9.5.2

276 • CHAPTER 7
OBJECTS MENU • SPLINES • 277
Attribute manager settings
Object Properties
Type
With this option you choose the kind of rolling effect you want the curve to adopt. The basic cycloid
is the rotating curve of a circle (radius R) along a straight line. The epicycloid is the rotating curve of a
circle (radius r) that moves outside of a second (usually) larger circle (radius R). The hypocycloid is the
rotating curve of a circle (radius r) that moves inside a second (usually) larger circle (radius R).
Parameters of a basic
cycloid object.
Parameters of an
epicycloid object.
Parameters of a
hypocycloid.
Radius, r, a
With the basic cycloid (a = R), the observed point P (that the curve forms) is on the radius of the
circle. With the shortened cycloid (a < R), it is inside the circle radius, and with the extended (prolate)
cycloid (a > R) it is outside.