> As an ex-draftsman,

Ah, somehow I had jumped to an assumption that you were coming from a non-NURBS background because of using different modeling techniques such as the stuff called "subdivision surfaces". I shouldn't jump to assumptions about people's backgrounds so quickly.

It's actually quite valuable for me to find out about different things that you find confusing. Hearing about that stuff is how I learn what areas tend to confuse people and can help give ideas on how to improve things in the future.

So when you pick a revolve axis, the distance between the points you pick is not used for anything, the important parts are the location of the base point, and then the _direction_ that is formed between it and the second point. It would probably be better shown graphically as an infinite construction line instead of a line segment.

Think of the axis that you draw as a line that is the pivot pin of a door hinge, where the revolved shape will be created along the way the hinge swings. It doesn't matter if you have a one inch tall hinge, or a five inch tall hinge, they both make a swing in the same direction if they have the same pivot pin. Does that make sense? Let me know if that still doesn't make sense.

The distance you pick can be important to some operations, but not for revolve.

- Michael