Railworks America

I use Sketchup to make my models and then export into 3DC to put the model into groups and make the shape file. (Not a fan of Blender or 3D Max) My version of 3DC is 9.3

My current model: I made the blueprint and then did a preview. The model doesn't show meaning it's not on the point of origin. (on occasion I have to deal with this) Is there a command in 3DC to snap the model to the point of origin?

If not, I'll just have to go back into Sketchup and set the model again on the point of origin and the run it through 3DC again. Not the first time I've had to do this which is why I ask if I can fix it in 3DC.

Thanks

Hi,

You're in luck, 3DC has a tool for that. There's a handy operation (you can find it among the many small buttons of the tools panel on the left hand side of the screen) that lets you center an object (or selection of multiple objects) in its group. All you need to make sure before pressing it is that your group is properly centered at the scene center. Bear in mind though that this also centers the objects on the height axis, which in case of the wagon or engine group means that stuff will be placed at ground level (0,0,0). And if your model/selection consists of several separate parts, they will all be moved to the center and thus messing up their positioning relative to each other.

There's a workaround if you want to retain your objects' current positioning in the scene and not have to bother with actually moving them: create a new group that is correctly centered (just drop a new cube onto the scene and move its group to the scene center). This will be your new 1_xxxx_wagon or _engine group. Now drop all your models' components into that group. They'll keep their visual position on the scene but inherit their coords from the new group, which is already at 0,0,0. Delete the blank cube when done.

Hope this made some sense.

Cheers,
Michael