Applies to: DentalCAM 8.09

Moving and rotating objects

When you open a new blank for the first time, all objects are centered in the middle of the blank. You need to move them to their desired positions.

There are 2 ways to move and rotate objects in the nesting view for adjusting objects:

About the blank display Quickly position and rotate the objects with the mouse in the top view.
Via the corresponding editing function This requires a few more clicks, but gives you more options.

Open the Nesting view for adjusting objects with the following icon in the main toolbar:

New blank with all objects in the blank middle

Moving objects in X- and Y-direction using the top view

This procedure belongs to step 1 of the simple nesting workflow.

This procedure belongs to step 3 of the complete nesting workflow.

Moving objects in the X- and Y-direction via the top view means looking onto the blank from above and moving the objects in a 2D plane along the X- and Y-axis.

To quickly move objects horizontally and vertically, do the following:

Select the top view.  Toggling the view of the blank display
Select and hold an object that you want to move.
Move the object to the desired position by dragging the mouse.
Release the mouse button.
Make sure that the object lies within the boundaries of the blank. An incorrect position is indicated by red flash icons.
Make sure that the workspaces of all objects do not overlap too much. An incorrect position is indicated by red flash icons.

When working with cobalt-chrome (CoCr) or titanium, the workspace must not overlap at all.
R5: In the general application settings, you can deactivate the required safety distance from the disc rim.  Extended milling range

Quickly rotating objects about the Z-axis in the top view

This procedure belongs to step 2 of the simple nesting workflow.

This procedure belongs to step 4 of the complete nesting workflow.

You rotate objects about the Z-axis as follows:

Select and hold an object that you want to rotate.
If you want to rotate the object by 90°:
1. Hold down either the Shift key or the Ctrl key.
2. Press the left arrow key to rotate the object counterclockwise or the right arrow key to rotate the object clockwise.
If you want to rote the object by 5°, press the Left arrow key to rotate the object counterclockwise or the Right arrow key to rotate the object clockwise.
If you want to rotate the object in steps of 1°, use the mouse wheel:
- To rotate the object clockwise, turn the mouse wheel away from you.
- To rotate the object counterclockwise, turn the mouse wheel towards you.
Release the mouse button.

Rotating objects in the top view by 1°, 5°, 90°

Moving and rotating objects in blocks

This procedure belongs to steps of the simple nesting workflow.

This procedure belongs to steps 3 & 4 of the complete nesting workflow.

When you work with blocks, you follow the standard procedures for positioning and rotating objects. Block-specific tasks are detailed below:

Create a job and select a blank type for blocks.
Import a suitable object into the job.

DentalCAM displays the block holder and the maximum number of blocks that the current machine can process in 1 job.

Different machines can process different numbers of blocks per job. Sometimes the number of blocks is limited by the selected blank type

When dragging the object onto a block, the placement aid can automatically position the object

Activate or deactivate the placement aid by selecting the corresponding icon in the top left corner of the blank display:
- Placement aid is activated (recommended):
- Placement aid is deactivated:
Icon bar with the icon that displays that the placement aid is activated (marked orange)

When you drag an object onto a block with the placement aid activated, the object automatically snaps into a proper position on the X- and Y-axis.

If required, rotate the objects about the Z-axis so that they completely lie within the block. You can also rotate them about the X- and Y-axis.

Object nested in a block before rotation

Object nested in a block after rotation

Move the objects until they are fully positioned in the block.

This object needs to be moved to the right

When dragging the object onto a block, the placement aid can automatically position the object

Moving and rotating objects via the editing function

This procedure does not belong to the simple nesting workflow.

This procedure belongs to steps 3 – 5 of the complete nesting workflow.

The editing function for moving and rotating objects enables you to move objects in all directions (X, Y, Z) and rotate them about all axes. While using this function, the view in the blank display is adjustable so that you can view the blank from all angles.

This function additionally allows you to do the following:

Change the orientation of the original STL file.
Use the keyboard to enter values for the position and rotation of objects.

