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.

from __future__ import annotations

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