9

Helix Spline 281
Helix Spline
Create panel > Shapes > Splines > Object Type rollout >
Helix
Create menu > Shapes > H elix
Use Helix to create open flat or 3D spirals.
Examples of helixes
Procedure
To create a helix:
1.
GototheCreatepanelandchoose
Shapes.
2. Click Helix.
3. Chooseacreationmethod.
4. Press the mouse button to define the first point
of the Helix start cir
cle.
5. Drag and release the m
ouse button to define
the second point of the Helix start circle.
6. Move the mouse and then click to define the
height of the Helix.
7. Move the mouse and then click to define the
radius of the Helix e
nd.
Inter face
Rendering rollout
All spline-based sh
apes share these parameters.
See Splines ( page 1–266) for explanations of these
parameters.
Interpola tion
The helix differs from other spline-based shapes
in that it always uses adaptive interpolation:the
number of vertices in a helix is determined by the
number of turns.
Creation Method rollout
The Helix shape uses the standard creation
methodsofCenterorEdge. Mostspline-based
shapes share the same Creation Method
parameters. See Splines (page 1–266) for an
explanation of these parameters.
Parameters rollout
Onceyouhavecreatedahelix,youcanmake
changes using the following parameters:
Radius 1—Specifies the radius for the Helix start.
Radius 2—Specifies the radius for the Helix end.
Height—Specifies the height of the Helix.
Tu rns—SpecifiesthenumberofturnstheHelix
makes b etween its start and end points.
Bias—Forces the turns to accumulate at one end of
the helix. Bias has no visible affect when the height
is 0.0.