Reference:Shapesq.inc

Bicorn

This curve looks like the top part of a paraboloid, bounded from below by another paraboloid. The basic equation is:

y^2 - (x^2 + z^2) y^2 - (x^2 + z^2 + 2 y - 1)^2 = 0

Crossed_Trough

This is a surface with four pieces that sweep up from the x-z plane.

The equation is: y = x^2 z^2

Cubic_Cylinder

A drop coming out of water? This is a curve formed by using the equation:

y = 1/2 x^2 (x + 1)

as the radius of a cylinder having the x-axis as its central axis. The final form of the equation is:

y^2 + z^2 = 0.5 (x^3 + x^2)

Cubic_Saddle_1

A cubic saddle. The equation is: z = x^3 - y^3

Devils_Curve

Variant of a devil's curve in 3-space. This figure has a top and bottom part that are very similar to a hyperboloid of one sheet, however the central region is pinched in the middle leaving two teardrop shaped holes. The equation is:

x^4 + 2 x^2 z^2 - 0.36 x^2 - y^4 + 0.25 y^2 + z^4 = 0

Folium

This is a folium rotated about the x-axis. The formula is:

2 x^2 - 3 x y^2 - 3 x z^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 0

Glob_5

Glob - sort of like basic teardrop shape. The equation is:

y^2 + z^2 = 0.5 x^5 + 0.5 x^4

Twin_Glob

Variant of a lemniscate - the two lobes are much more teardrop-like.

Helix, Helix_1

Approximation to the helix z = arctan(y/x). The helix can be approximated with an algebraic equation (kept to the range of a quartic) with the following steps:

tan(z) = y/x => sin(z)/cos(z) = y/x =>
(1) x sin(z) - y cos(z) = 0 Using the taylor expansions for sin, cos about z = 0,
sin(z) = z - z^3/3! + z^5/5! - ...
cos(z) = 1 - z^2/2! + z^6/6! - ...
Throwing out the high order terms, the expression (1) can be written as:
x (z - z^3/6) - y (1 + z^2/2) = 0, or

(2) -1/6 x z^3 + x z + 1/2 y z^2 - y = 0
This helix (2) turns 90 degrees in the range 0 <= z <= sqrt(2)/2. By using scale <2 2 2>, the helix defined below turns 90 degrees in the range 0 <= z <= sqrt(2) = 1.4042.

Hyperbolic_Torus

Hyperbolic Torus having major radius sqrt(40), minor radius sqrt(12). This figure is generated by sweeping a circle along the arms of a hyperbola. The equation is:

x^4 + 2 x^2 y^2 - 2 x^2 z^2 - 104 x^2 + y^4 - 2 y^2 z^2 + 56 y^2 + z^4 + 104 z^2 + 784 = 0

Lemniscate

Lemniscate of Gerono. This figure looks like two teardrops with their pointed ends connected. It is formed by rotating the Lemniscate of Gerono about the x-axis. The formula is:

x^4 - x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 0

Quartic_Loop_1

This is a figure with a bumpy sheet on one side and something that looks like a paraboloid (but with an internal bubble). The formula is:

(x^2 + y^2 + a c x)^2 - (x^2 + y^2)(c - a x)^2

-99*x^4+40*x^3-98*x^2*y^2-98*x^2*z^2+99*x^2+40*x*y^2

+40*x*z^2+y^4+2*y^2*z^2-y^2+z^4-z^2

Monkey_Saddle

This surface has three parts that sweep up and three down. This gives a saddle that has a place for two legs and a tail. The equation is:

z = c (x^3 - 3 x y^2)

The value c gives a vertical scale to the surface - the smaller the value of c, the flatter the surface will be (near the origin).

Parabolic_Torus_40_12

Parabolic Torus having major radius sqrt(40), minor radius sqrt(12). This figure is generated by sweeping a circle along the arms of a parabola. The equation is:

x^4 + 2 x^2 y^2 - 2 x^2 z - 104 x^2 + y^4 - 2 y^2 z + 56 y^2 + z^2 + 104 z + 784 = 0

Piriform

This figure looks like a hersheys kiss. It is formed by sweeping a Piriform about the x-axis. A basic form of the equation is:

(x^4 - x^3) + y^2 + z^2 = 0.

Quartic_Paraboloid

Quartic parabola - a 4th degree polynomial (has two bumps at the bottom) that has been swept around the z axis. The equation is:

0.1 x^4 - x^2 - y^2 - z^2 + 0.9 = 0

Quartic_Cylinder

Quartic Cylinder - a Space Needle?

Steiner_Surface

Steiners quartic surface

Torus_40_12

Torus having major radius sqrt(40), minor radius sqrt(12).

Witch_Hat

Witch of Agnesi.

Sinsurf

Very rough approximation to the sin-wave surface z = sin(2 pi x y).

In order to get an approximation good to 7 decimals at a distance of 1 from the origin would require a polynomial of degree around 60, which would require around 200,000 coefficients. For best results, scale by something like <1 1 0.2>.