Align Objects using a Reference Point

In the shot on the right you can see a bar with three scattered bar stools seen from above. The task is now to line up the three stools an equal distance apart and this distance from the bar using a reference point. The reference point shown in the screenshot shows the alignment of the UCS.

In the shots below the reference point is shown circled in black.

First all the stools must be aligned vertically. To do this move the mouse cursor onto the front edge of the left-hand stool, as shown in the image on the right, and press Space. Alternatively, the item Move UCS in the context menu can be used. This moves the reference point to where the mouse cursor is.

Select the middle stool and click on its front edge in order to move it. The vertical distance from the reference point is shown as a value in a green field. Now enter the value “0” with the keyboard in order to bring the stool onto the same vertical level as the left-hand stool. Confirm with Enter. The third stool can be aligned in the same way.

Now the objects are to be aligned horizontally in relation to the bar. Each stool is 45 cm long. The bar is 2.2 m long. The distance between the outermost seats and the ends of the bar should be 10 cm on the horizontal. As a result the distance between the stools is 32.05 cm.

Put the reference point onto the left-hand edge of the bar, as shown in the picture. Now select the left-hand stool and click on its left outer edge to start the Move tool. Use the keyboard to enter a value of 10 cm. Confirm with Enter.

Now move the reference point to the right-hand outer edge of this stool.

Mark the middle stool and then click on its left-hand outer edge to enable you to move it. Now enter the offset of 32.05 cm and confirm with Enter.

Then align the right-hand stool so that it is at the same distance from the middle stool.

Lastly the right distance should be set between all three stools and the bar itself. To do this, place the reference point on the lower edge of the bar. Mark all the stools and move the group vertically. When the field for the distance appears enter a value of 20 cm. This step concludes the alignment procedure using the non-rotated UCS.

The two objects in the picture (a table and a bench) are parallel to each other in the non-rotated coordinate system. The task is now to turn the ensemble anti-clockwise through 45° and then center the bench in relation to the table.

In the shots below the reference point is shown circled in black.

Mark both the objects and rotate the group through 45°, anti-clockwise. The quickest way to do this is simply to enter the angle once the Rotate tool has been started. The coordinate axes are still in their usual orientation, as you can see from the reference point marked.

To align the bench, place the reference point on the lower edge of the table by moving the mouse there and pressing the Space key. Alternatively, select the Move UCS item from the context menu.

Now, to align the bench, you have to rotate the UCS. To do so, leave the cursor on the center of the lower edge of the table and press v or select Rotate UCS in the context menu.

You can center the bench by putting the cursor on the center of one of the outside edges, starting the Move tool and then entering the value 0 cm.

Now “hold” the center of the upper outer edge of the bench and move it towards the table following the angle of 45°. The green axis will appear, making your task easier. The green axis will appear, making your task easier. Now set a distance of about 30 cm between the edge of the table and the upper edge of the bench.

This step concludes the alignment procedure using the rotated UCS.