Working with Revolve command

Revolve command is a great tool to create circular 3D model in AutoCAD 3D. Revolve command is used to revolve a 2D entity or region about a specified axis of revolution. By defining axis of revolution differently, your object revolves differently.

            The foremost thing to note with the revolve command is that your 2D entity must lie on one side of the axis of revolution.

            The direction of revolution is given by right hand thumb rule according to which, if you keep your thumb pointing in the direction of axis of revolution, them the direction of curling of fingers gives the direction of revolution.

            You can implement revolve command from the drop-down of extrude tool available in modeling panel of the home tab OR else use REV as the hot key( a shortcut key) within the command panel.

             Similar to that of extrude tool, you have two modes :

1. Solid Mode and 
2. Surface Mode

But keep in mind that an open 2D entity can be revolved to give a surface 3D object.For example, picture below shows a 2D entity revolved using revolve command.Here 1 is the axis pf revolution and 2 is the 2D entity to be revolved.

2D entity to be revolved

Axis of revolution

                                                                                                                                                         

               

As you can see the 3D object after applying revolve command is a surface not a solid.

Therefore, to make a solid 3D object, make sure that your 2D object is a closed entity.

Options available in Revolve command :

         By defining your axis of revolution differently, your solids may revolve differently.

Various options of defining an axis of revolution are :

1. Axis Endpoints :

          This is the default option of defining an axis of revolution. In this, you need to define two endpoints of the axis of revolution. The positive diection of X-axis is from start point to the end point.

2. Object :

         This option kets you define a 2D object as the axis of revolution. You just need to select the object which you want to define as axis of revolution.

3. X/Y/Z :

        These are separate options which let you define X-, Y-, Z- axes as the axis of revolution.The 2D entity to be revolved revolves with either X or Y or Z, based on what you have selected.

4. Rotation angle :

        After defining an axis of revolution, you are then prompted to specify an angle of revolution.This angle of revolution may vary from 0 to 360. Bydefault, it is set to 360.