Grid alignment in 3ds Max/placing a pivot to a line

[filipkoruznjak]

I've read about a 100 posts, but it just doesn't seem to work and I have no idea what I'm doing wrong

 

I want to align a grid to a polyline I've drawn or I just want my pivot to be oriented with the x axis to a line (defined by 2 points). In autocad is that just one command and it works flawlessly. In 3ds Max I doesn't seem to work at all.

 

I've created a grid that looks like a square with diagonals. Used the align command and the grid always ends up aligned to the center point (diagonal section) and never to the outer grid borders.

 

I can't imagine that I would have to extrude the polyline, only to place a working pivot on a surface or use autogrid. It just doesn't make any sense that such a basic and necesarry option is so complex to carry out in Max.

 

The idea is basic, unfortunately, most of the site plans I get are rarely orthogonal. Polyline modeling is a nightmare, because I often want to create tiles (or similar) that need to be parallel to one of the existing lines. It takes ages and the result is often not good.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

Edited January 9, 2017 by filipkoruznjak

[James Vella]

Theres quite a few ways to do this, not sure exactly what you are trying to achieve but if you want to work with your new axis, you can tell max to align whatever you are working with to the previous object:

 

[filipkoruznjak]

 

Hi James, thank you for your reply.

 

I've tried using your proposed method, but it still doesn't get me where I want to be.

When I change the gizmo mode using the pick command, the gismo is oriented to the middle of my polyline, but the X/Y axis are still orthogonal to the default Max grid.

 

I was hoping to get the Y axis on (or parallel) to the drawn polyline and the x axis with a 90 degree angle to the newly selected Y axis (polyline).

 

Option 2; when I'm trying to use a custom grid, the grid alignment is not possible along the grid edges, yet only the grid middle(diagonal intersection).

 

What I want to achieve would be to rotate the gismo and align X or Y axis along any polyline I've created.

Similar action could be achieved just by editing a working pivot(I can drag it, snap it, rotate it), but it is never a 100% accurate solution (rotation angles differ up to 0.00032 degrees for example).

 

I've attached 2 screenshots showing what the problem/wishes are.

 

Best regards

Edited January 10, 2017 by filipkoruznjak

[chopperk]

Hi Filip,

 

Personally, the closest thing to rotating like ACAD is to use Sergo's Script Pack, it has a 3-point rotate tool I find very useful. Just set it up as a custom toolbar.

 

Good Luck

[James Vella]

Use an object and rotate it to the axis, then do as I suggested. A polyline does not have an orientation.

 

Alternatively you can rotate the grid to the orientation you want (55.68deg example or whatever u have that angle at) and use the grids orientation the same way.