FreeCAD Forum

An issue to alignment usage is how to get the desired final relative position of selected objects: The bodies at attach. B1 and C1 are the same and they have the same points selected, but the positioning of the bodies after alignment, are opposite. At both cases the points selected were the same as you can see in attachment A at next post.

In order to determine the relative position -with sureness as possible - before alignment I orientaded them in both cases as close as possible to the desired final positions. I. e. Position as attach. B for B1 and position as C for C1.
I used Transformation in both cases.
The outcome is not always right but usually works. If not the Undo button helps me for a new trial.
Does anybody knows better method for the orientation of object positioning ?

This is attachment A which shows the points selected for the alignment: The same for both cases.

TBH, while I know how to use the tools provided out of the box for general placement with FreeCAD, 99% of the time I just use Manipulator workbench. It just works like you think it should.

For just close, I use the Transform tool.

Attachment is different and the Attachment tools just have to be learned.

manos, IMO if you really want to learn how to hook objects together or bring in an object and connect it to another then use an assembly tool. That alignment tools is very old and I think outdated because we now have assembly tools to do those tasks.

drmacro wrote: ↑Tue Jul 05, 2022 9:20 pm TBH, while I know how to use the tools provided out of the box for general placement with FreeCAD, 99% of the time I just use Manipulator workbench. It just works like you think it should.
For just close, I use the Transform tool.
Attachment is different and the Attachment tools just have to be learned.

Thanks drmacro but my question is about Std Alignment.

freedman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 05, 2022 9:39 pm manos, IMO if you really want to learn how to hook objects together or bring in an object and connect it to another then use an assembly tool. That alignment tools is very old and I think outdated because we now have assembly tools to do those tasks.

I will not spend much time at alignment tool. I think it is useful to learn a little the old commands. Thanks anyway.

manos wrote: ↑Tue Jul 05, 2022 9:48 pm

drmacro wrote: ↑Tue Jul 05, 2022 9:20 pm TBH, while I know how to use the tools provided out of the box for general placement with FreeCAD, 99% of the time I just use Manipulator workbench. It just works like you think it should.
For just close, I use the Transform tool.
Attachment is different and the Attachment tools just have to be learned.

Thanks drmacro but my question is about Std Alignment.

As I said I use Manipulator.

Std_Alignment IS the out of the box tool I refer to. Manipulator is far superior.

I was unable to reproduce your results. FC always gave back the expected alignment.

To get the reversed alignment I had to transpose one of the points.

freedman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 05, 2022 9:39 pm ... now have assembly tools to do those tasks.

@drmarco: Manipulator is far superior.

Yes but simple tools can be useful too, specially at simple cases. Thanks anyway freedman,drmarco.

Bance wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:17 am I was unable to reproduce your results. FC always gave back the expected alignment.

You used both the two relative initial positions and you had the same alignment ?

To get the reversed alignment I had to transpose one of the points.

Very interesting and useful. Does anybody know anything more specific about this ?