Move, rotate and mirror
The Move (M), Rotate (R) and Mirror (Shift+M) tools, copies and radial copies, and how each part type behaves when moved or rotated.
Move, Rotate and Mirror are the three main tools for repositioning things. Each one is the same tool in the assembly and 0D editors, the cross-section editor and the tool profile editor, with the same steps and the same keys, and clicks register when you release the mouse button. For quick moves with the mouse, there's also the gizmo.
Move (M)
- Select something and press M (or click the Move badge).
- Click the base point.
- Click the destination point.
Instead of clicking the destination, you can type a value:
| Input | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A single number | That distance along the pointer direction |
x,y or x,y,z |
Distances along the work plane's axes |
Rotate (R)
- Select something and press R (or click the Rotate badge).
- Click the center of rotation.
- Indicate the first direction.
- Indicate the second direction.
Once the center is placed, you can also type the angle. Rotation happens around the work plane's normal, and it's precise on angled faces too.
Direction lock and Ortho
- In steps that ask for a direction, the arrow keys and a quick tap of Shift lock the direction, just as in Drawing and point input.
- Ortho works on the work plane's axes. When rotating, Ortho means 5° steps (you can change this in Settings > Rotation step).
Copy (C)
Press C or turn on the Copy checkbox below the top bar to create copies instead of moving or rotating. While the tool is running, C toggles the same checkbox.
- In copy mode, Move and Rotate have a count and a Copy after / Copy between option.
- Rotating with copy arranges several copies around a center.
Preview
While you work, the parts themselves follow the pointer semi-transparently, and copies appear as ghosts.
Back up or cancel
- Backspace goes back one step.
- Esc clears the typed number or lock on the first press. The second press closes the tool, and nothing moves.
Mirror (Shift+M)
- Select something and click the Mirror badge or press Shift + M.
- Place two points; they define the mirror line.
Mirror creates a copy by default; C switches this.
After the first point, you can also type a value; Enter applies the mirror right away:
| Input | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A single number | Angle of the mirror line: 0 is horizontal, 90 is vertical |
x,y or @dx,dy |
Second point of the mirror line |
<90 |
Angle of the mirror line (same as a single number) |
Mirror by part type
| Type | Result |
|---|---|
| 0D part | If it has a Mirror part, it's swapped for that part; otherwise only its position is mirrored. |
| 1D and 2D parts | The path is mirrored, along with its edge banding, holes and grooves. |
| Sub-assembly | The whole sub-assembly is mirrored (a left cabinet becomes a right one, for example) and gets a Mirrored tag in the design tree. Mirror it again to return it to its original state. |
Behavior by part type
0D control points
A solid that moves or rotates carries the control points on it along with it; holes, grooves and drawn shapes don't. Control points have no orientation: when rotated, only their position follows. The same is true in the cross-section editor.
1D profiles
Any rotation also rotates the profile's cross-section, even a rotation around the profile's own length, whether you use the gizmo ring, R or the Rotation property.
Sets and multiple selections
- Everything moves together and rotates around the set's frame.
- Alt + dragging the gizmo copies everything; a set is copied along with its shapes and points.
- Delete deletes all members.
- A formula on the gizmo sticks only to a set, not to a temporary selection.
Read more about sets in Groups, sets and isolate.