When importing large STEP files, it’s very tiring to move bodies accurately. Often, we have to move parts by very detailed numbers (like 1438.9756 mm), and right now, we can’t even copy and paste the values. We have to memorize and type them in manually for each axis.
This slows things down a lot, especially when working with many parts. Even if Shapr3D doesn’t plan to add full assembly functions (like mates or joints) soon, a faster way to move and align bodies would really help.
Brief description of the outcomes that you expect from this feature:
I hope to be able to pick a surface on one body, pick a surface on another body, and have Shapr3D move and align them automatically without needing to manually input exact numbers.
This would make it much faster and easier to organize parts when building assemblies from imported files. Basically just like how bodies in Solidworks or Fusion would behave, just without the permanent link between bodies.
What can’t you achieve without this feature?
Without this feature, arranging imported parts takes a lot of time and is frustrating. It doesn’t completely block my work, but it makes Shapr3D less practical for handling bigger projects with many parts.
The Align tool is very close to what I meant, but it’s not very intuitive.
For example, I have two bodies. I want to align them by their top-bottom surfaces and side-side surfaces.
First, when I align the top-bottom surfaces, it works well. But when I try to align the side-side surfaces, the top-bottom alignment is lost, so I end up having to manually realign them.
Usually, when we import STEP files from external sources, we don’t know the distance between sides. So we need to measure them first, then move them manually. Unfortunately, we cannot copy the measurement value shown.
Using the Translate tool, You can use these points shown above. Ans yes, a „Multi-Align“ feature is missing for me too. But, after the align, it often works by just dragging the body with the shown move tool and it will snap to the aligned face.
About measurements, you‘d have to toggle the „Measure“ Button on, and you could then Copy and/or pin your measurements.
select the align tool, double click on the body you want to move, in the active menu on the side, press the green arrow (next), then the drag points (corners, midpoints, endpoints) will appear, drag and pull the desired point into place
