# Helix

> Vane pack: a spiral stair of thirty acrylic blades, tinted and black, threaded on a chrome spindle and held at a twist from each other by springs, so it winds and unwinds as it turns. Stroke it sideways and the blades at that height turn with your hand; tap to send a wave up the stack that flips each blade over as it passes, drag to wind the top. Traced exactly in WebGL.

- Slug: `vane-helix`
- Category: [Asset packs](https://www.assembli.design/category/asset-packs.md)
- Subcategory: [Vane](https://www.assembli.design/category/asset-packs/vane.md) (`vane`)
- Type: component
- Tags: 3d, webgl, ray-tracing, acrylic, glass, refraction, helix, spiral, stair, springs, physics
- npm dependencies: none
- shadcn/ui dependencies: none
- Live preview: https://www.assembli.design/preview/vane-helix
- Page: https://www.assembli.design/components/vane-helix

![Helix preview](https://www.assembli.design/thumbnails/vane-helix-light.png)

## Props

Other props pass through to the root element.

| Prop | Type | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `palette` | `VanePalette` | `"iris"` | A preset palette. Every piece in the pack reads the same colors. |
| `colors` | `Partial<VaneColors>` |  | Override any color of the palette, as any CSS color. |
| `studio` | `string` |  | The studio sweep behind the piece, as any CSS color: what its blades reflect and what shows through them. Match it to the page behind. By default it's a soft grey, or near black on dark surfaces. |
| `speed` | `number` |  | Playback speed. 0 holds the moment; reduced motion always holds it. |
| `interactive` | `boolean` |  | Hover, drag and tap to play with the piece. |
| `poke` | `number` |  | Change this value to set the piece off on cue, as a tap would. |
| `shadow` | `boolean` |  | Shade on the floor, for pieces that stand on one. |
| `surface` | `"auto" \| "light" \| "dark"` |  | What the piece sits on. "auto" follows the page theme; set "light" or "dark" when it sits on its own backdrop. |
| `rotate` | `[number, number]` |  | Move the camera, in degrees: [higher, round to the right]. |

## Install

One-time setup (needs a subscription):

1. Add the registry to the project's `components.json`: `{"@assembli":{"url":"https://www.assembli.design/r/{name}.json","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer ${ASSEMBLI_API_KEY}"}}}` (merge into `"registries"`).
2. Put an API key from https://www.assembli.design/account in `.env.local` as `ASSEMBLI_API_KEY=asm_…`.

Then install with the shadcn CLI (writes `components/vane-helix/vane-helix.tsx` and installs dependencies):

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add @assembli/vane-helix
```

Registry item JSON: https://www.assembli.design/r/vane-helix.json (send `Authorization: Bearer <api key>`)

## Code

> Component source needs an Assembli subscription ($12/month or $96/year) and an API key sent as `Authorization: Bearer <key>`. To get one without copying anything, POST https://www.assembli.design/api/agent/login (or call the MCP tool connect_account), show the user the link it returns, and poll https://www.assembli.design/api/agent/token for the key. Or subscribe at https://www.assembli.design/pricing and create a key at https://www.assembli.design/account.