Snap
Table of contents:
Introduction
Snap
Magnet
Let's talk about the Snap tool. In other applications, similar functionality is commonly referred to as Snap, Snap to Grid, or Snap to Object. While the naming may vary, the function remains the same: it allows you to precisely position objects by snapping them to specific points, surfaces, or grid locations within the workspace.
In SelfCAD, the Snap tool can be found in the Utilities section of the main Toolbar. It enables you to move selected objects directly to the location indicated by your cursor, aligning them accurately with grid points or other geometry. In practice, this allows users to assemble parts quickly, align components with precision, position objects without manually entering coordinates, and speed up workflow when building structured models or mechanical assemblies.
The Utilities category acts as a modeling assistance toolkit, focused on improving positioning and workflow efficiency rather than reshaping geometry. Snap plays an important role in maintaining accuracy and saving time during model placement. In this article, we'll explore how to use the Snap 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 Snap tool, you need to select it from the Utilities drop-down list in the Main Toolbar or use a shortcut by using the 'U+N' 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.
Snap
After selecting the object and enabling the tool, you can click a point in the workspace to snap the object into position. The center of the object, marked by the gizmo, will automatically move to the selected position.
Select a region
SelfCAD allows you to not only Snap objects themselves, but you can also Snap some of their regions. To do so, you need to select those regions first. In the Right Side Panel, you will find an Interactive Rectangle, where you can enter one of the following selection modes: Face, Vertex, and Edge. Then, you can select the parts of the object that you want to Snap.
Snap a region
Snapping a region works exactly the same as snapping the object itself does. After selecting a region or regions that you want to Snap, simply click on the position within the workspace to which you want to Snap the region. Naturally, you cannot place the object beyond the borders of the Grid, and it will snap back when you try.
Offset
The Offset setting allows you to move the point to which the object will snap. It contains three text boxes corresponding to the object’s position on the X, Y, and Z axes. By entering values, you can move the snapped object away from the selected position.
Collapse Vertices is a setting that will appear when you Snap the regions of the model. Enabling this option will collapse the vertices of the selected regions and Snap them to a single point selected within the Grid.
Magnet
The Magnet option can be found in the Advanced settings of the Snap tool. When enabled, the snapped object will automatically rotate and cling to nearby surfaces, conforming to their shape as it moves into position. This allows the object to follow the contours of the target surface, as if being pulled toward it by magnetic force.
Origin and manual position
Below the Magnet option, you will find the settings used to define the snapping origin. The Origin setting lets you choose which point of the object will snap to the selected position. You can select one of the preset options from the dropdown lists or use the Manual origin position option to place the gizmo anywhere in the workspace for more precise control over the snapping reference point.
And that’s about it for the Snap. 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!