Can you revolve a plane?

[alo95.costa]

I'm aware Maya and SketchUp are two completely different software, but back when I was using SketchUp as my main 3D modeling software, I was able to generate solid objects by performing a Revolve of a plane (or even just half of it).

Now I'm working on a 3D model on Maya, where one of the main parts requires a circular shapes. Before going through the long process of directly using a cylinder as starting shape, I was wondering if there was any way I could use the Revolve function to perform a revolve of an already shaped plane I made in a previous file. You can generate a solid by revolving a curve, so I guess it can be done the same with a plane. Am I right?

[keith112]

Hi Alo,

Would love to help but just want to clarify one thing before. 

How is creating a cylinder a long process? "Before going through the long process of directly using a cylinder"

I will help I'm just a bit confused as to how it's a long process.

Thanks

[mspeer]

Hi!

No, you can't revolve a plane,

but you should be able to create a curve based on the outline of your shape.

[alo95.costa]

Hi, I apologize that what I wrote wasn't very clear. What I meant when I said "Before going through the long process of directly using a cylinder" was that, before having to spend an entire week on giving a basic cylinder the shape I need to achieve, I was wondering if there was the opportunity to perform a Revolve of the plane I originally used, which already has the shape I need.

[alo95.costa]

Hi! Revolving a plane is not even possible by using a script or a plugin?

[mspeer]

Hi!

With a custom plug-in you can do almost everything, but i don't see the need for this here.

What's the problem with plane -> Outline/Curve -> Revolve?

Technically it would be done this way anyway.

Maybe i don't understand you correct.

[alo95.costa]

Hi, apologies for my late reply. Truth be told, I wasn't aware of the existence of Maya's Plane > Outline/Curve > Revolve feature. But now that you pointed it out, I guess it's worth a try. Thanks!

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

There is not such a command, but there are many ways to get the Outline.

Maybe i had better written it like this, to show that this a workflow.

1. select plane ...--> 2. create Outline/Curve ... --> 3. Revolve

Example commands:

Modify -> Convert -> Polygon Edges to Curve

Curves -> Duplicate Surface Curves

You can also select an Isoparm or Polygon Edge and revolve this directly, but you can't "technically" revolve a plane.

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