MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > 2.3 Part-Editor > Geometry

Add Dimension

Use Add Dimension to add a Linear or Angular Dimension to or between sketch-elements.

Dimensions include the:

•Distance between Points*

•Length of a Line** ; Radius of a Circle or Arc.

•Perpendicular (shortest) Distance from a Point* to a Line**, X-axis, or Y-axis.

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

•Angle between three Points*

* Point, start-Point, end-Point, and center-Point.

** Line or CAD-Line

Notes:

Usually, do not make a dimension zero. It is better to add a constraint. See Sketch-Constraints

See How to add dimensions, How to edit a dimension.

Add Dimension

To Add a Dimension:

1.Click Geometry toolbar > Add Dimension (left of graphics-area)

1.Click Geometry menu > Dimension

2.Click the sketch-element, or sketch-elements, to add a linear or angular dimension - see below How to Add a Dimension

The dimension shows near to your mouse-pointer.

3.Click in the graphics-area to place the dimension-line and extension-lines next to your mouse-pointer.

MD-Dialog-Dimension

The Dimension dialog opens.

4.Edit the dimension in the dialog

Negative Dimensions?

Do not delete the negative sign from a negative dimension.

See: Why a dimension is negative.

5.Click to close the Dimension dialog

The Dimension is now in the graphics-area.

How to EDIT a dimension:

1.Disable all other commands

2.Double-click the arrowhead of a dimension-line

Why the arrowhead?

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

AND

•nothing happens if you click the dimension-number

More details: How to ADD a dimension

* Point, start-Point, end-Point, and center-Point.

** Line or CAD-Line

Dimensions to locate a Point

There are two methods to locate a Point.

Method 1: Add Dimensions

Examples

Dimension

How?

Selection-Window / Geometry-Tree

Between 2 Points

•Minimum distance between two Points*

•Click each Point*

DimPtoPn

Perpendicular Distance

•Perpendicular distance between a Point* and a Line**, X–axis, or Y–axis

•Click the Point* then the Line**

DimPtoLn

Method 2: Use the Point Properties dialog

This method is possible:

•only with a Point sketch-element

It is not possible with a start-Point, center-Point, center-Point

AND

•not possible if the Point has a dimension or constraint

Example

Dimension

Selection-Window / Geometry-Tree

Point Properties dialog

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

Pointn

How?

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

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

The Point Properties dialog opens - see left

Expand Point Coordinates

2.Select the Lock and Specify check-box.

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

* in this case, ONLY a Point sketch-element.

Distance dimensions

Dimension:	How?	Selection-Window / Geometry-Tree
•Length of a Line**	1.Click the Line**	Dimn
•Distance between two parallel Lines •Distance from Y-axis (or X-axis) to a Vertical (or Horizontal) Line	1.Click a Point* at one end of the Line 2.Click the other Line (or axis).	DimLtoLn
•Shortest distance between two Points*	1.Click each Point*	DimPtoPn
•Horizontal Distance between two Points*	1.Add a Vertical Line** from one of the Points* 2.Click the Point and then the Vertical Line
•Vertical Distance between Points*	1.Add a Horizontal Line** from one of the Points* 2.Click the Point* then the Horizontal Line**
•Shortest distance between a Point* and a Line** (or axis)	1.Click the Point* then the Line** (or axis)	DimPtoLn