How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

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Mikehell
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How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by Mikehell »

I've got years of experience with V-Carve, but I'm new to Aspire. I'm playing with the trial version and can't figure out something that I think should be easy. I can create a 3D shape. I can rotate the shape along the XY no problem. But how do I rotate in 3D space? Example, trying to do parametric art. Create the shape, slice it into 3/4" slices. Done. Now how do I turn those slices on their ends to get the shape profile?

Yes, I know I can do this easily in other 3D software and import. Is there a way to do it in Aspire?

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mtylerfl
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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by mtylerfl »

Hi Mike,

Show us a screenshot (or more) of the shape you’re talking about.

Once we see the shape, perhaps we can offer some tips. (Anything from saving as an STL or OBJ and then importing the shape upright for slicing, to using the new slicing features to avoid undercuts, to simply dividing the shape on the XY planes into “slices” using the “Split selected component using vectors” feature.)
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TReischl
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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by TReischl »

Actually, I think the OP is talking about rotating the part around X/Y axis. Rotation around Z is implemented in the software. Has been since forever.

What Mike suggested may sound clunky, but the same issue exists even if using "other software". Aspire only looks down the Z axis, which makes sense since it is 3 axis software.
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mtylerfl
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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by mtylerfl »

We gotta see the shape to fully understand what he is trying to accomplish, I believe.

Simple example of wanting to create a shape that one might want to re-import in an “upright” orientation for slicing and assembly is a full 3D egg when you don’t have thick enough material to just create two halves to glue together.

You can create the egg shape in Aspire, then export as STL with the shape closed by a duplicate of the shape (close with inverted front). This yields a full 3D egg model.

Then, import the full model, change the orientation to make the egg “stand upright”, move the zero plane to split the upright egg in two and finalize the import specifying that both upright halves are preserved upon import. Then slice each component to suitable thicknesses, etc.

That’s the “old way” to slice components after import. Now we can use the new slicing features for the upright egg during the import process itself.

Gotta see that shape he’s talking about to see if we can suggest any tips/pointers.
Last edited by mtylerfl on Sat Nov 27, 2021 9:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by mtylerfl »

That’s how I made this “Egg-centric Box”..
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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by adze_cnc »

Without an image this is mere supposition but I expect the OP was saying that he could rotate within the XY plane [about the z axis]. And that he'd like to rotate that slices around the X (or Y) axis to the XZ (or YZ) plane.
 
Simplistic extrusion: would make more sense with compound surfaces...
Simplistic extrusion: would make more sense with compound surfaces...
 
.. as when rotated 90 degrees you could have just drawn a 2D shape
.. as when rotated 90 degrees you could have just drawn a 2D shape

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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by mtylerfl »

Hi Steven,

If that’s the type of project he wants to do, Michael Mezalick made a video tutorial a few months ago that shows a practical technique.

Here’s the link:

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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by Mikehell »

mtylerfl wrote:
Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:41 am
Hi Steven,

If that’s the type of project he wants to do, Michael Mezalick made a video tutorial a few months ago that shows a practical technique.

Here’s the link:

THANKS! This is exactly what I was looking for! I'd have never thought to look at the measuring tool to do slices.

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Re: How to rotate 3D on the Z Axis?

Post by Mikehell »

mtylerfl wrote:
Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:41 am
Hi Steven,

If that’s the type of project he wants to do, Michael Mezalick made a video tutorial a few months ago that shows a practical technique.

Here’s the link:

THANKS! This is exactly what I was looking for! I'd have never thought to look at the measuring tool to do slices.

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