Point Alignment

[ucito]

Currently, alignment is based primarily on the selection of areas. However, when working with irregular shapes or complex geometries, it would be helpful to be able to align solids directly to individual points, reference points or edges.

The measurement function already allows reference center points to be set. It would be useful if multiple points or edges could then be selected and aligned along the x, y or z axes.

For example, I might want two points or their edges to lie exactly on top of one another:

Perhaps it is also possible in other situations like sketch mode to define or display points in relation to other points, similar to Fusion. Temporary dashed construction lines and axis guides could appear automatically when approaching relevant geometric positions.

When setting measurement points, for example – particularly with narrow parts – I noticed that I had placed the second point behind the first rather than above it.

examples:
alignment along the X, Y and Z axes.
perpendicular alignment (90°).
extensions of existing edges and lines.
detection of intersections, vertices and geometric reference points.
temporary snapping guides showing when two points or edges are aligned.

[henmedia]

@ucito Thanks, the pictures made it clear. Align faces now has a fourth way, Point to point: select the part that should move, open Align faces and choose Point to point. Click a corner, a spot on an edge, the centre of a round edge or a reference point on it, then the point on the other part; a dot shows which point the pointer would take. Under Move along you can switch X, Y or Z off: with only X and Y on, your two points end up exactly on top of each other, as in your pictures.

About the second tape measure point that landed behind the first one: hold Shift while you place the second point. It then goes to the spot straight across from the first point, on the face under the pointer.

[ucito]

Perfect, thank you!

That’s a good tip about the Shift key, too.

[ucito]

Could the point alignment function be extended to include further alignment steps?

If, after the initial alignment of two points along an axis, this point is locked as a pivot point and the body is rotated, could a second alignment of two points be added, and, if necessary, a third as well?

[henmedia]

@ucito Yes, that is in now. After Align, the panel stays open for up to two more pairs of points:

• Pair 2: the first point stays where it landed (marked in blue). Click a second point of the part, then the point it should turn towards, and Turn swings the part about the first point until the line through both points runs through that target. The parts do not have to be the same length.
• Pair 3: click a third point and its partner, and Turn swings the part about the line through the two blue points until the third point faces its partner, so the faces line up too.

Done ends it at any step, and each step is one Undo. It comes with the next release, together with Point to point.

[henmedia]

@ucito point to point, with the second and third pair of points that turn the part into place, is out in layerling 1.152.1.

[ucito]

Mega, you're incredible!