Creating Cylinders

Use the Cylinder command to create a solid 3D cylinder. The base of the cylinder is parallel to the XY-plane of the coordinate system. The height is perpendicular to the base and parallel to the Z-axis.

To create a cylinder:

1. Click Solids > Draw > Cylinder (or type Cylinder).
2. Set an option for the cylinder's base:
   • Center point base:
     1. Click in the graphics area to specify a centerpoint or type the 3D coordinates.
     2. Click in the graphics area or type a value for radius. The distance between the center point and the point picked is used for the radius.
     3. - or -
     4. Enter the Diameter option, then click in the graphics area or type a value for diameter.
   • 3-point base (with a base that runs through the 3 points):
     1. Enter the 3Point option.
     2. Click in the graphics area or type values to specify the 3 points. The order in which you enter the points is arbitrary.
   • 2-point diameter base (with two points that define the diameter and position of the cylinder):
     1. Enter the 2Point option.
     2. Click in the graphics area or type values to specify the first and second endpoints of the diameter.
   • Tangent, tangent, radius (TTR) base:
     1. Enter the TTR option.
     2. Select a point on a circle, arc, or line for the first and second tangents.
     3. Click in the graphics area or type a value for radius.
   • Tangent, tangent, tangent (TTT) base:
     1. Enter the TTT option.
     2. Select a point on a circle, arc, or line for the first, second, and third tangents.
   • Elliptical base:
     1. Enter the Elliptical option.
     2. Click in the graphics area or type values to specify the axis endpoints and the length of the other axis.
     3. - or -
     4. Enter the Center option, then (instead of defining the two endpoints of the ellipse axis) enter the center point of the axis followed by the length of the major and minor axis. Then click in the graphics area or type values to specify the center point, axis endpoint, and other axis.
3. Click in the graphics area or type values to specify the cylinder height. When you specify a height, the top center point is directly above the base center point along the Z-axis.
4. - or -
5. If you want the center of the top face of the cylinder to lie somewhere else, enter the Center of other end option. Click in the graphics area or type a value to specify a 3D point for the center point of the top face.

Access

Command: Cylinder

Menu: Solids > Draw > Cylinder