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490 Chapter 7: Creating Copies and Arrays
Circular Ar ray s
A circular array
Circular arrays are similar to linear arrays, but
basedonrotationaroundacommoncenterrather
than movement along an axis. The following
proceduremakesacircleofobjectsontheXY
plane of the home gr id with the Z axis as the center.
To cre ate a circular array:
1.
On the main toolbar, choose a transform center
to become the center of the array. In this case,
choose Use Transform Coord inate Center s o
the center of the grid becomes t he array center.
2. Select an object and pos ition it at some distance
from the center of the gr id.
This distance is the radius of the finished circle.
3. Choose Ar ray from the Array flyout or
the Tools menu to display the Array dialog.
Note: TheArrayflyoutisontheExtrastoolbar,
which is off by default. You can togg le display
of this toolbar by rig ht-clicking the main
toolbar and choosing Axis Constraints from
the Customize Display r ight-click menu (page
3–787).
4. On the Array dialog , enter 360 in the Totals
Rotate Z field.
This is the total rotation for the array, a
complete circle. To create a partial circle, enter
asmallervalue.
5. Choose 1D and enter a Count value (this can be
any number) and click OK.
3ds Max arr ays that number of clones within
the total rotational angle you specify.
Spiral Arrays
Aspiralarray
The simplest spiral arrays are rotated circular
arrays with a movement along the central axis.
Thesamecircleisformed,butnowthecirclerises
upward.
If Z is the central axis, enter a value for Incremental
Move Z. Each clone is then moved upward this
amount as the c ircle is formed.
Rotation in Spiral Ar rays
In spiral arrays, the direction of rotation
determines the direct ion of the spiral: which way
it winds up or down.
Enter a positive rotation for a counterclockwise
spiral.
Enter a negative rotation for a clockwise spiral.