Geometry | Dimension

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Geometry | Dimension

Why use 'Add Dimension'?

Use Add Dimension to add all Linear and Angular Dimensions:

•Length or a Line or Radius or a Circle or Arc.

•Perpendicular Distance from a Line, or X-Axis, or Y-axis, to a Point

•Angle between two Lines, or the Angle from the X-axis or Y-axis to a Line

•Angle between three Points.

See How to use add Dimensions

See also: Number-Format: Precision and Digits, Dimension Font Size

See also: Rename - helpful when you add Dimensions to a Design-Set.

Add Dimension

MD-Toolbar-SE-AddDimension

Toolbar :

Part-Editor: Geometry toolbar > Add Dimension

Menu :

Part-Editor: Add menu > Geometry sub-menu> > Add Dimension

To Add a Dimension:

1.Part-Editor: Click Geometry toolbar > Add Dimension

2.Part-Editor: Click a sketch-element or sketch-elements to add a linear or angular  dimension. See below

The dimension shows near to your mouse-pointer.

3.Part-Editor: Click in the graphic-area to place the dimension and extension lines next to your mouse-pointer.

The Dimension dialog-box opens.

MD-Dialog-Dimension

4.Edit the dimension in the dialog-box  

Negative Dimensions? Do not delete the Negative sign from a negative dimension.

See: Why a dimension is negative.

5.Click OK-tiny-13-17 to close the Dimension dialog-box

The Dimension is now in the graphic-area.

Notes:

•When sketch-elements are fully defined, you cannot add any more dimensions or constraints.

•You cannot add a driven-dimension in the Part-Editor. Alternatively, use add Measurement FB in the Mechanism-Editor as a driven-dimension.

•Generally, do not make a dimension zero. It is better to add a constraint to move Lines or Points together. See Sketch-Constraints

To edit a Dimension:

1.De-select all other commands

2.Double-click the arrowhead of a dimension element

Why the arrowhead?

•MechDesigner does NOT respond if you click the Dimension Number

•It is easier to click the arrowhead than to click the dimension-lines or extension-lines.

See How to open a dialog-box

How to add dimensions:

btn_delkeyword        Point

There are two methods you can use to locate a Point* in a Part.

NOTE: These two methods relate to a Point sketch-element, and a start-Point, end-Point and centre-Point in other sketch-elements.

Method 1: Add Dimensions

Examples

Dimension

How?

Selection-Window

Geometry-Tree

MD-Dimension-P2P

•Shortest distance between two Points

•Click each Point

DimPtoPn

MD-Dimension-P2L

•Perpendicular distance between a Point and a Line

•You can also use the X–axis and the Y–axis as a line.

 

•Click the Point then the Line (note Arcs, Circles and Lines have Points)

•See Why is my Dimension Negative?

DimPtoLn

Method 2: Lock & Specify in the Point Properties dialog box

Note: You can use Method 2 only if you have NOT added to the Point a dimension or a constraint.

Example

Dimension

Selection-Window / Geometry-Tree
Point Properties dialog box

Point Properties dialog box

•Lock and Specify the exact location of a Point in a Part.

Pointn

 

How?

1.Double-Click a Point in the Part-Editor

- or -

1.Double-Click a Point in the Mechanism-Editor

The Point Properties dialog-box opens.

Expand Point Coordinates

2.Select the Lock and Specify check-box.

3.Enter 'x' and 'y' values for the Point, with Part Coordinates

btn_delkeyword        Distance

Example

Dimension:

How?

Selection-Window / Geometry-Tree

MD-Dimension-L

•Length of a Line

 

1.Click the Line

Dimn

MD-Dimension-LL

•Distance between two parallel Lines

•Distance from Y--axis(or X-axis) to and Vertical (or Horizontal) Line

 

1.Click a Point at the one end of the Line

2.Click the other Line (or axis).

DimLtoLn

MD-Dimension-P2P

•Shortest distance between two Points

Note: Arcs, Circles, and Lines have Points.

1.Click each Point

DimPtoPn

MD-Dimension-HorizontalLP

•Horizontal Distance between two Points

1.Add a Vertical Line from one of the Points

2.Click the Point and then the Vertical Line

 

MD-Dimension-VerticalLP

•Vertical Distance between Points

1.Add a Horizontal Line from one of the Points

2.Click the Point then the Horizontal Line.

 

MD-Dimension-P2L

•Shortest distance between a Point and a Line (or axis).

Note: Arcs, Circles, and Lines have Points.

1.Click the Point then the Line (or axis).

 

DimPtoLn

btn_delkeyword        Radius

Example

Dimension:

How?

In Selection-Window as:

MD-Dimension-Radius

•Radius of a Circle

 

•Click the Circumference of a Circle

DimRadiusn

MD-Dimension-Radius-Arc

•Radius of an Arc

•Click the Radius of an Arc

DimRadiusn

btn_delkeyword        Angle

Example

Dimension:

How?

In Selection-Window as:

MD-Dimension-Angle-3Points

•Angle between three Points

•Click the Point that will form the apex of the angle, followed by the other two Points.

DimAngPPPn

MD-Dimension-Angle-Line

•Angle between two Lines

•Angle between an axis and a Line

The Lines do not need to cross.

•Click each Line

The displayed angle has rules. See Below

 

DimAngLtoLn

Angle between two Lines - Rules:

The dimension shows next to your pointer when you select two Lines. Before you click your mouse again to define the displayed angle, you can select which angle to display.

There are eight possible angle dimensions:

•Move your mouse counter-clockwise around the apex of the two Lines, the 'acute', 'obtuse', 'supplementary', or the 'vertical' angle <180° will show.

•Move your mouse clockwise around the apex of the two Lines, and the 'reflex' angles to the other angles will show.

Video:

Add 8 possible angles between two Lines