is it possible to lock the axis?

[euro_z]

im using autocad 2008 but cant work out how to lock the x y or z axis, is there a simple way to do this?

 

previously i have used google sketchup and all you have to do in that program is press the arrow keys lol

[dbroada]

I'm not sure what you are asking. Do you want to draw only orthogonally? If so the F8 key toggles it.

[euro_z]

cheers mate thats exactly what i was after

[dbroada]

 

it can also be controlled by the ORTHO box at the bottom of the screen - but I never use that.

[Zandala]

Hey

But is it possible, when doing a 3D model, to move or copy an object, by picking that object at a particular point (endpoint, midpoint etc), start moving it on the axes you want to move it in, lock it to that axes, and then go and refference another point anywhere else in your model, which might not be in the same plane, and pick that point to lign up with, without the object moving off of that axes?

 

In Sketchup you just start moving the object in the axes you want, hold shift and it's locked, you then go and reference any point in your model. Very hany.

[Tiger]

Have you tried it? Because I seem to recall that if you have Ortho on (F8 to toggle still works) it should work how you describe it. You'll need to be careful not to snap to the reference point, pull the crosshair away from it so you get reference lines.

 

it could also be that this only works with 2D and not 3D with non-coplanar objects.

[Zandala]

Hi

Yes I know exactly what you mean by using Ortho to lock to axes. But as you say that doesnt seem to work in 3D for objects that are non-coplanar.

I also dont find the way Autocad references other points very user friendly. Having to go and hover over a point then move you cursor back to your axes with a little dotted line. Insted of just being locked to the axes and going and clicking on the point you want line up with..

[Dadgad]

Hi

Yes I know exactly what you mean by using Ortho to lock to axes. But as you say that doesnt seem to work in 3D for objects that are non-coplanar.

I also dont find the way Autocad references other points very user friendly. Having to go and hover over a point then move you cursor back to your axes with a little dotted line. Insted of just being locked to the axes and going and clicking on the point you want line up with..

 

 

You might find this video helpful, specifically the part from 4 minutes to the end.

 

http://www.infiniteskills.com/demos/movie-player.php?h=685&w=890&movie=http://iskills-media.s3.amazonaws.com/autocadadv-demo/1503.mp4

[danellis]

It sounds like co-ordinate filters *might* be what you're looking for.

 

Say for example you want to "lock" the to the x-axis.

enter the MOVE command

Select your basepoint

Type ".x" and a select a point with the desired x-co-ordinate

AutoCAD will then tell you it "need YZ", so select a point with the desired y and z positions (or you could lock to y with ".y" before selecting a z-coord, or vis versa). You're resultant moe should be to where you want it!

 

You can do this in any order you want, so .x, .y, or .z can go first, or you can combine them, so you could lock a .XY and then just pick a z-ordinate, etc.

 

Its not overly easy to explain, or instinctive to do, but it is very power and useful!!

 

dJE

[Zandala]

Ok I get it

You need to move the axes of the particular object that you want to move/copy, to the point on that object that you want to line up, and then click the axes that you want to move the object on, and then go and reference the point in your model you want to line up with..

[Zandala]

Seems that sometimes if the object that you are trying to line up with is much higher or lower than the object you are moving/copying it's not always possible to reference points on that object.. Annoying:ouch:

[Zandala]

Hi Danellis

 

If I do what you suggested:

 

"Say for example you want to "lock" the to the x-axis.

enter the MOVE command

Select your basepoint

Type ".x" and a select a point with the desired x-co-ordinate

AutoCAD will then tell you it "need YZ", so select a point with the desired y and z positions (or you could lock to y with ".y" before selecting a z-coord, or vis versa). You're resultant moe should be to where you want it!"

 

Autocad seems to make the basepoint that I selected on the object that I want to move the same as the point that I want to reference. Changing the coordinates on the other Y and Z axes, which I don't want it to. What am I not getting?

[Glen1980]

Doesn't the move gizmo do what you want it to? you click the axis you want to move along then you can select another object anywhere to move the first object into line with the second object but only along the axis you specified on the move gizmo. Or am I not understanding your question?

[Zandala]

Yes, but that only allows me to reference points on an object at the same height as the object that I am copying/moving..

[Glen1980]

right clicking when you've started moving using the gizmo give you the option of selecting a base point, then I've not experienced any problems selecting corners of objects at different heights.

[ReMark]

Can't you use the ALIGN command?

[Zandala]

Hi Glen

Yes using the gizmo works sometimes. But not alway!? Been playing around with it now. Create a cube, make a few coppies of it, and then move a cube along a particular axis and reference a point to line up with. Works fine. But then if I take one of those cubes and change its height (position allong the Z axis) and then try get one of the other cubes to line up with it without changing its height it no longer references points on that cube..?

[ReMark]

Have you looked at the 3DALIGN command? Refer to AutoCAD Help for information on exactly how the command works.

[Zandala]

Hi ReMark

I dont know how to use the align command

Dont know why the gizmo should not just work in all cases though..

[ReMark]

Explanation of how commands work can be found in your AutoCAD Help file. The 3DALIGN command is explained (I just checked). Works with both 2D and 3D objects. You pick points on one object to align with points on another object.