diff --git a/parastell/invessel_build.py b/parastell/invessel_build.py
index dbd41e4..a453022 100644
--- a/parastell/invessel_build.py
+++ b/parastell/invessel_build.py
@@ -492,12 +492,13 @@ def generate_surface(self):
         set of points computed by calculate_loci.
         """
         if not self.surface:
+            if self.transpose_fit:
+                self.surface_loci = np.transpose(self.surface_loci, (1, 0, 2))
+
             vectors = [
-                [cq.Vector(tuple(pt)) for pt in profile]
-                for profile in self.surface_loci
+                [cq.Vector(tuple(pt)) for pt in grid_row]
+                for grid_row in self.surface_loci
             ]
-            if self.transpose_fit:
-                vectors = list(map(list, zip(*vectors)))
 
             self.surface = cq.Face.makeSplineApprox(
                 vectors,
diff --git a/parastell/parastell.py b/parastell/parastell.py
index e73628d..368f781 100644
--- a/parastell/parastell.py
+++ b/parastell/parastell.py
@@ -137,17 +137,19 @@ def construct_invessel_build(
             sol_mat_tag (str): alternate DAGMC material tag to use for
                 scrape-off layer. If none is supplied, 'Vacuum' will be used
                 (defaults to None).
-            repeat (int): number of times to repeat build segment for full model
-                (defaults to 0).
-            num_ribs (int): total number of ribs over which to loft for each
-                build segment (defaults to 61). Ribs are set at toroidal angles
-                interpolated between those specified in 'toroidal_angles' if
-                this value is greater than the number of entries in
-                'toroidal_angles'.
-            num_rib_pts (int): total number of points defining each rib spline
-                (defaults to 61). Points are set at poloidal angles interpolated
-                between those specified in 'poloidal_angles' if this value is
-                greater than the number of entries in 'poloidal_angles'.
+            toroidal_grid_size (int): number of toroidal angle grid points
+                defining point clouds over which spline surfaces are fit. If
+                this value is greater than the length of "toroidal_angles",
+                additional grid points are set at toroidal angles interpolated
+                between those specified in "toroidal_angles".
+            poloidal_grid_size (int): number of poloidal angle grid points
+                defining point clouds over which spline surfaces are fit. If
+                this value is greater than the length of "poloidal_angles",
+                additional grid points are set at poloidal angles interpolated
+                between those specified in "poloidal_angles".
+            transpose_fit (bool): flag to indicate whether the 2-D iterable of
+                points through which each component's spline surface is fit
+                should be transposed. Can sometimes fix errant CAD generation.
             scale (float): a scaling factor between the units of VMEC and [cm]
                 (defaults to m2cm = 100).
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_invessel_build.py b/tests/test_invessel_build.py
index 9bceab6..5850efb 100644
--- a/tests/test_invessel_build.py
+++ b/tests/test_invessel_build.py
@@ -2,13 +2,10 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
+import pystell.read_vmec as read_vmec
 
-# import this before read_vmec to deal with conflicting
-# dependencies correctly
 import parastell.invessel_build as ivb
 
-import pystell.read_vmec as read_vmec
-
 
 def remove_files():
 
@@ -52,7 +49,10 @@ def invessel_build(radial_build):
     toroidal_grid_size = 11
 
     ivb_obj = ivb.InVesselBuild(
-        vmec, radial_build, toroidal_grid_size=toroidal_grid_size
+        vmec,
+        radial_build,
+        toroidal_grid_size=toroidal_grid_size,
+        transpose_fit=True,
     )
 
     return ivb_obj
diff --git a/tests/test_parastell.py b/tests/test_parastell.py
index 70a6f40..c3c8066 100644
--- a/tests/test_parastell.py
+++ b/tests/test_parastell.py
@@ -60,14 +60,14 @@ def test_parastell(stellarator):
             * 10
         }
     }
-    num_ribs = 11
+    toroidal_grid_size = 11
 
     stellarator.construct_invessel_build(
         toroidal_angles,
         poloidal_angles,
         wall_s,
         radial_build_dict,
-        num_ribs=num_ribs,
+        toroidal_grid_size=toroidal_grid_size,
     )
 
     chamber_filename_exp = Path("chamber").with_suffix(".step")