Recommended test
Inspect rotation, translation, mirroring and bevel on a small CC shape preview before committing.
- Create a short CC run with a rectangular profile and positive extrusion, then apply a 90 degree rotation on one axis.
- Set a 100 mm numeric Move on one axis and compare the preview with the measured guide line.
- Enable Mirror placements with a plane offset that keeps the reflected copies visibly separate.
- Disable mirroring, enable a modest bevel, Generate once and inspect both ends of a member.
Transform before placement
Measure & Place groups placement transforms into Rotate, Move, Mirror and Bevel tabs. These adjust the CC preview and the next generated batch. Live runs share the settings; locked shape runs use their saved snapshots.
Set the profile, anchor and base Orientation first. Then apply one transform at a time, inspecting both an aligned view and an isometric view.
Rotate and move
Rotate turns the placed profile and its extrusion relative to the orientation established for the run. The profile’s local axes need not match the world axes after orientation and alignment. Start with a small change on one axis to confirm its effect.
Move applies numeric X/Y/Z offsets in the model axes to the placements. The measured reference stays in place, which is useful when a row must sit a known distance from its layout line.
To translate one current shape run by dragging or snapping its preview, use CC move. To relocate existing generated members, use Move Tool. Changing the CC preview does not update an earlier generated batch.
Extrude in either direction and extend the ends
The sign of Extrusion selects which side of the oriented profile the member extends toward. A negative value reverses that direction; changing the sign does not reverse the spacing run.
Extrusion offset can extend the start, the end or both ends. With a positive 2400 mm extrusion and enabled 100 mm start and 200 mm end extensions, the member spans from 100 mm behind the profile to 2600 mm beyond it, for a total length of 2700 mm before caps, bevels or trimming.
These extensions follow the extrusion direction. First offset and Last offset in Spacing instead adjust where the endpoint members sit along the measured run. Keep the two directions separate when building frames or arranging members around a reference line.
Mirror
Mirror placements adds reflected copies while retaining the original placements. The selected axis is perpendicular to the mirror plane: X reflects across a plane of constant X, Y across constant Y and Z across constant Z. Plane offset positions that plane in model coordinates; zero uses the corresponding origin plane.
For example, a placement at X = 100 mm reflected across the X plane at 500 mm has its mirrored counterpart at X = 900 mm. The whole geometry is reflected, so inspect an asymmetric profile or bevel to confirm handedness.
Frame caps are included when the shape assembly is mirrored. Mirroring can double the generated geometry and can overlap it when the original lies on the mirror plane. Check the reflected row and its end conditions before generating.
Bevel ends
Enable Bevel ends, choose Short edges or Long edges, select the leading and/or trailing side and set the angle. The controls include inversion and separate end settings. Inspect the resulting cut from both sides, especially after rotation or negative extrusion.
Bevel is a shape-placement control and is disabled for Saved Truss placement. When combining bevels with stopper planes, Trim to geometry or Close frame, verify the generated member lengths and joints as well as the preview.