# Center cylinder around complex object

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [November 22, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274 "2024-11-22T15:59:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![a.calore88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@a.calore88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/a.calore88)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274/1 "2024-11-22T15:59:20Z")

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Dear all, I have a complex object (aortic root) and I would like to center a cilinder around it. In real life application, the cylinder would mimic a pitcher within which the 3D printer model of the aortic root would be placed.  
Would you please suggest how to do so?  
Thank you.

 ![Immagine 2024-11-22 165357](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/9/1/91a7e5a7adc95a3af4fc64aa2805dcae5b9e0150.png)

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**Author:** ![Stephen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/stephen/32/16350_2.png) [@Stephen](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Stephen)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274/2 "2024-11-24T17:53:26Z")

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Why not just make the cylinder as a separate object and the move it into place? You’ve already done all the hard work, so adding a cylinder should be a piece of cake.

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**Author:** ![a.calore88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@a.calore88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/a.calore88)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274/3 "2024-11-25T08:12:10Z")

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First of all, thank you for the hint.

However, my main issue is how to place the cylinder perfectly simmetrically around my aortic arc. The same way it happens when I placed the 3D-printed arc into my pitcher (that suprprisingly has the right diameter).

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274/4 "2024-11-25T17:29:36Z")

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You could try projecting the object onto a plane, drawing a line between the outermost opposing points, and drawing a circle at the midpoint of that line. Then just extrude the circle.

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**Author:** ![a.calore88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@a.calore88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/a.calore88)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:09am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274/5 "2024-11-26T10:09:45Z")

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this sounds like a very good idea. Thank you.  
However, while trying to project it, I realized my model is in STL as it comes from a CT scan and does not allow me to project it.

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/center-cylinder-around-complex-object/35274/6 "2024-11-26T18:06:52Z")

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You’ll need to use something like Fusion 360 to convert the mesh to a solid body.