Rotate object in screen plane?

[boffin5]

Okay, here's another one.
I can use pre-defined views to see a side view of the thing I am making. Let's say it's a car. The problem is, with my axes orientation, the car is pointing down in the side view. I want it to point to the side; I need to rotate the view 90 degrees in the plane of the screen. How do I do this?

 

[handleman]

Hold down Ctrl, Alt, or Shift (I forget which) and use the left/right arrow keys.

 

[JMirisola]

Depending on you system settings, the arrow keys will move the part/assembly x°. Another option, if you want to be able to easily return to that view, is:
Get it orientated how you want it
Hit the space bar and, when the dialogue box pops up, select 'new view'.
Name your view and close box. You'll be able to return to that view at your leisure.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[engAlright]

ALT + cursor arrow keys...

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Is there a reason the orientation has to remain the way it is?

If not, you could "correct" the orientation using mates.

 

[engAlright]

Is this on a drawing or model?

 

[Theophilus]

And of course, the best way is to model it in such a way that it points correctly (what you need) from the standard front view. (But sometimes you inherit what others did or import dumb solids that are turned around.)

I use the arrow keys all the time since I can get those rotation options all with one hand. CTRL-Arrows will pan, Shift-Arrows will rotate in 90* increments, and ALT-Arrows will rotate within screen plane.



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.

 

[EEnd]

If you are past the point where you can easily correct the model orientation to match the standard views (preferred), you can update the standard views to match the model (better than nothing).

Start by rotating things till the model matches how you want it to look in one of the 6 standard views. Then click on Standard Views -> View Orientation, select the view that you want the current orientation to become and then click on Update Standard Views.

Eric

 

[smcadman]

And of course, the best way is to model it in such a way that it points correctly (what you need) from the standard front view.

That is typically true, but as has been pointed out before, what SW calls the "front view" is really the top view if it is going to a cnc machine (z-axis):
X-Y axis

SW07 SP2.0

Flores

 

[Theophilus]

Makes sense, Flores--good point.

I think "front" works well for the orientation of most monitors being the way they are. That way the part really still maintains it's "top" orientation, although what is considered the X-Y plane then changes. (I don't think I would have done this differently if I were SolidWorks--the part maintains its orientation regardless of the X-Y plane.)



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.

 

[boffin5]

Thanks Everyone,

Once again, you've been a great help!