realigning a model to max grids

[Dave Buckley]

i've just imported an inventor model into max and need to realign it to the max grids, it's off axis when i import.

 

however even if i select it and go to local co-ord system it just says 0,0,0 anyway and i can't get it's orientation from the max grids in order to straighten it up in my viewports.

 

any ideas?

 

i need to work out how much it's been rotated by but not sure how?

[Peter M. Gruhn]

There's a 3 point align script out there somewhere.

 

You could use normal align. ... Just tested, works great. Works on multi-object selections. Just make a box in the real world, align to it.

[Dave Buchhofer]

turn on autogrid, draw something on a face, check the new objects orientation?

 

if you want, parent the imported model to the new object, and just rotate the new parent object back to 0,0,0

[mattclinch]

my method has always been to draw a autogrid onto one of the sides you want parallel and display in the ZX plane, then check the absolute:world z rotate value of the grid to give you the amount needed to rotate.

[Dave Buckley]

nice work guys, worked a treat, thanks for tips

[Dave Buckley]

still got a slight problem guys, my bounding box is now twisted?? any ideas of how to realign the bounding box to the geometry now i have that straightened?

[mattclinch]

reset transform?

[Dave Buckley]

ok cheers matt.

 

only problem i'm having with that is that the twisted model consists of about 4000+ different parts, so i've grouped it to help with ease of realigning, now when i ungroup it and try and add xform modifier to everything, it goes mental due to referenced parts etc, completely unmanagemable.

 

i think i'm just going to use it as is, shouldn't be a problem, i'm just a bit anal with things looking neat

 

fwiw i'll post a screenshot after applying xform to everything

[PiXeL_MoNKeY]

I would give Martin Breidt's 3-point Align and Paul Neale's Reset Xform tool. Anytime there are references involved it may be best to make them unique and Reset the Xform.

 

Most of the time when I need to modify something like this I set the Reference Coordinate system to World and Use Transform Coordinate Center. This will place the gizmo at the origin so you can easily rotate around it. That way you can manipulate everything without the need of grouping, etc.

 

-Eric