Module: Create Sphere ()

Description:

This module enables you to create a triangulated sphere as an object of class Surface. Center, radius, and resolution of the sphere can be specified. Furthermore, you can choose among two different ways of triangulation; they are shortly described below.

Press the Apply button to start the computation.

Connections:

Data [not used]

Ports:

Sphere Type

If the first option, latitude, is specified, the triangulation is done by first placing a number of small circles on the sphere. Neighboring small circles are placed equidistantly to each other in terms of their geodesic distance. We then place a number of points on each small circle, such that neighboring points on each circle are again equidistant to each other. The distance between the rings and points on each ring is close to a specified edge length. We then connect neighboring points on each small circle by edges. In the next step, we connect points on neighboring small circles with each other to form a complete triangulation. Here, points are connected such that the edge lengths are as short as possible. Finally, we add points at the north and south pole and connect them to all points on the smallest circles, respectively.
The second option, octahedron, triangulates a sphere by starting with an octahedron. The octahedron is then retriangulated to match the given edge length, and the points of this triangulation are projected onto the surface of the sphere. The edge lengths using this triangulation differ much more than with the latitude triangulation.

Radius

Radius of the sphere.

Point coords

Center coordinates of the sphere.

Edge length

Desired edge length of the triangles.

Number of points per Unit^2

Number of points per unit square. This port influences the edge length, and vice versa.