I selected a face which was not normal to any of the views and did File/Export as a DXF.

However, seeing as the face was not normal to the view, it only seemed to export as it was viewed on the screen.

At this point I'm struggling finding a way to orient the face to a view (relative beginner at MOI) so I can get a correct export, and Googling has not resulted in any useful results.

If there's any tutorial someone could direct me to, that would be great.

Thanks,

Keith

Set cPlane?

Thanks, but the problem is I'm trying to figure out how to use that tool, and that's why I'm hoping someone can link to a tutorial.

Hi Keith, there's a tutorial on setting a construction plane here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzthNX0l-Ow&list=PLUilfM8GEmrS3yRLygdFOGJjRZHOzLnkM&index=17&t=122s

But it's pretty straightforward, click the CPlane button in the side pane, it's on the "View" tab.

The command prompt in the upper right of the main window is the spot that MoI tells you what it is expecting you to do next, it will now say "Pick CPlane origin".

Pick a point on the surface you want the view to align to. The orientation picker will align to that surface's normal and then the prompt will say "Adjust axis orientation". At this 2nd step in placing the cplane you can drag one of the orientation picker's axis lines to alter the rotation of the cplane (like if you want the x-axis of the view to point towards a particular point), or if the default rotation is ok you can click the "Done" button or right click in a viewport to accept the default rotation.

At this point the 2D views (Top/Front/Right) will change to be relative to that plane (unless you had unchecked "Orient ortho views" in the cplane command options) and you can export a DXF using one of those now reoriented 2D views.

If you are done working in that cplane you can run View > CPlane again and click the "Reset CPlane" buttton, or also a right click on the View > CPlane button in the side pane is a shortcut for resetting it as well.

Tom Meeks' YouTube channel is probably the most comprehensive tutorial guide for beginners:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUilfM8GEmrS3yRLygdFOGJjRZHOzLnkM

- Michael

Here's an example screencap video - here I run the View > CPlane command, and snap a point onto the face, then right click to accept the default rotation around that surface normal.

Then I use a right click on View > CPlane to reset it, and then place it again this time dragging the x axis line during the 2nd step (that says "Adjust axis orientation") to make horizontal x axis line of the view to go through a specific point:



- Michael

Or also another way you could do it is to transform the object so that particular face is flat in one of the regular top/front/right views.

You can do that using the Transform > Orient command, which uses the orientation picker similar to setting a cplane, except with Transform > Orient you use it twice, one to set up the base orientation frame and then to set the target orientation.

- Michael

Hi Beefy,
You can use the script below "CplanAux.js", this is how it works: A = CPlane on a selected FACE / A = Return to the original Plane.

Thank you very much everyone.

I've been pulling my hair out over this today, and thanks to your help I now realise what I was doing wrong.

I only had the 3D viewport open when I was using the Cplane tool, and as a result I did not see any change when using the tool.

With all viewports open I immediately seen the object rotate and the face become normal to the view. Exported the applicable faces and imported into another program, and checked dimensions. Everything perfect.

I'm a very happy camper,

Keith