Realsoft |
Rotator Object
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Chapter 3. Modeling | 
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Realsoft |
Rotator Object
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Chapter 3. Modeling |
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The rotator object creates a number of new objects by copying, rotating and translating its sample objects. For example, you can create the balls of a ball bearing using the rotator object.
To create balls for a ball bearing:
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1. Create one analytic sphere 2. Select the sphere and activate the Rotator tool (it's in the Modifier tab). The tool control bar now shows you a number of rotator tool specific options.  Rotator tool activated
3. Enter a point through the view window to define the center of rotation. This accepts the tool. You now have four spheres rotated about the defined center point. |
 Four spheres created by rotator tool
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In the select window, you can now see a rotator object and three instances. If you click the '+' handle of the Rotator object, you will find the original sphere and a NURBS axis object inside it. The rotator object duplicates the sphere about the created axis object. |
 A sphere is instanced and rotated three times by a rotator object
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You can change the number of object copies created by a rotator object (and other options as well) afterwards. For example, to change the number of spheres to 8: 4. Select the rotator object and open the property window. 5. Go into the Spec tab and set the U Direction/Angle field to 45 degrees. Then set the Count field to 7. You now have eight spheres (the original sphere + seven instances). |
 Changing the U direction angle and number of copies
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In addition to rotation, the rotator object can translate objects along the defined axis. Value 1 translates spheres by the full length of the axis. You can also replace the straight NURBS line with any curved object to get spheres translated and rotated along a curved path. If you only define 'translation' and set rotation to zero, the rotator object can be used as an alignment tool. |
 Translation and rotation along a curve
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The rotator accepts also a two-dimensional object, such as a rectangle, as an axis. In this case you can control the rotation/translation in two directions. For example, you can create arrays of objects using two perpendicular translations.
Rotator objects can be animated the usual way: just set animation recording on and modify the rotation options, such as the number of copies, to key frame them. You can also animate the axis and sample objects freely.
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Tube Object |
