Axis Alignment Script

Dave R · 5 Dec 2007, 18:51

I did a search and didn't have any luck. Is there an existing script or could one be written that aligns the axes of selected components/groups with the global axes.

Didier Bur · 5 Dec 2007, 18:52

What about my align_2D script ? If I remember, it can do it.
Cheers,

Dave R · 5 Dec 2007, 18:52

Thanks Didier, I'll give it a try.

Dave R · 5 Dec 2007, 18:53

Maybe I'm working it wrong but it doesn't seem to do what I want.

What I'm hoping to do is reset the axes in all the components/groups in a model to be aligned with the global axes.

Edited to add, here's an example of a model that I would like to modify. It's on the 3D Warehouse. If you turn on the axes under Model Info>Components you'll see that the axes are aligned differently. The global axes in the model are funky, too, but that is quickly remedied.

RickW · 5 Dec 2007, 18:53

It sounds like you want the instances to remain where they are, but the axes are changed. Is that correct?

Dave R · 5 Dec 2007, 18:53

Rick, yes, that's what I'd like to have happen. Sorry not to have said that up front.

daiku · 5 Dec 2007, 18:54

Dave:

Do you want the new axes to be parallel to the global axes, or actually superimposed on top of the global axes, so that the origin of the comp is the same as the origin of the model? If it's the former, if you exlode then re-combine (either group or compo), do you get the desired behavior? I'm not necessariy suggesting this as a workaround - I'm just making sure that I understand what you are asking for. CB.

Dave R · 5 Dec 2007, 18:54

Daiku, yes, I want the component/group axes to be parallel to but not necessarily superimposed. Yes, I could explode each component/group and re-componentize or regroup but then I have to go through the steps to make related components related again.

daiku · 5 Dec 2007, 18:55

I just thought of something else. The axes alignment will be part of the component definition, not the individual instance. When you change the axes for one instance, you change them all. Even if the other instances are not oriented in the same direction.

Dave R · 5 Dec 2007, 18:55

Clark, you're right. In the instance I'm thinking of this would be just fine. I suppose there could be other cases where that might not be desirable. Normally, I keep pretty good control of axis orientation when I am drawing but it sometimes, when I get a model from someone else I spend a fair amount of time straightening out the model before I can actually use it or work with it.

Dave

matthew.robert · 1 Feb 2008, 05:05

Consider this a bump. I am looking for the exact same thing (I think). What I am doing is nesting some face-me components inside another component that I am making a bunch of copies of. I am then rotating each one of those slightly differently which also rotates the axis of the nested components. I then effectively move the components out by exploding the nesting component and I would like to get all the face-me components to match the global axis. But in my instance, they have now been scaled and I would like to retain that scale. Any readers to this thread have any ideas?