Aligning imported step files to Fusion 360's global XY plane

[componentscience]

The attached file was created with an imported step file that does not align with Fusion 360's global XY plane - it is floating in outer space.

Question:

What is the best way to align the center of the two holes with Fusion 360's global XY plane? The center points of the two holes must align with the X axis.

[laughingcreek]

easiest for me is to put it in a component and use a joint.

[componentscience]

@laughingcreek

Seems like the holes don't align with the X axis.

[laughingcreek · Accepted solution]

oops forgot the joint origin

[componentscience]

Clever.

[laughingcreek · Accepted solution]

you might like this approach better-

[componentscience]

Hey sorry never responded to this. At first glance yes this seems cleaner - will give it a shot.

[componentscience]

@laughingcreek

is the 3d arrange preview feature intended to help with these scenarios?

[laughingcreek]

no, 3d arrange is used to arrange components inside a build envelope for 3d printing.  it's not a modeling tool.

[componentscience]

@laughingcreek this issue resurfaced in a real-world application. Trying to use the component/joint method we discussed but must be missing a step. The holes are not aligning to the X axis.

[davebYYPCU]

Duplicated instead of edit sorry.

[davebYYPCU]

In your case, before making the Joint, adjust the Joint Origin disc, to align to the sketched line, click re-orientate, and rotate the required amount.

Frankly the Joint Origin is not required, as the Joint itself can select midpoint of the line, and the triad does the rotate.

Might help....

[componentscience]

Hmm re-orientate is used before making the joint (0:45), aligning the X axis to the sketched line.

[davebYYPCU]

I finally found a way to fix that misalignment, but the reciprocal calculation, (-1.917 deg) did / would not register, and that is very likely why, you said the angle adjust was incrementing 5 deg.  

Might help....

[componentscience]

Clever - might work. Not sure if we did this the same but feels slightly cumbersome selecting the global X axis. Regardless might work. Also curious where the angle comes from.

[etfrench]

Here's another method.  Just requires adding another component at the point where the holes align with the X axis.

Convert the body to a component.

Use a revolute joint with the joint origin at one of the holes and the other at the main Origin.

Create a sketch.

Project the body to the sketch.

Draw a circle from the Origin to the other hole.

Draw a line from the Origin to the circle with a Horizontal/Vertical constraint.

Draw a circle at endpoint of the line.

Extrude the circle.

Create a revolute joint between the second hole and the extruded circle.

[componentscience]

@davebYYPCU,

Definitely like the simplicity of this approach. One thing that's concerning though is we got different values for the angle alignment: -1.9 vs -1.917. Also curious where the angle comes from.

[etfrench]

The measure tool is only approximate and depends on the units setting in Preferences. Using a joint will always be more accurate.

[componentscience]

So the additional component at the point where the holes align with the X axis is the extruded circle? You mentioned a joint will always be more accurate are you referring to the revolute joint?

[etfrench]

The first revolute joint aligns the model at the origin on one of the planes.  The second revolute joint aligns it perfectly on the axis.  Using the Measure tool to place items can result in cumulative errors in large assemblies as it rounds the number.