To rotate a 3D body within an Inventor part file, you primarily use the Move Bodies command with the Rotate About Line option.
Rotating a Body Using Move Bodies
The standard method for rotating an individual solid body within a single Inventor part file involves the Move Bodies tool. This allows you to precisely define the axis of rotation and the rotation angle or reference point.
Here are the steps to rotate a 3D body using this command, based on the provided reference:
- Access the Command: Go to the 3D Model tab and click on the Move Bodies command within the Modify panel.
- Select Rotation Type: In the Move Bodies dialog box that appears, change the Move Type pop-up menu to Rotate About Line.
- Choose Bodies: Use the Bodies selector button (it's active by default) to select one or more solid bodies you wish to rotate in the graphics window.
- Define Rotation Axis: Define the axis around which the selected bodies will rotate. This can typically be done by selecting:
- A linear edge.
- A work axis.
- A sketch line.
- Two points that define the axis.
- Specify Rotation Amount: Now, define how much to rotate the bodies. The reference mentions doing either of the following:
- Enter a specific angle: Type the desired rotation angle directly into the dialog box. Positive values typically rotate counterclockwise based on the axis direction.
- Select a point: Click a point in the graphics window to define the rotation relative to a starting position (often involving a reference point or another selected entity, though the reference is concise on this specific interaction). This allows for interactive or point-based rotation.
- Execute Rotation: Click Apply to see the rotation and continue rotating other bodies or click OK to finalize the rotation and close the dialog box.
This process allows for precise control over the rotation of solid bodies, which are often referred to as "parts" in a broader sense, within the multi-body environment of an Inventor part file (.ipt).
