Solids Alignment

The Solids Alignment Plug-in allows you to manipulate the positions of solid models. The positioning is done by rotating/translating the first of the two selected models. The solid that was selected first becomes aligned to a second model. Cylindrical bodies can be aligned by making them concentric. Further functions are provided to align bodies using two edges or two points. Once two bodies have been aligned, additional models may be selected and aligned using the same transformation, enabling multiple models to be aligned.

Align Two Faces

Select two models by picking one face on each. The first model is rotated to align the two faces so that the faces are parallel.

Align Two Edges

Select two models by picking one edge on each. The first model is rotated and translated so that the two edges become parallel.

Flip About A Face

This item is used to flip a body about the selected face. Select one face (it must be a flat face) and the body is flipped around so that the face normal for the selected face points in the opposite direction.

Move/Rotate

If you only select one solid (instead of 2), then the solid is moved and/or rotated so that the center of the selected face (you must pick a single cylindrical face) lies along the Horizontal axis of the current CS. The solid is then translated so that it's maximum H(X) value is zero. This is designed to enable a solid imported into turning to be positioned to lie along the Z axis, with the front at Z zero, by picking just one cylindrical face.

If you select two solids, the behavior is slightly different. Select two models by picking a cylindrical face on each model. The second model is rotated and translated so that the two cylindrical faces share the same axis of rotation. Please note that the second cylinder may be placed inside the first. By checking the Offset box and giving an offset value, the second model will be translated along the axis of the cylinders by the offset value

Face-to-Face Mate

Select two models by picking one face on each. The face normals for the two faces must be in the same or exact opposite direction (as they would be after using the Align Two Faces command). The first model is translated along the face normal until the two faces are parallel and coincident.

Align With CS

Select one face on one solid and that solid will be moved so that the selected face is aligned with the HV axes of the current CS. The center of the face will lie at the HV origin. If you also pick one edge on the selected face, then once positioned, the solid is rotated so that the selected edge lies along the H axis. If you pick two edges on the selected face (which must be at 90° to one another), then, once positioned, the solid is rotated so that the first selected edge lies along the H axis and the second edge lies along the V axis.

Repeat

The six Repeat buttons are used to repeat the command associated with the icon above the button. The repeat buttons can be used with multiple models. For example, there may be a group of ten models that all need to be moved together. Move any one of the models first, using one of the alignment commands. After the first alignment, select the other nine models and use the repeat function to apply the same translation/rotation so that all ten models maintain their position relative to each other.

Nudge

The Nudge button is designed for use after the Face-to-Face Mate command. The first model will be moved by the nudge distance along the direction of the face normal so that the faces are no longer coincident but still remain parallel.

Offset

Once aligned, one of the models can be translated in the direction normal to the selected face so that the two faces become parallel. The two models can also be moved apart by a given distance.