AutoCAD 3D Modeling: Align
September 3, 2003 The ALIGN command enables you to do 3D
rotation, displacement, and scale at the same time. With this
command you can align a model with another one. The following
tutorial shows you how.
Note: This tutorial is designed for AutoCAD 2004 though might be
applicable to other releases.
1. Download
r16_align.dwg.
Note:
If you are using AutoCAD 2002 or an earlier release download
r15_align.dwg.
2. Open the drawing
in AutoCAD [Figure 1]. The drawing consists of two solid
objects.
Figure 1 -
Click on image to enlarge
3. Switch to
Wireframe shade mode [Figure 2]. I have added some numbers to
help you throughout this tutorial.
Figure 2 -
Click on image to enlarge
4. Let's align the
solid to the right with the other one.
5. Make sure that
Endpoint OSnap is enabled.
6. Invoke ALIGN
(Modify menu > 3D Operation > Align).
7. Select the model
to the right. Press Enter.
8. For the first
source point click point 1.
9. For the first
target point click point 1' [Figure 3]. A line connects 1 to 1'.
The 1-1' line defines the displacement vector.
Figure 3
10. For the second
source point click 2.
11. For the second
target point click 2'. A line connects 2 to 2'. After the
operation 1-2 line will be parallel to 1'-2'.
Figure 4
12. For the last
set of points click 3 and 3' respectively. The plane 1-2-3 fits
1'-2'-3' and the object is aligned with the other one [Figure
5].
Figure 5
13. Union the
models [Figure 6].
Figure 6
Note:
For more information on UNION read the following tutorial:
► AutoCAD 3D Modeling:
Boolean Operations
14. Switch to
Gouraud shade mode.
15. Alter the view
to NW Isometric [Figure 7].
Figure 7
Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a
mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with
AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD
consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor
for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, and an
instructor for AUGI Training Program. He has written 8 books in
Farsi, 3 booklets in English, and more than 100 articles for
different magazines and newsletters. You can reach Alireza at
alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website
www.cadpanel.com .
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