Introduction: Moving, Rotating, and Scaling Objects

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The following information is a single lesson in a larger Tinkercad project. Check out this and more projects on Tinkercad.

Return to Previous Lesson: Testing Your New Navigation Skills

Lesson Overview:

Now we're going to move some things around!

Instructions

  1. Continue to the next step.

Step 1: Introduction

Now that you've learned how to whiz around the Workplane, it's time to really get down to working with objects.

In this lesson, you're going to learn more about the physical properties of objects.

Instructions

  1. Continue to the next step.

Step 2: Placing a Box

We're going to need a object to manipulate. Let's start with a box. Place a box exactly within the hint.

Now, look at the hint. You'll notice that it isn't precisely aligned on major-grid-lines. It's not uncommon to miss the major-grid-lines when you first put an object down. Let's fix that.

Instructions

  1. Drag a box to the Workplane and place it within the hint.
  2. Continue to the next step.

Step 3: Nudging

Now that you have the box on the Workplan, how do you move it just a tiny bit? We can nudge it into place!

Nudging is moving any selected object in small, controlled hops by using the arrow keys. Each hop is a 1mm step.

You can also nudge objects along the Z axis by holding Control (Command on Mac) while pressing the up or down arrow keys.

Finally, you can nudge objects in 1cm steps, along any axis, by also holding down the Shift key.

Instructions

  1. Use the arrow keys to push the box over to the nearest major grid line.
  2. Continue to the next step.

Step 4: The Power of Undo

What if you've moved your object too far? You can fix it very easily using undo and redo.

You'll find the undo and redo tools in the menu bar, represented by arrows pointing in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.

In fact, if you think about it, these tools are like going forwards and backwards in time!

Instructions

  1. Use undo until your object has returned to its original position.
  2. Continue to the next step

Step 5: Rotation

In the last lesson, you learned about Translation (linear movement) along our three axes: X, Y, and Z.

Rotation is movement, in a circular motion, around the axes.

Let's look at our 3D modeler's salute. Each finger also has a circular arrow moving around an axis, like a bicycle wheel rotating around its axle.

Let's try some rotation!

Instructions

  1. Continue to the next step

Step 6: Rotation Handles

When you have an object selected, Tinkercad will display three rotation handles in the shape of semi-circles with arrows on both ends (they look like little fish hooks).

Grabbing these handles will allow you to rotate around one axis at a time.

Next, we'll see what happens when we use them.

Instructions

  1. Continue to the next step.

Step 7: Rotation Protractor

When you mouse over a rotation handle, a protractor will appear to help you measure your rotation. When you click and hold the handle, as you move your mouse, the object will begin to rotate.

Tinkercad has three methods of rotation: fine, medium, and large.

As you rotate your object, if you keep your cursor outside of the protractor, your rotation will move in 1° hops. When you keep the cursor within the protractor, your rotation will make 22.5° degree hops. Lastly, when you hold down Shift, your object will snap to large, 45° hops.

Instructions

  1. Move your object in 1°, 22.5°, and 45° steps.
  2. Undo the rotation to return your object to its original position.
  3. Continue to the next step.

Step 8: Rotating Around the X and Y Axes

Rotating around the Z axis is the most intuitive because the Z axis extends perpendicular from the Workplane.

The X and Y axes both travel through the Workplane, so sometimes it's hard to determine which axis is which.

From the home position, the Y axis extends forward, or away from you into the screen, while the X axis extends from left of the screen to the right.

Instructions

  1. Rotate your object around its X and Y axes.
  2. Undo the rotation to return your object to its original position.
  3. Continue to the next step

Step 9: Scaling an Object

Now that we've mastered translation and rotation, it's time to stop moving the object and start changing it.

Scaling is increasing or decreasing the size of an object.

When you select an object, you will see five white and four black squares.

These are Scaling Handles. When you mouse over these handles you will see dimensions for length, height, and width.

Instructions

  1. Mouse over the black handles, and you will see one dimension along the X or Y axis.
  2. Mouse over the white handles, and you will see both dimensions along the X and Y axes.
  3. Mouse over the white handle on top, and you will see the dimension for the Z axis.
  4. Continue to the next step.

Step 10: Scaling Along the Z Axis

Let's start by making the object taller or shorter. The white handle at the top of the box is the Z axis scale handle, and it allows you to increase or decrease an object's dimensions along the Z axis.

Instructions

  1. Grab the white box above the object and pull in any direction.
  2. Undo the scaling to return your object to its original shape.
  3. Continue to the next step.

Step 11: The X and Y Axes' Corner Handles

When using the corner handles, you can change objects along both the X and Y dimensions, and as you do this, you will see a measurement for each!

Instructions

  1. Grab a white corner handle and pull.
  2. Undo the scaling to return your object to its original position.
  3. Continue to the next step.

Step 12: X and Y Axes' Side Drag Handles

If you only want to change one dimension, as we did with the Z axis, you can use the black drag handles on the side. This will give you finer control over the shape of your object and only show you a measurement for the dimension you are working with.

Instructions

  1. Grab a black side handle and pull.
  2. Undo the scaling to return your object to its original position.
  3. Continue to the next step.

Step 13: Shift Scale (proportional Scaling)

What if you want to scale an object so that it maintains its proportions? Meaning, what if you want to change the size but not the shape?

While scaling an object, hold down the Shift key.

Instructions

  1. Grab any handle while holding Shift and pull.
  2. Undo the scaling to return your object to its original position.
  3. Continue to the next step.

Step 14: Scaling About the Center of an Object

Previously, when you were scaling an object, the center of your object moved too.

What if you want to keep your object centered?

For example, you want to make the wings on your supersonic, robotic butterfly wider while keeping the wings centered on its back. How do you do that?

All you need to do is hold down the Alt key (or Alt/Option on Mac).

Instructions

  1. Grab any handle while holding Alt (PC) or Alt/Option (Mac) and pull.
  2. Undo the scaling to return your object to its original position.
  3. Continue to the next step.

Step 15: Proportional Scaling About the Center

What if you want the flower on your organically grown, bio-powered, death-ray fly-trap to be a little smaller, while not changing shape AND still keeping it centered on the STALK OF DOOM?

Hold Shift and Alt.

Instructions

  1. Grab any handle while holding shift, and Alt (PC) or option (Mac) and pull.
  2. Undo the scaling to return your object to it's original position.
  3. Continue to the next step.

Step 16: Scale + Rotation = Skew!

What if you want to create a shape that's not in the Shapes menu?

For example, there isn't a parallelogram. How do you make one?

Don't worry; you can make your own in just two easy steps.

Instructions

  1. Rotate your box 22.5 degrees.
  2. Use the black side handle to stretch the rotated box

    3. HINT:
    Because of the rotation, you may need to scale a little in each direction to reach 65mm exactly.

  3. If needed, nudge your shape into the target position.
  4. Continue to the next step.

Step 17: Deleting an Object

Uh oh! What do you do if you just realized that you didn't want to start with a box, you wanted to start with a triangle roof?

Let's fix it with the good ole delete function!

Instructions

  1. Select your item.
  2. Hit the delete or backspace key.
  3. Continue to next step.

Step 18: You're Done!

This was a challenging lesson - you did a great job!

If you ever need a refresher on moving, rotating, and scaling objects, you can always come back and repeat this awesome lesson!

Instructions

  1. Continue to the next lesson - Making and manipulating grouped objects

In the next lesson you will learn about groups!

Next Lesson:Making and Manipulating Grouped Objects