Creating Profile Curves

Flat

This is the simplest Lathe Magic design: one block with a flat side with evenly spaced design dots. In the 3D view, this will show as a cylinder.

(To recreate this starting point, select menu item Actions-New Cylinder. A 1 inch high by 1 inch wide cylinder will be created. Click on the Scale All icon at the top of the Front View window then click on the grid location 1,3. The cylinder will scale to 3 inches high by 2 inches wide.)

Convex

The mouse was pointed at one of the circular design dots. While holding down both the left mouse button AND the Ctrl key, drag to the right. All 3 circular dots will move together.

Concave

The mouse was pointed at one of the circular design dots. While holding down both the left mouse button AND the Ctrl key, drag to the left. All 3 circular dots will move together.

S-Curve

Each circular design dot was moved by holding down the left mouse button and dragging to the position shown.

Center Bulge

The 2nd circular design dot was moved by holding down the left mouse button and dragging to the position shown.

Top Bulge

The circular design dots were moved to the position shown.

Bottom Bulge

The circular design dots were moved to the position shown.

Random

Right click anywhere in the Front View window and select Randomize Selected Block. A new random design will be generated. As shown, there is no need to keep the design dots far apart.

Above/Below

Circular design dots can be moved above or below the red squares. Note that a design that looks good on the screen may be hard to make on the lathe.

Left Side

Circular design dots can be moved across the centerline. Be cautious not to move all the dots to the left side or move them too far to the left as it will result in an unrealistic crossing of the profile.

Angled

The top red square was moved to the left and the bottom red square to the right. Right click anywhere in the Front View window and select Straighten Dots to make the line angle between the red squares. You can also use the menu choice Actions-Straighten Sides-Between Bottom and Top Square. This latter approach straightens and angles all the blocks in the design.

Multiple Curves

The image to the left illustrates how some of the curves shown above can go together to form a design:

1. The top block has two dots higher than the block's upper red square and one dot lower than the lower red square
2. The next block down has an angled side
3. The next block down has an S-curve
4. The bottom block shows a convex curve

Normally only the circular dots of the active block are shown. All the dots can be shown as in this image by selecting menu item Preferences-Show All Design Dots

This image shows the 3D view of the multiple curve design above.

Complex Ends

Normally the top and bottom faces are flat and have no control dots. A quick way to add control dots is to select the menu item Actions-Complex End Faces-Top or Bottom. This will insert a new block at the top or bottom of your design. The red squares and circular dots will all lie on a flat, horizontal line. Move the dots to create the curve you want.

The image at left shows a starting design.

This image shows the new added block at the top.

This image shows the center square dot and the circular design dots moved into new positions.

This image shows the 3D view of the complex end. Instead of a flat top face, there is now a curvy face.

Using D, V, and H Keys to Help Align Dots

Generally you can just drag a dot to the proper position but sometimes it's easier to align them to other dots by using the D, V or H keys.

In the image to the left, the lower 1 dot was positioned by first typing the D (for Diagonal) key then clicking on the 1 dot. This moves the dot in a horizontal line to a position where the 1 dot lies on a straight line with the middle red square and the upper 3 dot. This is an easy way to create a flowing curve between two different blocks.

The lower 2 dot was positioned by typing the V (for vertical alignment) key then clicking on the 2 dot. The dot moves left or right to a position directly above the lower red square of the same block. The lower 3 dot was positioned by typing the H (for horizontal alignment) key then clicking on the 3 dot. The dot moves up or down to a position level with the lower red square of the same block. If you want to align the dot with the red square above it, first type H or V then hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on the dot.

Using the Ctrl Key with Red Squares

The image to the left shows an example design.

Normal behavior when dragging a red square is that the circular design dots of the selected block and the block below it move along with the red square to maintain their relative positioning. See image to the left where the 2nd red square from the top has been moved up and to the left. The positions of the upper set of circular dots have moved compared to the starting design.

Holding down the CTRL key while dragging the red square moves ONLY the red square, as seen in the image to the left. The position of the circular dots do not move and remain where they were in the starting design.

Using the Ctrl Key with Circular Dots

Normal behavior when dragging a circular design dot is that only the one design dot moves (upper dot 2 in the image to the left).

Holding down the CTRL key while dragging any of the circular dots moves ALL the circular dots in the selected block. As seen in the image to the left, the circular dots maintain their same relative positioning as in the starting design.

Using the Alt Key with Red Squares

The image to the left shows the example design again.

Normal behavior when dragging a red square is that the circular design dots of the selected block and the block below it move along with the red square. In the image to the left, the 2nd red square from the bottom was moved down, making the bead larger.

Holding down the ALT key while dragging a red square moves EVERYTHING above the red square. This preserves the design of the selected block and all the blocks above it. As seen in the image to the left, the top two blocks have moved down but have the same size and shape as the starting design.