Modeler

Gear ToolGearsChapter 3: Create Tab 75The Gear function (Create > Primitives: Gear) creates a gearshapedobject. This tool is very similar to the Gears function(discussed next) but has fewer options.True to its name, the Gears tool (Create > Primitives > More)quickly creates gear-shaped objects. Before describing thecontrols, let’s first take a look at what’s happening behind thescenes.Gear objects are composed of a disc shaped object withprotrusions called “teeth.” Each tooth is made up of four points.Two points comprise the base of each tooth, and two the top.Therefore, a gear with two teeth would be made up of 8 points, agear with four teeth would consist of 16 points, and so on.Teeth — Refers to the number of teeth in the gear.Taper % — Sets the “pointiness” of the teeth. A higher settingcreates sharper teeth.Inner Radius — Refers to the distance from the center of the gearto the bottom of the teeth.When you run the Gears tool, it first looks at the number of teethyou requested. It then multiplies the number of teeth by four (thenumber of points required for each tooth) and creates a disc usingthis total number of points.The diameter of the disc is determined by you, and is called the“Inner Radius.”Outer Radius — Outer Radius is the distance to the outside edgeof the teeth.Thickness — Thickness is the width of the gear.Axis — Axis is the perpendicular axis of the gear.Here you can see that a disc with 24 points has been created.At four points per tooth, this will yield a gear with six teeth. Anexisting gear with six teeth can be seen in the background.Once the disc has been created, pairs of points are selected andmoved outward. The position these points are moved towards isdetermined by you, and is called the “Outer Radius.”