# Rotation Tool stuck on 3 axis? **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Created:** [October 7, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824 "2016-10-07T18:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/1 "2016-10-07T18:42:25Z")
I am very frustrated by the Protractor that works only on the 3 axis. Is there a way to rotate freely object ? I have beams with double angle cuts that I want to join by their ends… ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/2 "2016-10-07T18:43:48Z")
Use the angled cut as the reference for setting the rotation axis. Watch: [http://www.sketchup.com/learn/videos/60](http://www.sketchup.com/learn/videos/60) ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/3 "2016-10-07T19:40:23Z")
Thank you for your fast respond… But, it doesn’t work or I am missing something. The beams have a diagonal cut (on the 2 axis) to form a diamond shape. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/5/6/56435edc03a48d9bbbdc2ffa2c6bc845d33d1f69.jpeg) (your link is for making arcs… and the Protractor link is not working…) ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/4 "2016-10-07T19:42:32Z")
Can you show a cross section? I would just draw the molding profile, use Follow Me to make the frame and split the sides out of it. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/0/d/0d09daee717319261afb2e681b8eac88b3e9dfda.png) Scroll down the list on the right to the Rotate tool video. ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/5 "2016-10-07T20:07:21Z")
When I click to a link on the right and then the arrow in the video window, it’s the Arc tool running again and again… ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/6 "2016-10-07T20:09:43Z")
When I select the Rotate tool video from the list on the right side of the screen, the video at the top switches to the one for the Rotate tool. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/b/bb9d3cbc27b2be798cb68be6e79544e3910a16be.png) I don’t know what else to tell you. ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/7 "2016-10-07T20:33:09Z")
I want to use a framing with 1" x 2". The diamond has the golden ratio. The 10 diamonds form a wonderful dome. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/6/f6de516bdc23bdce312bd531627e3e7062be3d4d.png) At the top, there is 5 vertical diamonds, under which fit 5 horizontal same diamonds. Designing with lines was easy for me, but with 1 x 2 ou 2 x 4" is tougher for my beginner level. Since the diamonds frames must fit perfectly together, the 1 x 2 must have an angle… wich I calculate to be 58.3838°. So, one end of the beam is cut at 36° and 58.3838°. **But, I would like to have all the angles of the joints (2 angles for each 2 joints).** The diamond frame use only 2 pieces of wood (that are doubled). Dimensions of the diamond : total length 7.608 ft; width 4.702 ft (7.608 / 4.702 = 1.618); sides 4.472 ft. 1" x 2" frame ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/8 "2016-10-07T20:39:30Z")
> [@angeleden](#): > > wich I calculate to be 58.3838°. So, one end of the beam is cut at 36° and 58.3838°. I think my calculation of **angles** were wrong… ---
**Author:** ![john\_mcclenahan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/john_mcclenahan/32/135377_2.png) [@john\_mcclenahan](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_mcclenahan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/9 "2016-10-07T22:50:43Z")
I’m trying to get clear in my head what you are making from the 1x2 or 2x4 - solid pieces to fit together, or edges round some sheet material to make the individual diamonds? I’ve drawn some diamonds with the short diagonal of unit length, and the long diagonal in the golden ratio to it - is that the starting point? ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/10 "2016-10-07T23:13:28Z")
I’VE SUCCEEDED… well, mostly… there is just a small gap of 1/8" on the last placed diamond (which I will fix). I am so proud. It is so fun to find the logic of SketchUp tools… without any tutorials ! Now, I can buy a pile of 1 x 2" and built this dome ! ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/0/e/0ebef787cbd9a153ac93001db1fbf036a1b00cc3.png) ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/11 "2016-10-07T23:22:48Z")
I want to build a dome with only golden diamonds (that use only 2 parts to be cut). Since the first one will be only covered by plastic, i will use only 1" x 2". I needed the perfect angles of cut, since the diamonds must fit perfectly together. I want to produce the diamonds separately and not build the dome with a unique framing. So, each edge is doubled. Yeah, the starting point was the measures I gave. But, it is totally different to dray a wire design than a one with frames. ---
**Author:** ![john\_mcclenahan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/john_mcclenahan/32/135377_2.png) [@john\_mcclenahan](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_mcclenahan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/12 "2016-10-07T23:23:14Z")
Well done. But I’m still a bit puzzled. i’ve drawn my diamond based on a golden ratio Sketchup rectangle, and it won’t fit the horizontal diamonds underneath. But my angles are not the same as yours - 55 deg inside the acute point of the diamond, and 125 deg in the obtuse angle. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/5/1/515a24d38c0722c412b4d522829f8587844e867c.png) ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/13 "2016-10-07T23:26:04Z")
Well, from a 2D geometrical perspective, it gives angles of 63.435° and 116.56°. ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/14 "2016-10-07T23:28:59Z")
What you did John is a good start. But, the difficult part is to “extrude” the diamonds at the depth of the material used for the framing. Since the angles between the diamonds are unknown, it is not easy to assemble them together… but, I finally found the trick to do it. ---
**Author:** ![john\_mcclenahan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/john_mcclenahan/32/135377_2.png) [@john\_mcclenahan](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_mcclenahan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/15 "2016-10-07T23:43:42Z")
Well, my diamonds were not golden ratio - they are now. THEN I can do the extrusion, i think. This is the shape I got to in the end, before attempting extrusion ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/1/5/1560ded3662e99cf1ae5e1812b56b2ff14bfb217.png) ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/16 "2016-10-07T23:44:04Z")
Here are the basic numbers 🙂 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/d/1/d137b7615dce28ffdca70547769cad6defdd5829.png) ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/17 "2016-10-07T23:48:35Z")
Well, you may succeed the extrusions… But, what i did is built directly the frame. So, I’ve start with a 1"x 2" x 4.472’. I create one, did the cuts at one end (that I knew the angles by geometry). Then i doubled it and flip it. The joining of the 2 bevel cuts was the worse to realise… since the are 2 rotations and one is not at all compatible with the rotation tool… ---
**Author:** ![john\_mcclenahan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/john_mcclenahan/32/135377_2.png) [@john\_mcclenahan](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_mcclenahan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/18 "2016-10-08T00:09:29Z")
Thanks - I got to the same result just drawing the axes of the diamond in the right ratios. Did you know that you can align the rotation tool along any axis (i mean any arbitrary line) by dragging it along that axis? Another point - the protractor tool works the same way. Draw perpendiculars to an edge. Then measure the angle between them with the protractor tool: looks like this: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/9/f9895c367486b7aeeab33cc568e5467b10be95b0.png) And for what it is worth, here’s the model: [Diamond dome.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/24wodedrjKvnNiZwBbuFHaeCUMx.skp) (99.4 KB) This might help if you want to bevel the meeting edges of the diamonds. Interesting! No time for more tonight (1am in UK). May return to this tomorrow ---
**Author:** ![angeleden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/angeleden/32/23259_2.png) [@angeleden](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/angeleden)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/19 "2016-10-08T01:00:16Z")
I am very surprised that SketchUp blocks the not so old version… ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/a/8/a8cf7b9e560505e048ef8c5b9ec5c11f5ae665e8.png) ---
**Author:** ![jvleearchitects](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/jvleearchitects/32/149_2.png) [@jvleearchitects](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/jvleearchitects)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824/20 "2016-10-08T01:26:19Z")
Try opening the attached edited version. I saved the file to be compatible with SU 2015. [Diamond dome-v2015.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/DyClTBsiEmhQrvDffhUjbuhkes.skp) (91.8 KB) [Next page](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rotation-tool-stuck-on-3-axis/31824.md?page=2)