How do you rotate the 3D body Z axis in Altium?
To rotate a 3D body around its Z-axis in Altium Designer, the most common method involves selecting and dragging the body.
Rotating a 3D Body During Placement or Dragging
The easiest way to rotate a 3D body about its Z-axis is while you are moving it on the PCB. This method is particularly useful when initially placing a 3D body or when repositioning an existing one.
Here's how to do it:
- Select the 3D Body: Click on the 3D body to select it.
- Start Dragging: Click and drag the 3D body to reposition it.
- Rotate: While dragging, you can rotate the 3D body:
- Press the Spacebar to rotate the 3D body counterclockwise.
- Press Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation.
Each press of the Spacebar (with or without Shift) rotates the body by a predefined step size.
Understanding the Rotation Step
The amount by which the 3D body rotates with each key press (Spacebar or Shift+Spacebar) is controlled by a setting in Altium Designer's preferences. This setting is called the Rotation Step size.
You can define this step size in the PCB Editor – General page of the Preferences dialog. Access Preferences via the main menu: Tools > Preferences. Navigate to the PCB Editor section and select General to find the Rotation Step option. Setting a smaller value provides finer control, while a larger value allows for quicker 90 or 180-degree rotations.
Other Rotation Methods
While the dragging method with the Spacebar is primary for Z-axis rotation during placement/movement, you can also adjust rotation via the Properties panel for more precise control after placement. Select the 3D body and look for rotation fields in the Properties panel, typically labeled around the X, Y, and Z axes. Adjusting the Z-axis value directly in the Properties panel allows you to set an exact rotation angle.
In summary, the quick, interactive way to rotate a 3D body around the Z-axis in Altium while moving it is by using the Spacebar key.
