topic Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly? in Inventor Forum

How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

colin.ngNB7PC — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 03:49:22 GMT

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and new to inventor. I recently made an assembly and wanted to rotate a part about the y-axis but could only find the 'free rotate' tool which couldn't give me exactly what I wanted.

I know that before placing a file in an assembly, I can right click and rotate it about any of the 3 axes before placing the part. However, can I access that same function AFTER I've placed the part? Thank you!

I found this link which looked like it was what I'm trying to do: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/Inventor-Help/files/GUID-993A4C8C-867E-4F87-8C50-EE90C61A7F3A-htm.html#:~:text=Freely%20Drag%20to%20Move%20Bodies,bodies%20in%20the%20graphics%20window.

However, I wasn't able to find the 'Move bodies' tool. My computer is running Inventor 2019.

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

arron.craig — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 05:03:12 GMT

Move and rotate bodies as per that link you provided is only available in the part enviroment. I'm not aware of any way to bring up the rotate by x,y or z axis AFTER placing the part.

I don't really understand why you would need this though, its really just to aid in inital part placement before adding constraints, which the 'free rotate' tool should do just as well since you will constrain it afterwards?

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

robertast — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 05:03:12 GMT

@colin.ngNB7PC

Does this team not like you?

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

colin.ngNB7PC — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 05:57:54 GMT

Thanks for your reply! I guess I could use constraints to rotate my part to get it in the orientation I want. I was just hoping that there would be a quicker way to simply rotate my part after placing it.

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

colin.ngNB7PC — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 05:58:33 GMT

Thanks but I was hoping to use a tool other than free rotate, so that I could rotate about a specified axis.

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

robertast — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 06:08:49 GMT

@colin.ngNB7PC

If you need to deliver the part accurately and for it to move according to some rules, then this is only a limitation. Free rotation is just for the convenience of setting limits and checks if they work correctly.

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

lena.talkhina — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 13:05:10 GMT

Welcome to the Autodesk Community @colin.ngNB7PC !

Great to see you have received a solution.

Don't hesitate to ask any question on our forums by creating a new thread.

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

mcgyvr — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 13:18:53 GMT

@colin.ngNB7PC wrote:

Thanks but I was hoping to use a tool other than free rotate, so that I could rotate about a specified axis.

@colin.ngNB7PC You can use the "Grip Snap" function that is typically in the same pane/dropdown as Free Move/Rotate.. It allows you to rotate about an exis,etc...

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/Inventor-Help/files/GUID-65246E1C-87C8-4176-AC16-9D57D7FD76A2-htm.html

and "Move Bodies" is a part level function.. Grip Snap is similar in the assembly environment..

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

colin.ngNB7PC — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 07:42:57 GMT

Ah yes, this is what I was looking for! Thank you!

Re: How to rotate a part about an axis in an assembly?

SethPZ93J — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:41:24 GMT

it makes it a lot easier to constrain in inventor's clunky mate system when your part is aligned with the axes to begin with. that's why it is useful to rotate by axis, which is one of the most basic functions imaginable.