(Optional) Select the desired object in the blank display.

DentalCAM highlights the object in the object list with a colored border.

Open the editing functions for the required object by selecting the following icon in the left column:

The icon bar for the editing functions is displayed.

Open the editing function for moving/rotating objects by selecting the following icon:

Opening the editing function for moving/rotating objects (icons marked orange)

In the left column, several icons and value bars for moving and rotating the object display. In the blank display, 3 colored lines indicate the 3 axes (X, Y, Z):

X-axis: red line
Y-axis: green line
Z-axis: blue line

The control elements in the left column for rotating/moving objects (all axes)

Lines in the blank display indicating the axes to move and rotate objects

Step 1: Switching between rotating the STL files or the rotational axis

If you want to rotate an object about the X-axis or the Y-axis, there are 2 options depending on the type of machine that you use:

If you use a 5-axis machine, DentalCNC can either rotate the second rotational axis of your machine during machining or the application can rotate the object data in the STL file.
If you use a 4-axis machine, DentalCNC can rotate the object data in the STL file.

The differences between these options:

If you use the second rotational axis of your machine, DentalCNC will leave the STL file untouched. However, you are limited to the mechanical rotation range of your machine (see the documentation for your machine for the exact value).
If you adjust the STL data, you can can rotate objects to a much larger degree. However, DentalCNC will overwrite the original STL file.

You toggle between these options as follows:

When you toggle between the options, DentalCNC resets the position and orientation of the object so that all changes you made will be lost.

Position of the icon for toggling between STL data and axis rotation (marked orange)

Toggle the icon so that the desired rotary mode is set:

Rotate rotational axis

Rotate STL data

The following happens:

DentalCAM resets the position and orientation of the object.
If you activated the rotation via changing the STL file:

The value bars and input boxes for rotating the object about the X- and Y-axis display for all machines.
If you activated the rotation via the rotational axis:

If you use a 4-axis machine, the value bars and input boxes for rotating the object about the X- and Y-axis are hidden.

For 5-axis machines all value bars display.

Step 2: Toggling between rough alignment and fine alignment of objects

DentalCNC offers 2 fineness grades for moving objects along the X-, Y- and Z-axes when using the corresponding editing function:

Rough alignmentYou can move the object across the whole blank in steps of 0.5 mm with the value bars.

This is useful when speed is more important than precision.
Fine alignmentYou can objects 5 mm in any direction with respect to their center. You can move them in steps of 0.1 mm with the value bars.

This is useful for positioning objects with extra high precision.

You toggle between these options as follows:

Position of the icon for toggling between rough and fine aligning (marked orange)

Toggle the icon so that the desired rotary mode is set:

Rough aligning

Fine aligning

The following happens:

If you selected fine aligning:

The value bars and the values in the input boxes are set in relation to the center of the object.
If you selected rough aligning:

The value bars and the values in the input boxes are set in relation to the blank.

Step 3: Moving objects in X/Y/Z-direction via icons

(Optional) To align the view in the blank display with the X/Y/Z axis, select the following icon until the desired view direction is set:
- X:
- Y:
- Z:
Move the object by increasing or decreasing the value bar next to the icon.
Enter the movement distance in mm into the input field to the right of the value bar.

Example: Increasing/decreasing the value bar and entering the distance to move an object
Save your changes with the lower arrow icon:
Close the area for the editing function with the upper arrow icon:

Step 4: Rotating objects around the X-, Y-, Z-axis via icons

(Optional) To align the view in the blank display with the X/Y/Z axis, select the following icon until the desired view direction is set:
- X:
- Y:
- Z:
Rotate the object by increasing or decreasing the value bar next to the icon.
Alternative: Enter the rotational angle into the input field to the right of the value bar.
Example: Increasing/decreasing the value bar and entering the angle to rotate an object
Save your changes with the lower arrow icon:
Close the area for the editing function with the upper arrow icon:

What's next?

Read:

Rules and recommendations for positioning objects

Next general step for adjusting objects:

Checking drilling ranges and cavities for proper marking