Rotor blades

The Rotor blades submenu generates repeated blade geometry around a selected reference model. Select a model first, then choose the blade family. The selected model acts as the base/reference object for placement, projection, material/style inheritance, and initial sizing.

When a blade form opens, the app looks at the selected model in the current projection and takes the biggest visible dimension as the intended rotor diameter. The form then pre-fills radius/chord/sweep values proportionally. You can still edit all values before pressing Create.

Available Blade Generators

Propeller / Rotor

Creates convex rotor or propeller blades.

Fields:

• Blade count: number of blades around the rotor.

• Convex sections: number of radial sections used to build each blade.

• Rotor radius (mm): blade radius from the center. If a selected model is present, this is pre-filled as half of the selected model’s biggest visible projected size.

• Root radius (mm): radius where the blade starts near the hub.

• Root chord (mm): blade width near the root.

• Tip chord (mm): blade width near the tip.

• Root pitch (deg): pitch angle at the root.

• Tip pitch (deg): pitch angle at the tip.

• Thickness (% chord): blade thickness relative to chord length.

Default values are 3 blades, 32 convex sections, 120 mm rotor radius, 15 mm root radius, 32 mm root chord, 12 mm tip chord, 28 degree root pitch, 8 degree tip pitch, and 12 percent thickness.

Ducted Fan / Compressor

Creates compressor-style blades for a ducted fan or compressor wheel.

Fields:

• Blade count and Convex sections.

• Hub radius (mm) and Outer radius (mm). Outer radius is pre-filled as half of the selected model’s biggest visible projected size.

• Root chord (mm) and Tip chord (mm).

• Root stagger (deg) and Tip stagger (deg).

• Root thickness (%) and Tip thickness (%).

• Axial sweep (mm): forward/back sweep along the axis.

• Tangential lean (mm): sideways lean around rotation.

Default values are 12 blades, 24 sections, 30 mm hub radius, 60 mm outer radius, 22 mm root chord, 14 mm tip chord, 58 degree root stagger, 38 degree tip stagger, 14 percent root thickness, 9 percent tip thickness, 5 mm axial sweep, and 2 mm tangential lean.

Turbine Blades

Creates turbine-style blades. It uses the same style of inputs as the compressor generator but with turbine-oriented defaults.

Fields:

• Blade count and Convex sections.

• Hub radius (mm) and Outer radius (mm). Outer radius is pre-filled as half of the selected model’s biggest visible projected size.

• Root chord (mm) and Tip chord (mm).

• Root stagger (deg) and Tip stagger (deg).

• Root thickness (%) and Tip thickness (%).

• Axial sweep (mm): forward/back sweep along the axis.

• Tangential lean (mm): sideways lean around rotation.

Default values are 16 blades, 28 sections, 35 mm hub radius, 65 mm outer radius, 25 mm root chord, 18 mm tip chord, 68 degree root stagger, 48 degree tip stagger, 18 percent root thickness, 11 percent tip thickness, -4 mm axial sweep, and 3 mm tangential lean.

Practical Workflow

1. Select a base/reference model.

2. Switch to the projection that represents the intended rotor size.

3. Open Insert > Rotor blades.

4. Choose Propeller / rotor, Ducted fan / compressor, or Turbine blades.

5. Review the auto-filled size values and adjust if needed.

6. Press Create.

7. Inspect the generated blade set in 3D view.

Notes

• The selected model’s biggest visible projected dimension is treated as the intended full rotor diameter.

• Radius fields are half of that diameter.

• Chord, hub/root radius, sweep, and lean values are scaled proportionally from the generator defaults.

• Pitch, stagger, blade count, section count, and thickness percentages keep their normal defaults.

• Convex sections controls how many sections are used along the blade. Higher values are smoother but heavier.

• Use small test values first, then increase blade count or section count after the shape looks right.