How does the Orientate 3D Model gizmo work when importing a model into a rotary job? (12.5)

What it is

When you import a 3D model into a rotary job in 12.5, the Orientate 3D Model form opens with an interactive orientation gizmo so you can position, rotate, and scale the model around the rotation axis before it becomes a component. (The VCarve Pro 12.5 What's New calls this out: position rotary models with the included orientation gizmo.)

The form, top to bottom

• Imported Model Type: choose Full 3D model (a complete figure ready for rotary machining) or Flat model (a relief used as a design element).
• Initial Orientation: six directional options set which surface faces up (Z), combinable with five rotation-about-Z choices. The software suggests an orientation automatically.
• Interactive rotation handles: in the 3D view, color-coded handles rotate the model: red = X axis, green = Y axis, blue = Z axis, and a central gray sphere rotates freely in multiple axes. Handles light up yellow on hover, and you can type absolute angle values instead of dragging.
• Rotation axis placement: a draggable black cube repositions the cylinder's rotation axis relative to the model. The Rotation Axis Movement toggle (Full 3D only) switches dragging between normal panning (Off) and moving the centerline within the block (On).
• Scaling: full 3D models scale by bounding cylinder length and diameter, and flat models scale in X, Y, Z. There are unit-conversion, aspect-lock, fit-to-material, reset, and resize-material-block options.
• OK creates the component, and Cancel discards.

Pro tips

• Get the axis centered through the model's mass with the black cube before worrying about fine rotation. An off-axis model wastes diameter and can leave flats.
• Type exact angles for square alignment, and drag handles only for eyeballing.
• The full workflow for bringing a figure into a rotary job, including machining, is in the KB entry "Can I import a full 3D STL figure into a VCarve Pro rotary job?"