Revolve

This page contains the design document for an enhancement or feature. The design should be considered a work in progress and may not represent the final design. As this is a collaborative design, contributions and participation from other developers and users is encouraged. Use the discussion page for providing comments and suggestions.

Overview

A solid of revolution can be described by its axis of revolution (point & vector), an angle (-2*pi, 2*pi), and a 2D sketch coplanar with the axis of revolution. The start and end surfaces will be planes, and a positive angle is counterclockwise rotation. There are several options for how to specify the start and end planes. Starseeker suggests using:

• a vector 'r' such that <axis> x <r> = direction of revolution
• an angle

In order to analytically solve for the ray/shape intersection points, the sketch must be limited to splines of at most second order.

Internal Representation

struct rt_revolve_internal:

• point_t V3D;
• vect_t axis3D;
• point2d_t V2D;
• vect2d_t axis2D
• vect_t r;
• fastf_t angle;
• char *sketch_name;
• struct rt_sketch_internal *sk;

Questions: Should the sketch be restricted to revolve about its y-axis, or should I allow for an arbitrary point & axis defined in the sketch plane (*2D)? If yes, the sketch would undergo a rotation/translation - is rotation/translation of a sketch already possible? If it is possible, then restricting to the y-axis will not limit the user.

General Algorithms

rt_rev_shot() - ray intersection

1. If (angle != 2*pi) check against the start and end surfaces.
   1. Find the parameter values for the intersection of the ray with the start/end surfaces. These two plane intersections will give the bounds on the parameter for intersections. In some cases, there will only be an upper or lower bound.
   2. Check if the plane intersection point(s) are inside the 2D sketch.
2. For the revolved portion:
   1. Flatten out the intersection to 2D (ignore theta): ray becomes hyperbola in the r-z plane (parameterized- use same variable for length along ray as length along hyperbola to keep mapping from 3D to 2D)
   2. Check the hyperbola's path against the 2D revolve outline. Find the parameter values at the intersection points.
   3. Check the parameter value against the bounds determined in 1.1.

rt_rev_norm() - surface normals @ hitpoint

1. If the hitpoint is on the precomputed 2D revolve outline, the normal vector will lie in the r-z plane, and it will also be normal to the 2D revolve outline.
2. Otherwise, the hitpoint is on the plane at the start or end of the revolve, and the normal vectors for each plane can be stored to speed calculations.

rt_rev_curve() - surface curvature @ hitpoint

1. On the revolved portion (similar to toroid calculation):
   1. Get the curvature in the r-z plane from the precomputed 2D revolve bounds.
   2. Calculate the curvature in the z-theta plane from r.
2. On the planes at the limits of the revolve, the curvature will be 0.

rt_rev_plot() & rt_rev_tess()

plot() and tess() can be done using the same basic algorithm that the toroids use, with some modifications:

1. Use the precomputed revolve boundary instead of the ellipse/circle for the 2D shape to be revolved.
2. Add +/- limits to the angle of the revolve.
3. Add the planes at start and end of revolve (if angle != 2*pi).

Additional Features

General Primitive or Combination

Add support for using a 3D primitive or combination as the basis of the revolve.

End Caps

This would keep the first half of the primitive or group being revolved at the start plane, and add a copy of the primitive/group to the end. If this was applied to a cone over 90 degrees, where the cross-section used for the revolve was a circle, the result would be a frustum attached to right angle pipe curve, with a cone at the tip.

Complex End Conditions

This would create a partial revolve (angle < 2*pi) with a 3D shape where the maximum outline does not fall in a r-z plane. A 2D example of this is revolving an ellipse with focii at (4,1) and (6, -1) about the z axis. For this case, the minimum radius and maximum radius do not occur along the same plane. If the end cap method (above) was used, there would be an abrubt transition from the ellipse to the revolved body.

This feature can best be implemented by using a sweep along a circular path, because the sweep primitive will need to handle this end condition for sweeping any other general 3D primitive. This approach minimizes code duplication, and keeps the revolve primitive focused specifically on revolving.