Making a cylider

[jackamus]

As a technical illustrator I'm always drawing cylinders. Until now I usually use the 'Old method' at the top of the attached file. This involves creating:

 

1 Ellipse A with a clone B on top.

2 I convert B into curves and cut the two nodes on the major axis thus creating two semi-ellipses.

3 I discard the right-hand one and drag the left-hand one to the left.

4 Using the pen tool I draw two lines from the semi-ellipse to join the full ellipse.

 

My new method also uses ellipse A and B

1 I create two new nodes as close as possible (using a large amount of zoom) to the left of major axis nodes on ellipse B.

2 I cut the two major axis nodes as above.

3 I discard the right-hand semi-ellipse.

4 I then select the two new nodes along with the minor axis node and drag the group to the left.

 

This could be avoided if there was an additional  facility to select just the two major axis nodes and minor axis node and drag. At present it just distorts the semi-ellipse. Or maybe just a cylinder creating tool is all that is needed!

Drawing cylinders.afdesign