed.



At any time during the creation of the cone, you can:
  • Change the position of the placement point just by clicking in a different position.



  • Change the orientation of the cone. The three arcs represent the three angles of rotation (about each of the three orthogonal directions). You can rotate the cone about an axis by dragging the corresponding arc or by typing the value of the rotation into the Angle box which shows up when you pick the arc.



    You can also use the X Axis, Y Axis, Z Axis drop-down lists under Axis Alignment:
    Line to align the axis to a line. Select the line.
    2 points to align the axis to the direction identified by the two points. Select the two points.
    End point to align the axis so that its second endpoint coincides with a point. Select the point.

     
3 Define the length of the Radius and the Height of the cone. You can either type the values into the corresponding mini-dialog boxes, or define them interactively by dragging the corresponding handle.



By double-clicking on the appropriate red circle marker, you can also invert the direction of the cone.
 
4 To create a truncated cone, select the Truncate by check box. In the adjacent drop-down list you can choose the truncation method.
Minor radius To truncate the cone by specifying the value of the second base radius. A Minor Radius mini-dialog box is displayed. Type in an appropriate value or define it interactively by dragging the corresponding handle.
Vertex angle To truncate the cone by defining its vertex angle (given the cone height, the angle formed by the axis of the cone and by its generatrix). A Vertex Angle mini-dialog box is displayed. Type in an appropriate value or define it interactively by dragging the corresponding handle.
Taper ratio To truncate the cone by defining the tangent of the vertex angle (which is also the ratio between the difference major radius/minor radius and the height). Type the appropriate value in the Taper ratio box.

In this task, select the Minor radius method and proceed as described in the illustrations above.
 
5 The final result of the command can be either the set of six surfaces composing the cone or a unique parametric solid cone. At any time during the creation of the cone you can decide about the result you want to obtain by controlling the status of the Associative Mode check box:
  • When the box is checked, the resulting entity will be a parametric solid. A drive dimension will be associated with the radius of then base of the cone and another one with the cone height. Depending on the construction method, if a truncation has been set, a drive dimension will be associated with the radius of the minor base of the cone or with the vertex angle, while, if the truncation is set through the taper ratio, the latter can be redefined using the Redefine Feature command. The icon of a solid will be displayed in the Model Structure.
  • When the box is cleared, the final result will be the surfaces composing the shape.
For further details, see "Associative surfaces". To go on with this task, select Associative Mode so as to obtain a parametric solid.
 
6 Click or to confirm your selections and actually create the solid.



Click to discard your changes.