Sweeping Objects

The Sweep command rotates a 2D object around a point to create a 3D object; the pitch and angle of the sweeping motion can be adjusted. Use it to convert a single object at a time, or to convert several selected objects. While more than one object can be swept at a time, grouped objects must first be ungrouped. Locked objects must first be unlocked in order to create a sweep.

A sweep has four basic elements: a centroid (locus), an arc angle, a segment angle, and a pitch. The locus acts as the sweep’s center of rotation. If a locus is not selected, the object is swept around its left edge, or around the point farthest on the left if more than one object is selected.

After the sweep has been created, use the Edit Sweep command to relocate the locus or add a locus. Use the Object Info palette to edit the other three sweep elements (arc angle, segment angle, pitch).

If more than one object is selected when creating a sweep, the objects are automatically grouped. To edit an object within the sweep, use the Edit Sweep command.

Parameter	Description
Size
Height	Indicates the sweep height
Radius	Indicates the sweep radius
Angles
Start Angle	Specifies the angle to begin the sweep; normally start at 0
Arc Angle	Specifies how many degrees to sweep; one full revolution is 360º.
Segment Angle	Indicates the number of segments that make up the sweep. The default is 36 segments, each one 10º from the next on the arc. The angle setting must be a positive number. A large number of segments can slow down performance.
Pitch	Sets the degree to which the sweep spirals. A sweep’s pitch is represented in the plus- or minus-height per revolution. For example, if the pitch is 1”, every revolution raises the object a single inch.

Command	Path
Sweep	Model