Creating 3D Surface Graphs and 3D Parametric Graphs Using Cylindrical Coordinates Using LabVIEW

[Ryan-C]

Overview

The example shows how to use 3D Graph Palette on the Front Panel in LabVIEW to  create a 3D Surface Graph or a 3D Parametric Graph.

Description

The example shows how to use 3D Graph Palette on the Front Panel in LabVIEW to  create a 3D Surface Graph or a 3D Parametric Graph. You can use the create plot VI's to input 1D or 2D arrays to define the plots.  Using a Property Node, you can change to a Cylindrical Coordinate System.   

Requirements

• LabVIEW 2012( (or compatible)

Steps to Implement or Execute Code

1. Change the vector in front panel
2. Run the vi

Additional Information or References

In either case (3D Surface Graph or 3D Parametric Graph), we have:

• The z-matrix represents the radial distance "r"
• The x-vector or x-matrix represents the angle "theta" (in radians) and
• The y-vector or y-matrix represents the height "z"

The 3D Surface Graph may only be used if the radial distance r is the only dependent variable.  This is because the theta and z values are represented only by vectors.

The 3d Parametric Graph must be used if you wish to vary theta or z as dependent variables.  Following the general format provided in the attached VI, you can create any cylindrical 3D plot.

**This document has been updated to meet the current required format for the NI Code Exchange.** 

[johnfr]

The problem with this solution is that the color change of surface plot is a function of distance from XY origin. What I need is for the color change to be function of offset from the z-axis origin. I have tried every 3D Graph Property and can not seem to get the desired result.

[Saridar]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for the tutorial. I am really in need of this. Can you update the file release to LabVIEW 2009? All files are for 2012!

[Olataro]

hI, i'm wondering how did you form the 2D matrix from the X and Y vector?

[Viet1102]

I want export to file 3d:  ASE, STL or VRML. Can you help me?