Rotate in 3D

With the TransformBy method of an object and the Rotation method of a Matrix, you can rotate objects in 2D about a specified point. The direction of rotation for 2D objects is around the Z axis. For 3D objects, the axis of rotation is not limited to the Z axis. When using the Rotation method instead of using the Z axis for the rotation axis, you specify a specific 3D vector.

For more information on rotating in 3D, see “Rotate Objects” in the AutoCAD User's Guide.

Create a 3D box and rotate it about an axis

This example creates a 3D box. It then defines the axis for rotation and finally rotates the box 30 degrees about the axis.

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry

<CommandMethod("Rotate_3DBox")> _

Public Sub Rotate_3DBox()

  '' Get the current document and database, and start a transaction

  Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument

  Dim acCurDb As Database = acDoc.Database

  Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

      '' Open the Block table for read

      Dim acBlkTbl As BlockTable

      acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId, _

                                   OpenMode.ForRead)

      '' Open the Block table record Model space for write

      Dim acBlkTblRec As BlockTableRecord

      acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), _

                                      OpenMode.ForWrite)

      '' Create a 3D solid box

      Dim acSol3D As Solid3d = New Solid3d()

      acSol3D.CreateBox(5, 7, 10)

      '' Position the center of the 3D solid at (5,5,0)

      acSol3D.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(New Point3d(5, 5, 0) - _

                                                Point3d.Origin))

      Dim curUCSMatrix As Matrix3d = acDoc.Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem

      Dim curUCS As CoordinateSystem3d = curUCSMatrix.CoordinateSystem3d

      '' Rotate the 3D solid 30 degrees around the axis that is

      '' defined by the points (-3,4,0) and (-3,-4,0)

      Dim vRot As Vector3d = New Point3d(-3, 4, 0). _

                                         GetVectorTo(New Point3d(-3, -4, 0))

      acSol3D.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Rotation(0.5236, _

                                            vRot, _

                                            New Point3d(-3, 4, 0)))

      '' Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction

      acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acSol3D)

      acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acSol3D, True)

      '' Save the new objects to the database

      acTrans.Commit()

  End Using

End Sub

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;

[CommandMethod("Rotate_3DBox")]

public static void Rotate_3DBox()

  // Get the current document and database, and start a transaction

  Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;

  Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;

  using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

      // Open the Block table for read

      BlockTable acBlkTbl;

      acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId,

                                   OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable;

      // Open the Block table record Model space for write

      BlockTableRecord acBlkTblRec;

      acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace],

                                      OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;

      // Create a 3D solid box

      Solid3d acSol3D = new Solid3d();

      acSol3D.CreateBox(5, 7, 10);

      // Position the center of the 3D solid at (5,5,0)

      acSol3D.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(new Point3d(5, 5, 0) -

                                                Point3d.Origin));

      Matrix3d curUCSMatrix = acDoc.Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem;

      CoordinateSystem3d curUCS = curUCSMatrix.CoordinateSystem3d;

      // Rotate the 3D solid 30 degrees around the axis that is

      // defined by the points (-3,4,0) and (-3,-4,0)

      Vector3d vRot = new Point3d(-3, 4, 0).

                                  GetVectorTo(new Point3d(-3, -4, 0));

      acSol3D.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Rotation(0.5236,

                                            vRot,

                                            new Point3d(-3, 4, 0)));

      // Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction

      acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acSol3D);

      acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acSol3D, true);

      // Save the new objects to the database

      acTrans.Commit();

VBA/ActiveX Code Reference