Dimensioning

Dimensioning enables you to describe geometry by displaying measurements. All dimensioning functions can be found on the Dimensioning toolbar or in the Objects / Draw menu. To create dimensions, select the objects to measure and drag the mouse to locate the dimension text (see Dragging Objects ). Dimensioning tools have several options for additional formatting and settings.



The figure above shows additional icons and the text change window in the toolbar.


Once created, the dimensions can be easily edited (see Editing Dimensions ). Format and style of dimensions and dimension text can be modified using Dimension Attributes. Changing dimension text height affects the length of leader lines arrows.


Single Dimensions - Horizontal, Vertical and Diagonal

Horizontal Dimension - HDI
Vertical Dimension - VDI
Diagonal Dimension - SDI

Single dimensions are defined by selecting start and end points, then locating the dimension text.

Dimension Format - Before the text location is defined, you can change the current dimension format. You can also use Dimension Format to set the format of future dimensions.

Dimension Format provides the following options:


Dimension arrows changed


Dimension text is created automatically, and you can use Dimension Attributes to define parameters. For the current dimension, you can change text directly in the text input window in the temporary toolbar. This toolbar contains the following additional options for text modification:


Tolerance - modify the dimension tolerances.
Text Input - add text and special characters. Characters such as the degree sign, diameter sign, or plus/minus sign can also be created directly from they keyboard - see Writing Special Characters.
Dimension Text Attributes - controls the dimension text properties such as text height, angle, and font. Leader line arrow size is controlled by dimension text height.

To change the text scale, use Dimension Attributes. This is useful when a rescaled detail is dimensioned.

For diagonal dimensions, the dimension angle is defined by the start and end points. To change this, you can use the following additional options:

Define Dimension Angle - enables you to change the dimension angle.
Automatic Dimension Angle - returns the dimension angle to the default.

Predefined Horizontal, Vertical and Diagonal Dimensions

Predefined dimensions contain standard text characters such as diameter symbols. These are useful when dimensioning objects like circles or threads.

Horizontal Diameter Dimension - HDM
Vertical Diameter Dimension - VDM
Diagonal Diameter Dimension - SDM
Horizontal Thread Dimension - HTH
Vertical Thread Dimension - VTH
Diagonal Thread Dimension - STH

Example of predefined dimensions


Serial, Baseline and Datum Dimensions

These functions create multiple dimensions. The first dimension in this group is defined as for single dimensions (by 2 points), and subsequent dimensions in the group require only one point.

Baseline dimensions are a group of parallel dimensions that all start at the same point. The offset between parallel dimensions is defined in Dimension Attributes. Datum dimensions consist of a line of points, at each of which the dimension defines the total distance from the start point. Serial dimensions are a chain of aligned dimensions that define the distance from point to point.

Horizontal Baseline Dimensions - HPD
Horizontal Serial Dimensions - HSD
Horizontal Datum Dimensions - HDD
Vertical Baseline Dimensions - VPD
Vertical Serial Dimensions - VSD
Vertical Datum Dimensions - VDD
Diagonal Baseline Dimensions - SPD
Diagonal Serial Dimensions - SSD
Diagonal Datum Dimensions - SDD

Example of baseline, serial and datum dimensions


Angular Dimensions

Angular Dimension - ADI

Angular dimensions define the angle between two lines. You have the same additional options as for the linear dimensions, as well as the following:

Greater Than 180 - dimensions the angle greater than 180 degrees.
Less Than 180 (default) - dimensions the angle less than 180 degrees.
Complementary Angle On - dimensions the complementary angle.
Complementary Angle Off - turns off the complementary angle dimensioning.

Example of default angular dimensioning, complementary angle dimensioning and dimensioning of angle greater than 180 degrees


Diameter and Radius Dimensions, Thread Dimensions

Radius Dimension - RDI
Diameter Dimension - DDI

These dimensions are defined by selecting an arc or circle and locating the dimension text. Additional options for radius dimensions include:

Mark Arc Center On - creates a mark at the arc center.
Mark Arc Center Off - turns off marking.
Thread dimensions - THR

Thread dimensions behave like diameter dimensions, except the predefined thread symbol is used.


Dimension Attributes

Dimension Attributes - DMA

Available on the Tools menu, Dimension Attributes enables you to change dimension styles and other properties. The following properties can be modified:



Dimensions window; basic settings


Dimensions window; setting dimension style


Example of dimension styles


Finish Symbols

Finish Symbols - FSY

Finish symbols are created by entering a roughness value, or by selecting a symbol for unmachined surfaces. Symbols can be attached to a line, arc or dimension witness line, or they can float. When attaching to a 2D object, you can drag the symbol around the object before selecting its final position.

Finish symbols example


Weld and Tolerance Symbols

Weld Symbols - WSY

The weld symbol includes a basic symbol, supplementary symbol, dimension of weld size, and weld process symbol. When defining a symbol, you can change text and other attributes, and see a preview before creating it. You can also save up to nine symbols for future use. To create a weld symbol, first select the weld location and then select the symbol location.



Welding Symbols window


Example of welding symbol; this symbol was created within one function.


Weld Symbol Settings - SWS

Available on the Tools menu, allows you to choose whether the weld symbols will be created according to ISO or ANSI standards.

Tolerance Symbols - TSY

Similar to welding symbols. Datum feature symbols can also be created.



Tolerance Symbols window


Creating Leaders

Leaders - POS

Leaders are typically used in 2D assembly drawings. Leader attributes are defined first, then the location on a 2D object, and then the location of the leader text. Text positions must be defined for the first and second leaders. The dX and dY values of the two leader texts are used to locate texts for the next leader. After the first leader, you need only to define the 2D object for the next leader and confirm the text position, and the value of each leader is automatically increased. As with dimensions, the leader value can be modified in the text window of the temporary toolbar. While defining leader positions, the following options are available:

Leader Attributes - modify leader attributes
Leader Distance - define distance between adjacent leaders. This setting is useful only when dragging requires the left mouse button to be pressed.
Leader Text Attributes - modify leader text and text properties


Leader Attributes window


Example of leaders


Editing Dimensions

Edit Dimension Text - EDI

Edits the text of a selected dimension. The same text editing options are available as when you created the dimension.

Move Dimension Text - MDT

Uses drag and drop to move the text of a selected dimension. Be careful when using this function, because if you create more dimensions after moving the text, you could have overlapping objects.

Edit Dimension - EDM

Change any attribute of a dimension. You can change everything about a dimension except for the original dimension definition points and the 2D object itself. One additional option is available:

Edit Multiple Dimensions - modify multiple dimensions, according to the properties of the first selected dimension.

For more information see Dimensioning