# Move a cylinder to construction axis

**URL:** https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356
**Category:** Modeling Questions
**Created:** [April 4, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356 "2025-04-04T13:30:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![BKE](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/bke/32/31690_2.png) [@BKE](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/BKE)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/1 "2025-04-04T13:30:45Z")

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Probably a simple solution to this, but I sorely fail, all way to complicated…

A cylinder out of angel that I want moved to cc along the construction axis.

Bonus for a \_simple\_move to construction line and line.

 ![Screenshot 2025-04-04 at 15.04.33](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/b/8/b88628f706e64329186b5079926475a84f5f49d4.jpeg)

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### Author: ![GroMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@GroMark](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/GroMark)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/2 "2025-04-04T14:20:21Z")

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Hi

This one‘s unnecessarily complicated, but here‘s how you could do it:

Create a sketch of a circle perpendicular to the axis. Extrude the sketch. Then you can align your first cylinder with the second one, and delete the guide sketch/body

Hope this works!

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### Author: ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/3 "2025-04-04T16:27:47Z")

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As @GroMark stated, this is unnecessarily complicated. For starters, it’s easy to move the cylinder to the axis via Translate.

Now you want it aligned with the axis? Complicated but can be done. If need be, let me know and I’ll show you how. Note that my cylinder is at a compound angle relative to the construction axis.

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### Author: ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/4 "2025-04-04T17:32:07Z")

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I know 2 ways, first version if the sketch was created in the correct direction just deleting or suppressing the history and use translate.

Other way is use the axis plus correct construction plane to align and translate.

I would be curious if there is another better method.

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### Author: ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/5 "2025-04-04T17:51:49Z")

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Interesting. How might you align when history is merged? Try it on this file if you like.  
[MoveCylinder.shapr](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/uploads/short-url/2SwPXzKgI674EsaqSuW0niyYcfw.shapr) (15.3 KB)

 ![cylinder](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/1/a17996e19c420877426a61ac0e6212b48f16da9c.jpeg)

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### Author: ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/6 "2025-04-04T18:19:27Z")

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AMHA, the simplest way is tu use Align.

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-04-04 à 20.20.16](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/e/9/e93fcd6bf931739049e0f57bd73823a2e9175b35.jpeg)

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-04-04 à 20.16.26](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/9/4/947913f670884c645d05a9c17a3ef96d2fb54d55.jpeg)  
PS: Construction line is just to show the orientation

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### Author: ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/7 "2025-04-04T18:27:22Z")

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I believe you are correct as far as it being the easiest way to align a cylinder to a construction axis.

One just needs to sketch a circle as @GroMark initially suggested and do the align. BTW, no need to extrude a body from the circle sketch. You can align the cylinder directly to the sketch.

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### Author: ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 6:39pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/8 "2025-04-04T18:39:52Z")

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> [@TigerMike](#):
>
> You can align the cylinder directly to the sketch.

yes of course:)

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-04-04 à 20.38.21](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/1/31ae5d783ff1bd78f8066e3f403dbd4c400b78f0.jpeg)

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### Author: ![GroMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@GroMark](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/GroMark)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/9 "2025-04-04T19:30:57Z")

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Whoops, seems like I forgot about that 😅 Of course, you are all right, seems like I learned something too. Thanks!

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### Author: ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/10 "2025-04-04T20:06:46Z")

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> [@TigerMike](#):
>
> How might you align when history is merged?

That was the second suggestion, if sketch was created off axis or history was merged. Instead of creating a sketch at the end of the axis it was utilizing this construction plane.  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/f/7/f7375e141a578f307b0f19578e144a2b83f6291f.png)

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### Author: ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/11 "2025-04-04T21:33:41Z")

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> [@jean-philippe2](#):
>
> PS: Construction line axis is just to show the orientation, just cosmetic

A body (cylinder), a sketch (the target) and Align Tool. That’s all you need.

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### Author: ![Bob3DPO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@Bob3DPO](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Bob3DPO)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/12 "2025-04-05T03:53:10Z")

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How does this answer @BKE ‘s question? The question is to align _ **to a construction axis.** _ Saying the axis isn’t needed or is cosmetic can’t answer the question. @GroMark answer in second post is spot on. Yes, it would be nice to select axis as alignment tool, but today that is not an option. GroMark’s solution takes less than a minute and works to answer the OP question.

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### Author: ![JST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@JST](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/JST)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 5:46am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/13 "2025-04-05T05:46:19Z")

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But there is a problem, if the construction axis does not fit on a base plane, the point of interaction is not visible (purple dot, on the picture marked as red) on the perpendicularly added plane, and not possible to draw a concentric circle on the plane…  
Probably in S3D handling this axis is a non-existent line.

 ![IMG_1870](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/0/5/055ac65ea79162b9d5589d42d5c5a12c2dcfd883.jpeg)

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### Author: ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 6:59am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/14 "2025-04-05T06:59:31Z")

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Also there is a point where you over complicate a simple task, when I reach that point I just redo it.

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### Author: ![Bob3DPO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@Bob3DPO](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Bob3DPO)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 7:14am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/15 "2025-04-05T07:14:30Z")

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@JST You are absolutely correct. My apologies to all for being curt before.

A line collinear with the construction axis is needed. To do that, a plane containing the axis must be drawn using 3 point plane where 2 points are on the construction axis and arbitrary location for 3rd point. Then a line can be drawn, snapping to the axis. Finally a perpendicular construction plane added somewhere along that line. Now when the circle is drawn there is a purple dot for the center of the circle.

So now it is a couple minutes? to do an alignment operation that seems like it should be very easy.

I created a feature request here:

> [@Align cylinder to construction axis](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/align-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37364/1):
>
> Please add capability to align a cylinder or cone to a construction axis.

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### Author: ![JST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@JST](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/JST)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 10:12am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/16 "2025-04-05T10:12:38Z")

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> [@SCALEMODEL](#):
>
> Also there is a point where you over complicate a simple task, when I reach that point I just redo it.

I don’t agree,there may be a situation where you have already gone too far and you need to connect two points in space…and fit something to them. It would be enough if the construction axis could be converted to a line

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### Author: ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/17 "2025-04-05T15:49:48Z")

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I agree there may be a situation where it is not feasible to start over.

You can align a cylinder to a construction axis where both are at different compound angles relative to each other in 3D space. Align the edge of the cylinder to the edge of the body which is concentric to the axis.

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### Author: ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/18 "2025-04-05T20:29:06Z")

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> [@JST](#):
>
> may be a situation where you have already gone too far

How did you let your self go that far beyond, we are working within CAD system?

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### Author: ![JST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@JST](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/JST)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/19 "2025-04-05T21:34:58Z")

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I feel like you’re missing the point of the conversation. There was a problem that’s difficult to solve in the program right now. The positive outcome of this conversation was the feature request requested by Bob, and the usual elegant solution from Mike.

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### Author: ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356/20 "2025-04-05T22:36:16Z")

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Agree I might have missed the point, but I did provide my solution on the 4th post? Everything else looks similar concept wise except for Philip’s.

Also your example above, that’s all doable including aligning a sketch to Axis Line.

Oh and I like Bob’s Request!

[Next page](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/move-a-cylinder-to-construction-axis/37356.md?page=2)
