Rotations

Rotations of a mesh about its axes. In this model, the x axis is from the left to right; the y axis is from bottom to top; and the z axis emerges from the image. The camera location is the same in all four images.

import pyvista as pv
from pyvista import examples

Define camera and axes

Define camera and axes. Setting axes origin to (3.0, 3.0, 3.0).

mesh = examples.download_cow()
mesh.points /= 1.5  # scale the mesh

camera = pv.Camera()
camera.position = (30.0, 30.0, 30.0)
camera.focal_point = (5.0, 5.0, 5.0)

axes = pv.Axes(show_actor=True, actor_scale=2.0, line_width=5)
axes.origin = (3.0, 3.0, 3.0)

Original Mesh

Plot original mesh. Add axes actor to Plotter.

p = pv.Plotter()

p.add_text("Mesh", font_size=24)
p.add_actor(axes.actor)
p.camera = camera
p.add_mesh(mesh)

p.show()

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Rotation about the x axis

Plot the mesh rotated about the x axis every 60 degrees. Add the axes actor to the Plotter and set the axes origin to the point of rotation.

p = pv.Plotter()

p.add_text("X-Axis Rotation", font_size=24)
p.add_actor(axes.actor)
p.camera = camera

for i in range(6):
    rot = mesh.rotate_x(60 * i, point=axes.origin, inplace=False)
    p.add_mesh(rot)

p.show()

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Rotation about the y axis

Plot the mesh rotated about the y axis every 60 degrees. Add the axes actor to the Plotter and set the axes origin to the point of rotation.

p = pv.Plotter()

p.add_text("Y-Axis Rotation", font_size=24)
p.camera = camera
p.add_actor(axes.actor)

for i in range(6):
    rot = mesh.rotate_y(60 * i, point=axes.origin, inplace=False)
    p.add_mesh(rot)

p.show()

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Rotation about the z axis

Plot the mesh rotated about the z axis every 60 degrees. Add axes actor to the Plotter and set the axes origin to the point of rotation.

p = pv.Plotter()

p.add_text("Z-Axis Rotation", font_size=24)
p.camera = camera
p.add_actor(axes.actor)

for i in range(6):
    rot = mesh.rotate_z(60 * i, point=axes.origin, inplace=False)
    p.add_mesh(rot)

p.show()

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Rotation about a custom vector

Plot the mesh rotated about a custom vector every 60 degrees. Add the axes actor to the Plotter and set axes origin to the point of rotation.

p = pv.Plotter()

p.add_text("Custom Vector Rotation", font_size=24)
p.camera = camera
p.add_actor(axes.actor)
for i in range(6):
    rot = mesh.copy()
    rot.rotate_vector(vector=(1, 1, 1), angle=60 * i, point=axes.origin)
    p.add_mesh(rot)

p.show()

Static Scene

Interactive Scene