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(Available only in Pro Platinum)

Default UI Menu: Modify/Modify 3D Objects/3D Assemble/Assemble by Tangents

Ribbon UI Menu:

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Changes the position of an object by aligning a cylindrical face tangent to another cylindrical face, or to a flat face. This example will assemble a cylinder and a box.

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Aligning to a Face

  1. Activate Assemble by Tangents. Select the object that will move (the cylinder). Be sure to select the axis where you want the object to be placed on the second object.

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  1. To align the object to a face, and not to a specific axis or point, click the face of the second object. This face can be planar or cylindrical. Where you click defines the initial location of the first object.

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A preview of the moved object appears.

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  1. You can move the preview anywhere, and it remains tangent to the face.

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  1. When you place the object, and view it in Side view. you can see that the cylinder is tangent to the face of the box.

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Aligning to a Face and Edge

  1. You can align a cylindrical face to both a face and edge. When selecting the second face, click on one of its edges.

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The preview shows the cylinder aligned to both the face and edge.

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  1. A Distance to Edge value will move the cylinder away from the edge, in an offset direction while staying tangent to the face.

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  1. A Distance to Vertex value will move the cylinder along the edge.

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  1. When you place the object, and view it in Side view. you can see that the cylinder is tangent to the face and edge of the box.

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