[REQ] Rotation Plugin
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Hello, I don't know if it's here where I should place this post, but i'd be interested in some tool to rotate.
It's very simple, and I don't know if it's already created or not.
What I need is.. given a component or a group, to rotate it in fixed axes X,Y or Z from a picked point in the object (no need to be the origin defined for the group/component). Because when I want to rotate an object which has no plane faces it's very difficult to rotate in the x, y or z axis (the default SU protactor usually turns black or it turns the center or the gizmo face, so I'm not rotating as I would like, coz then usually I have to align with the other objects in the model). So I would save me alot of time if I found a tool for this.
In other words, I would like that the rotation was perpendicular to a point (an not normal to a face), coz sometimes it's quite boring to try to find a plane face in the model just for the rotation tool gets a plane reference and turns red, green or blue.
I've been searching a plugin for this but I didn't accomplish my requirements with what I found.
Or if anyone could give me a simple code for this, so I could use it as a plugin...Somebody could help, please?
Thank you in advance. -
My related post, with pic:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=45044@unknownuser said:
When trying to manipulate 3d entities whose axes are not coincident with the model's, I often spend quite a bit of time constructing geometry to do the job, especially as regards rotation. It would be nice to have a routine to place a symbol at the axes, the geometry of which would readily allow such manipulation. I understand that that '3d entities' would have to be components as other entities may not have axes. Face size of symbol could default to 1 unit x 1 unit. Am I missing some tricks here?
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Hi, Ferran:
A point in Sketchup is not a discrete entity. It is merely the description of the beginning and end of a line, which is also an abstract concept. And, because a point has no directionality, you cannot define perpendiculars to it.
In Blender, you can have a discrete entity called a point, or vertex. And you can extrude it--essentially drawing a line, with the help of the floating xyz gizmo, and plenty of console windows.But then, I probably misunderstood your question.
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@unknownuser said:
I would like that the rotation was perpendicular to a point
Any vector or axis would be perpendicular to a point wouldn' it? Do you mean you would want the selected point to be the origin of the rotation around the X, Y, or Z axis?
I assume that you are aware that if you left click and hold while moving the mouse around you can change the color of the protractor to match the axis you want the release.
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Look at 'FreeRotate' - it has two 'modes', you pick the origin and the rotation ?
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@unknownuser said:
While rotating, if you left click and hold while moving the mouse around,
you can change the color of the protractor to match the axis you want,
then release to orient the protractor that way.
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Hello again,
@unknownuser said:
Any vector or axis would be perpendicular to a point wouldn' it? Do you mean you would want the selected point to be the origin of the rotation around the X, Y, or Z axis?
Yes, maybe I didn't express correctly or I confused a little bit.
For example, imagine an object wich is not simetric (an "elbow tube" for example) and I want to rotate from the center of one of the ends. I defined a center guide point from where I should rotate (which is not the center of the component/object), this point is only a reference for me, to make easier the work to join with other elements of the complete design.
So in my case I should create a line from that point, and then... really "try" to find some face to rotate from. Because if I look front view of that "elbow" surely I'll take a reference of face from the turn.
I didn't try the new fredo6 tool for rotating with a inference point, but i'm not sure if I would really get the goal. I think that Fredo should think about that possibility to his big plugin (some part of the fredoscale plugin, I think it is).Sorry for my explanations, I try to explain it coz I don't know how to do to put an example, a little animation as I saw other users do to show their examples. That's why I try to explain as much as I can. Even though I don't know if I can express my idea.
@unknownuser said:
Look at 'FreeRotate' - it has two 'modes', you pick the origin and the rotation ?
Ok, TIG, I'll check this
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did you try what sdmitch said?
@unknownuser said:
I assume that you are aware that if you left click and hold while moving the mouse around you can change the color of the protractor to match the axis you want the release.
aside from orienting the protractor to a major axis, you can also use this technique to lock to a perpendicular with minimal setup…
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Well, yes
that's what I was looking for!
Thank you Jeff, and thank you Sdmitch! now I tried and I got it! wow.
Well, also thank you very much to all other suggestions.
I also tried the TIG's Freerotate plugin. I remembered that I already used that but it was too complicated to get the axis, i don't know if it's my computer but before it appears that sphere of guides to define the rotation it delays quite alot, I don't know if before it appears the program calculates so many things, but it slows down a bit. In my computer I need to wait about 5 secons before I can manipulate the component/object or even to toggle to axis rotation I also have to wait a bit, but maybe it's in my computer which is a bit old. I'll keep this plugin for when I change computer which I cannot afford yet. You know... crisis problem.
Well, I tell you guys, by now... you solved my problem so you know, one said that you can never go to sleep without learning something new.
I'm much happier now.
I really aprreciate all your suggestions and advices.Ferrie
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