Double "file units and transform"

[Patrick_Aps_9121]

Here is the situation:

I get a 3D STEP model of a piece of equipment. I can open it with NavisWorks and convert it to an NWD.

Now I want to append this NWD and "place" it at the right spot in my model.

The trouble is I have to rotate the equipment by 45 deg around the Y axes AND then by 270 deg around the Z axes.

But I get the impression the "file units and transform" is only allowing me to do one rotation around one axes.

I tried  making the first rotation, save as NWD (which I hoped would know it's rotation)  and then append this second rotated NWD again to make the 2nd rotation, but that was not working

So I guess I need to calculate a rotation around a special axis that would make this rotation in one go, but then I need to calulate rotation matrices or something.

(read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler_angles ) to get the picture.

I also tried importing the STEP file into AutoCAD or MicroStation, but this import fails. It would be nice if AutoCAD had the same STEP import as NavisWorks, or if I could embed an NWD into a DWG to make the move and rotation in AutoCAD using UCS...

Does anybody know a workaround or has a spreadsheet or something that can help me to make this double rotation ?

[john.lipp]

Hi Patrick_Aps_912

You are correct that File Units and Transform will only allow you to rotate a model about one axis.  Since you need two rotations, you can use the Rotate tool in the transform panel of Item Tools.

Select the STEP model in the selection tree, and the Item Tools tab will open. Click the Rotate button in Transform Panel of the Item Tools tab and the Gizmo will display in the view.  Click on the Transform panel to slide out the panel and then pin it so that you can input your rotation values.

In the transform panel, under rotation, enter 45 in the Y box and click enter.  The model will rotate accordingly.  You aren’t able to enter both the Y and Z rotation as the end result will be different.  Hit the ESC key to deselect the model.

Select the STEP model in the selection tree again. Click the Rotate button in the Item Tools tab, slide the transform panel out again, and pin it.  You’ll see the value you entered in the Y box has reset to 0 even though the rotation is still there.

In the transform panel, in the row for rotation, enter 270 in the Z box and click enter.  The model will rotate accordingly. Hit the ESC key and your model should now be rotated correctly.

Alternatively, you could do one rotation through File Units and Transform and one through the Item Tools.


Best regards,



John Lipp
Product Support Specialist
Autodesk Product Support 

[john.lipp]

Hi Patrick_Aps_9121,

From my previous post, I noticed that there are a couple of extra steps that aren’t necessary.  I wanted to provide a simpler list of steps:

1. Select the STEP model in the selection tree, and the Item Tools tab will open.

2. Click the Rotate button in Transform Panel of the Item Tools tab and the Gizmo will display in the view. 

3. Click on the Transform panel to slide out the panel and then pin it so that you can input your rotation values.

4. In the transform panel, under rotation, enter 45 in the Y box and click enter.  The model will rotate accordingly.  Note that you aren’t able to enter both the Y and Z rotation as the end result will be different. 

5. Click the Rotate button to turn it off

6. Click the Rotate button again to turn it back on.  You’ll see the value you entered in the Y box has reset to 0 even though the rotation is still there.

7. In the transform panel, in the row for rotation, enter 270 in the Z box and click enter.  The model will rotate accordingly. Hit the ESC key and your model should now be rotated correctly.

Best regards,



John Lipp
Product Support Specialist
Autodesk Product Support