I'd like to request a tune-up for this tool.

I recently wanted to model the ball shaped end of an Allen Key (Hex Key), like in the attached picture and the Rail Revolve Surface tool would have been perfect for the job.

However, because the rail revolve path can only consist of one curve, this means the hexagon has to be converted to a spline.

Now this may or may not be important to the next part, but when the profile curve is then revolved around the 'hexagon', I find that the path taken for the surface edge is only an approximation of the drawn shape and isn't suitable for further working where accuracy is important.

So can the tool be made to work precisely with single or multiple curves for the revolve path, even if this means it has to work section by section and then join to create the full surface?



Martin.

Here's a video of a random shape I created that displays what happens with this tool and why you can't really use it to make anything that needs to be accurate in its form.

If Rail Revolve Surface could be coaxed into working better, it could allow all sorts of unique shapes to be made very quickly and very easily. From my (limited) experience, I don't think there is another tool that can mimic its function completely.

http://screencast.com/t/CdFOK7k6LDo

Martin.

Three cylinders displaced 120 degrees and intersected strikes me as a simpler way to produce a hex ball end, rail revolve surface shortcomings notwithstanding.