Rotation about an arbitrary axis
Rotation of an object in space with respect to any arbitrary axis involves intermediate transformations. This tool demonstrates all the intermediate steps involved leading to final transformation. This helps to visually correlate the 3D geometric transformations with the underlying mathematical formulation.
Installation Manual
- Download and extract the contents of the .zip file named Rotation about an arbitrary axis.zip.
- Open the extracted folder named Rotation about an arbitrary axis.
- Open the folder named ug_customization. Right click on the Windows Batch File named nx and open with Notepad/Notepad++.
- Find the current file path of the nx file in your computer (Right click >> Properties). Copy the file path and paste it in the first line (the highlighted portion in the notepad as shown below).
- Change the version of Siemens NX to the one you are using (module works for Siemens NX 10.0, 11.0, and 12.0) in the third line of the notepad file (as highlighted below).
- Once these steps are carried out, you have completed the installation procedures before launching the application.
Instruction Manual
- Now, double-click nx to launch the Windows Batch File. This will launch the Siemens NX window and a terminal window (you can minimize it or close it – it contains the information you input in steps 4 and 5). You may notice the UC Geometric Modeling 1. Modules tab in the top toolbar. Click on it. The Rotation about an arbitrary axis module will be visible.
2. Before using the module, the user is supposed to import/create a Parasolid File of a part within Siemens NX. For illustration purposes, the Parasolid File (.x_t) is saved in the folder named Example Parts. Import the Parasolid file into Siemens NX. Follow the step mentioned below to import a Parasolid file of the part.
Open >> (Choose the file location of Rotation about an arbitrary axis Folder) >>
Example Parts >> Part_1.x_t >> Ok
3. Once the file is opened in Siemens NX, you can click on the Rotation about an arbitrary axis button on the Command Ribbon.
1. The Rotation about an arbitrary axis GUI is shown in the figure below. The detailed explanation of each option in the GUI is given below.
a) Select Body
This option is used to select the body for which rotation is to be performed.
b) Generating Axis
The start and end points of the arbitrary axis about which rotation is to be performed.
c) Axis
Generates the axis in the NX window for visualization based on the given axis parameters.
d) α and β
Computes the angles of rotation along X, Y axes needed to align the arbitrary axis with the Z axis.
e) Translation
Translates the one point of arbitrary axis along with the body to the origin which is the first step in aligning the arbitrary axis with Z axis.
f) Inverse translation
This is the last step (seventh) in the transformation process after performing rotation about the arbitrary axis.
g) Rotation about X
This is the second step in the transformation. The body must be rotated about angle α before performing rotation with Y axis. Also, to perform the inverse rotation in the next (sixth) steps. Use button Rotate to perform the transformation.
h) Rotation about Y
This is the third step in the transformation. The body must be rotated about angle β to align the arbitrary axis with Z axis. Also, to perform the inverse rotation in the next (fifth) steps after rotation with arbitrary axis. Use button Rotate to perform the transformation.
i) Rotation about arbitrary axis
This is the fourth step in the transformation. The body must be rotated about required angle about arbitrary axis. Use button Rotate to perform the transformation.
Each rotation must be performed independently and as soon as the button Rotate is used the transformation will be done. After all the above steps we will get the final Transformed part after rotation about given arbitrary axis. If the final Transformed part is to be saved use ‘OK’ or ‘Apply’, else use ‘cancel’.
5. The output window of the Rotation about arbitrary axis module is shown below. The results consist all the vertices of the body after every transformation. The angles of rotation about X, Y axes to align the arbitrary axis with Z axis.
Please watch the video tutorial of the module for an example part included with the zip file of the module.
Example Problem
Use the Parasolid Files named Part_1.x_t and Part_2.x_t in the Example Parts folder attached in the Rotation about arbitrary axis module folder that you have extracted from the website.
Try out different start and end points for generating the arbitrary axis and notice the change in α and β needed to align the arbitrary axis with Z axis.
Download Rotation about an arbitrary axis