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Lacados LAKManual Vectric Aspire V12

How to use the turn and spin tool in Aspire in Vectric software | Modeling Tools

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

This video explains how to use the Turn and Spin tool in Vectric Aspire to create turned or spun 3D shapes from 2D vector cross-sections. It covers both the Turn option (rotate a profile around a start-to-end axis) and the Spin option (rotate a profile around its left end point), with examples including a pepper mill, spindle, plate, and ripple shape.

Steps

Section titled “Steps”
  1. Go to the Design tab and under Modeling Tools click the Turn and Spin icon.
  2. Select a vector cross-section in the 2D view.
  3. In the form, choose the operation:
    • Turn – rotates the profile around an imaginary line from the start point to the end point.
    • Spin – rotates the profile around its left end point.
  4. Set the Combine Mode (e.g. Add) and enter a name for the component.
  5. Click Apply and inspect the result in the 3D view.
  6. If needed, edit the vector:
    • Press N to enter node edit mode while the tool is open.
    • Use the Polyline tool to add base legs or adjust the profile.
    • Use the Join tool to combine separate vectors into a single vector.
    • Restart the Turn and Spin operation and click Apply to update.
  7. For Spin, ensure the left end point is positioned where you want the centre axis to be, usually the centre of the job, to create a full circular component.

Key Points / Warnings

Section titled “Key Points / Warnings”
  • Turn rotates the profile around the line from the start point to end point. The resulting height is based on the widest part of the profile.
  • Spin rotates the profile around its left end point. If that point is not at the desired centre, the shape may be incomplete or off-centre.
  • If a turned or spun shape has missing areas or an unexpected hollow, the vector likely has no vertical “leg” at the axis. Add a leg/base to the profile to create a solid body.
  • Zero-thickness sections in the vector will produce zero-height areas in the model; troughs will produce negative/positive recesses depending on the base.
  • Scale to Exact Height can be checked to force the shape to a specific height, but it will flatten the profile compared to a full rounded shape.
  • Always join the profile vectors into one continuous vector before applying the tool.
  • Use Apply to update after editing the vector, then close the form when satisfied.