Align
Table of contents:
Introduction
Align
Align Position
Align Angle
Align Plane
Let's talk about the Align tool. In other applications, similar functionality is commonly referred to as Align, Align Objects, or Align and Distribute. While the naming may vary, the function remains the same: it positions selected objects relative to other objects or to the workspace by aligning them along specific axes or reference points.
In SelfCAD, the Align tool can be found in the Utilities section of the main Toolbar. It allows you to precisely align objects based on their centers, edges, or faces, ensuring accurate positioning within a scene. In practice, this enables users to assemble multi-part models, center objects on the grid, line up components for mechanical assemblies, distribute elements evenly, and create clean, organized layouts without manually adjusting coordinates.
The Utilities category acts as a modeling assistance toolkit, providing features that improve workflow efficiency rather than directly reshaping geometry. Align plays a key role in accurate positioning and assembly. In this article, we'll explore how to use the Align tool effectively and position your models with precision.
Select the object
The first step of using any modeling tool is selecting the object on which you want to use it. You can select it by either left-clicking on it in the workspace or by selecting it in the Object Management section, in the right-side panel. The second option has an in-built search engine, which is extremely useful when you are working with multiple objects.
Activate the tool
Once the objects are selected, you can access the tool itself. To activate the Align tool, you need to select it from the Utilities drop-down list in the Main Toolbar or use a shortcut by using the 'U+A' combination on your keyboard. This way, you will open a Tool Setting Panel with all of the customizable options for this feature on the left-hand side of your screen.
Align Position
Reference
The first setting in the Align tools is called Reference, which allows you to select the point to which the selected object will be aligned. The available reference points can be found in the dropdown list and include every object and profile in the workspace, as well as the Grid itself.
Align
Next are the Align options, which consist of two separate dropdown lists. Here, you can define which part of the selected object will be used as the point that snaps to the Reference point selected in the previous setting. The first dropdown controls the vertical alignment position, while the second controls the horizontal position.
Offset
The Offset setting allows you to further customize the alignment between objects. It contains three text boxes corresponding to the object’s position on the X, Y, and Z axes. By entering values, you can offset the aligned object from the Reference point.
Align Angle
Origin Edge
The Set origin edge option lets you choose the edge used for alignment. Once applied, the object will automatically move and rotate to match the selected reference edge. You can either select an existing edge on the object or use the Draw option to create a custom edge. Selecting the edge will enable the Origin Direction dropdown, allowing you to define the alignment direction for more precise positioning.
Reference Edge
The Reference edge option defines the target edge used as the alignment reference for the origin edge.
When applied, the object will snap to the reference edge position and rotate so that both edge positions match. Selecting the edge will enable the Reference direction dropdown, allowing you to define the alignment direction for more precise positioning.
Offset
The Offset setting allows you to further customize the alignment between objects. It contains three text boxes corresponding to the object’s position on the X, Y, and Z axes. By entering values, you can offset the aligned object from the Reference point.
Align Plane
Origin Element
The Origin element setting lets you define a specific point on the object that will be used as the basis for alignment.
Reference Plane
The Reference plane setting defines the plane that will be used as the alignment reference for the previously selected origin element. You can select an existing face of any object in the scene to serve as the plane or use the Draw option to create a custom one for the alignment.
Offset
The Offset setting allows you to further customize the alignment between objects. It contains three text boxes corresponding to the object’s position on the X, Y, and Z axes. By entering values, you can offset the aligned object from the Reference point.
And that’s about it for the Align. After reading this article, you should know the basics of this tool and how to use it, and know about its different applications. Of course, the graphics shown here were just examples, and using this tool with different settings will give you slightly different effects, but its underlying principles will always stay the same.
That's all I have for you today. I wish you success in your future projects. See you, and stay tuned for more content to come!