Rotor blades

Rotor blades

Menu path: Insert > 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 and projection.

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): full blade radius from the center.

- 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).

- 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.

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. Open Insert > Rotor blades.

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

4. Enter blade count and shape dimensions.

5. Press Create.

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

Notes

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

- Chord values control blade width. Pitch/stagger controls twist/angle. Thickness percentage controls airfoil-like depth.

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