This tool opens the 3D Shape Creator form.
Firstly you must have a side profile of the shape you wish to generate – think of this as a front-on view (like the front of a corn-flakes packet would be a rectangle). It must be symmetrical about its central axis (as it's going to be cut in half and rotated either about its central axis or about a horizontal cross-section).
Side Profile and Cross-section to the side
Resulting 3D Shape
Everything else works from alignment with this side profile shape. Graphic entities can be placed above and below the side-profile – these will be mapped and centred on the top and bottom of the 3D object. Graphic entities can be placed to the right of the side profile – these will be wrapped around the side of 3D object - their location in the y-direction is used to position them on the resultant 3D object. There can be more than one side graphic – but they must not overlap.
Profile with Graphic that will wrap around the Shape
Resulting Shape with graphic wrapped around
You can define cross-sections through the object – these are closed loops of entities which define the shape of the object at a particular height from the object’s base (think of looking directly down on a corn flakes packet). These loops are placed to the right of the side profile and the level (y-position) of their central point defines the height at which this cross-section applies to the 3D object.
When no cross-sections are defined the side profile is simply rotated about its central axis and you end up with a circular cross-section.
Profile and resulting Shape without any cross-sections
When there is more than one cross-section then each one defines the object profile at a particular height up the object:
Profile and resulting Shape with three cross-sections