Cone

The Cone tool makes a solid cone in the 3D view from three inputs: the centre of its base, its radius, then the height of its apex, each clicked or typed. The cone is placed as a new component, its base flat and its side smooth.

What it is

The Cone tool makes a solid cone standing upright. Its base is a level circle at the point you click, and its apex stands on the vertical through that point, above or below. The side is built of 32 steps around and marked smooth, so it reads as one round surface; the base is a flat face.

The cone lands as a new component, named Cone with a number, holding that one body. A click takes it whole; a double click opens it.

When to use it

To model a spire, a funnel, a lamp shade or a pointed roof finial.
To make a pointed cutter for Boolean.

The steps

Take the tool. Type C then N within a short moment, or click Cone among the shapes. C alone opens Circle; the N switches to Cone.
Click the base's centre. The marker shows what the click takes: a corner, a midpoint, a face or the ground.
Set the radius. It is read on the level plane through the centre; the readout gives it. Click, or type it and press Enter.
Set the apex's height. The apex follows the pointer up or down the vertical through the centre. Click, or type the height and press Enter. The cone stands at once.
Step back if needed. Escape goes back one step: from the height to the radius, from the radius to the centre. The space bar returns to Select.

What it refuses

A radius or a height of nothing. A zero is ignored and the tool waits for a real value.
A centre on nothing. A click that finds no point says where the centre may be taken.

What it writes to the contract

One undoable step adds a new component definition holding the cone's body, and a placement of it at the base centre, on the current level. Inside an open component, the new component is placed inside that one. The new placement is selected.

Common questions

What is the shortcut of the Cone tool?

Type C then N within a short moment. C alone opens the Circle tool; the N that follows switches to the Cone.

Can the cone point downward?

Yes. Set the apex height below the base and the cone hangs below it, its point down.

Can I use a cone to cut another body?

Yes. Place it where it overlaps the body, take the Boolean tool and click the cone: it cuts what it touches.