Align object to a line

hcccs · 15 Jun 2017, 17:13

I'm trying to align a piece of tube to a guideline which is at an angle to the X, Y and Z axes. How do I do it in a simple way?

pilou · 15 Jun 2017, 19:28

Of course you can with the native "Rotation tool" but it's some painful!

pilou · 15 Jun 2017, 20:24

With the Sdmitch one !
Carreful : the axis' components can play on the result! So put them following you wish!

Call the Plug
Click the Component
Click 2 point on the Component
Click 2 points anywhere on the Guide line, repeat on the Guide Line for another copy...
et voilà!

Here the axes are at the middle bottom of the cylinder

Click Image for see Animation!

PS For put easilly axe you can use Axes tools by Thomthom

hcccs · 15 Jun 2017, 20:25

@pilou said:

With the Sdmitch one !
Carreful : the axis' components can play on the result! So put them following you wish!

Call the Plug

Click the Component

Click 2 point on the Component

Click 2 points anywhere on the Guide line, repeat on the Guide Line for another copy...
et voilà!

Here the axes are at the middle bottom of the cylinder

Click Image for see Animation!

[attachment=0:2e106vqd]GIF_alignComp.gif[/attachment:2e106vqd]

PS For put easilly axe you can use Axes tools by Thomthom

[highlight=#ffff80:2e106vqd]What is the name of the plugin? Sam D Mitch has several plugins.[/highlight:2e106vqd]

pilou · 15 Jun 2017, 20:26

The more funny method!
A little trick with the Perpendicular Face Tool by Chris Fullmer!

Will be fine for any form!

Draw the Line size of the cylinder length along the Guide Line
Take the base Cylinder
Call the Plugin
Click the extremity wanted on the line
Explode
Push Pull

et voilà!

Other Plugins are existing like Align 3D by Didier Bur
(more difficult for volumes in any orientation in the space
because you must draw the start / end 3D help triedre xyz for avoid error)
but this one above is some easy for any extruded volumes!

Add align Component by Sdmitch must be the more easy for any volume!

pilou · 15 Jun 2017, 20:28

It was writed!

@unknownuser said:

Add align Component by Sdmitch must be the more easy for any volume!

hcccs · 15 Jun 2017, 21:42

@pilou said:

It was writed!

@unknownuser said:

Add align Component by Sdmitch must be the more easy for any volume!

[highlight=#ffff00:1tk3c4yp]What exactly do you mean by that?[/highlight:1tk3c4yp]

pilou · 15 Jun 2017, 23:14

@unknownuser said:

Add align Component

That is the name of the script by SDmitch to use!
And luckily, it's also the first of the list !

I can't make more!
Maybe just to tell you how install a plugin ?
Load the plugin, as it's a file ".rb" and you have a Windows System says your profil
Compress it for have a ".zip" file (if you have not http://www.7-zip.org/ but use Zip format)
Rename the zip file ".zip" in ".rbz"

Now From Sketchup Menu Window/ Preferences/ Extensions / Install Extension/ load the
"add&Allign Component.rbz"
Close SketchUp
Re launch SketchUp

Plugin will be Menu Plugins (or Extension, I don't remember)
SDM Tools / CorG Tool / add&Allign Component

Have fun Modeling!

PS
@unknownuser said:

What exactly do you mean by that?

That is more easy method for align any volumes (Components with tricky axis - not only a cylinder)
in any alignment in the 3D space to a Guide line or line o 2 clicks in any position in the 3D Space!
So a dream for the user! Just 5 clicks!

hcccs · 16 Jun 2017, 07:42

@pilou said:

@unknownuser said:

Add align Component

That is the name of the script by SDmitch to use!
And luckily, it's also the first of the list !

I can't make more!
Maybe just to tell you how install a plugin ?
Load the plugin, as it's a file ".rb" and you have a Windows System says your profil
Compress it for have a ".zip" file (if you have not http://www.7-zip.org/ but use Zip format)
Rename the zip file ".zip" in ".rbz"

Now From Sketchup Menu Window/ Preferences/ Extensions / Install Extension/ load the
"add&Allign Component.rbz"
Close SketchUp
Re launch SketchUp

Plugin will be Menu Plugins (or Extension, I don't remember)
SDM Tools / CorG Tool / add&Allign Component

Have fun Modeling!

[highlight=#ffff00:1o8gz9a7]Thanks Pilou,
I have installed it correctly now and reloaded SU and when I click on the object I get a Ding sound so something is obviously wrong. Is the plugin compatible with SU 2017?[/highlight:1o8gz9a7]

PS
@unknownuser said:

What exactly do you mean by that?

That is more easy method for align any volumes (Components with tricky axis - not only a cylinder)
in any alignment in the 3D space to a Guide line or line o 2 clicks in any position in the 3D Space!
So a dream for the user! Just 5 clicks!

pilou · 16 Jun 2017, 08:32

@unknownuser said:

I have installed it correctly now and reloaded SU and when I click on the object I get a Ding sound so something is obviously wrong. Is the plugin compatible with SU 2017?

It's because you don't click on a surface of your Cylinder!
(and this one must be a Component! )

For make a Component
Triple-Click (be speed) somewhere on a Volume then Right Click / Make a Component
or box selection around the volume in your case a cylinder: Menu Edit / Make a component
or a shortcut (if one is existing) when volume is selected

If all above is made

Call the Plugin
Then the more simple:
Click a surface of your Component
Click start Point on the Guide line
Click another Point on the Guide Line
et voilà!

Here with a box : so just 3 Clicks (the box is for course a Component)
And it axes are like you want (made at the creation of it) !
A guide Line is created by the plugin for help you to adjust if wanted!
Here the axes are bottom and along an edge!

PS
For change the Axes of a Component
Richt Click on it / Modify Axis

Start / End Points can be in the empty space and even not existing!
Just make 2 CLicks on the empty Space!
A funy and very useful plugin!
Bravo to Sdmitch!

pilou · 16 Jun 2017, 09:05

And Yes, it's working in 2017!

Align an object in 3 Clicks in the 3D Space is a task!
Just create tricky Axis of Component following that you wish!

pilou · 16 Jun 2017, 11:01

You have also Move Along inside FredoTools
But it's a little program istself!

pilou · 16 Jun 2017, 11:43

So...Move along!
Axis's Cylinder Component are middle bottom
but even anywhere Plugin takes middle circle as base cliked!

Box · 16 Jun 2017, 14:34

You can do it fairly simply without plugins.

Jimnibob · 16 Jun 2017, 18:23

Hi,

When I align 2 objects (two cubes) to one another so that object 1 is connected to object 2 I am unable to separate them. If I highlight object 1 and try to move it, it distorts the other object it is connected to.

How do I separate the two objects?

gilles · 16 Jun 2017, 18:33

when you create an object make it a group or a component, then it won't interfere with raw geometry (edges faces that are not group or component).

hcccs · 23 Nov 2018, 21:42

@pilou said:

So...Move along!
Axis's Cylinder Component are middle bottom
but even anywhere Plugin takes middle circle as base cliked!

[attachment=0:6j6y05dk]GIF_move_along.gif[/attachment:6j6y05dk]

Thanks pilou, "Move Along" did the trick!

Box · 24 Nov 2018, 01:56

You really should only resort to plugins to do such basic things once you can do them manually or you severely limit your understanding of and ability to progress with the software.