Lathe

Lathe in Cinema 4D is a generator object that creates 3D geometry by rotating a 2D spline around an axis, ideal for producing symmetrical, rounded objects like vases, bottles, or wheels.

What It Is

• The Lathe object revolves a spline around its axis to form a 3D surface of revolution.
• Supports closed and open splines, allowing partial or full rotations.
• Customizable start and end angles for creating segments or complete objects.
• Works well for creating smooth, symmetrical shapes from simple profiles.

How It Works

1. Create or select a spline defining the profile shape.
2. Add a Lathe object from the Generators menu.
3. Make the spline a child of the Lathe object in the Object Manager.
4. Adjust the rotation angle to define how much the spline revolves (e.g., 360° for full revolution).
5. Modify segments and caps to control mesh smoothness and edge detail.
6. Apply materials or further deformers as needed to complete the model.

Use Cases

• Modeling symmetrical objects like bowls, glasses, wheels, and knobs.
• Creating rotationally symmetric mechanical parts.
• Designing organic forms such as vases or bottles from profile curves.
• Generating objects for product visualization and animation.

Benefits

• Quickly creates complex 3D shapes from simple 2D profiles.
• Non-destructive and editable, allowing easy adjustment of the spline or rotation.
• Controls for partial revolutions enable diverse design possibilities.
• Integrates seamlessly with other modeling and animation tools.

More info here in the Maxon documentation.

Video Credit: TutorialCells software.
Description: This video demonstrates the lathe tool in Cinema 4D.