topic Re: How to change 3D orbit reference? in Inventor Forum

How to change 3D orbit reference?

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 13:09:14 GMT

This has bothered me for quite some time in Inventor. When i rotate my model/assembly in inventor using SHIFT+Mouse wheel the object rotates around the coordinate axis location unless i physically click on a new reference part or geometry. This was always very frustrating to me because in other applications from Autodesk, specifically AutoCAD, 3D orbit/rotate always picks a rotation reference based on where the mouse is instead of rotating around the global origin. What i want to know is if there is a way to change the orbit behavior so it is more like AutoCAD thereby, orbit uses my mouse for the reference rotation center?

Re: How to change 3D orbit reference?

admaiora — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 13:46:46 GMT

Hi Tigs,

with orbit reference do you mean the rotating Pivot?

When you normally orbit Inventor doesn't use the coordinate system but use the geometric center of gravity of the part/assembly as rotating pivot.

You can temporaly change it in these ways:

1- Using the streering wheel tool

2- Click F4 key. Click on the part where you want your new Pivot. That's it.

To restore geometric COG pivot just double wheel click.

Re: How to change 3D orbit reference?

teepee11 — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 22:18:37 GMT

How do I change 3D orbit reference on a 3d sketch?

I have survey points that has an origin 100's of metres away, I'm sketching on the 3d points and cant find a way to pin the 3d orbit centre to a point on the 3d sketch , ...... the sketch shoots off the screen.

Re: How to change 3D orbit reference?

Martin.calmar — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 04:43:25 GMT

Hello

Is there a way to turn off the automatic changing of pivot point when in perspective view? I'm using F4 to get the pivot point how i like it, then i zoom and maybe change the view angle, and it automatically pics a new orbit point. It's so frustrating to keep picking the same orbit/pivot point because of the auto update.

Sorry for "hijacking" the thread. But can't seem to find a solution.

Best regards

Martin

Re: How to change 3D orbit reference?

johnsonshiue — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 21:26:35 GMT

Hi Marin,

If I understood your request correctly, Constrained Orbit might be the one you are looking for. Click on the downward pointing arrow button under Orbit button. Select "Constrained Orbit." In this Orbit command, the focal point is locked in a place. It would not spin out of control.

Many thanks!

Re: How to change 3D orbit reference?

manuel_stallnig — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:32:21 GMT

I come from a different CAD where constrained orbit and rotate around nearest point is standard, along with binding to MMB. Inventor is painful in comparison. No wonder so many people need and recommend space mice. Thankfully (2025 at least) there are options to change the default for most of this under Tools->App Options->Display.
There also is an option at the very bottom (why it isn't possible to scroll the menu with the mouse is beyond me) called "Use nearest model point for Orbit", but it doesn't seem to do what it says. (It only seems to disable the green ball to mark the center. which is great already). Is this a bug?