Dimensioning the Sketch

In this Task

• Basic dimensions relating to horizontal, vertical, angular and radial values will be inserted onto the sketch.

Associated Tasks

• Using the Edit tool to modify the dimensions.
• Using the SHIFT key to maintain a 90° angle.
• Using the Selection Info palette to adjust dimension properties.

Before you Start

• Make sure all center lines are to the appropriate length prior to dimensioning. The line lengths can be adjusted using the Line Length tool.
• The vertex snap should be activated. Right click onto the SNAP tab at the base of the editor to activate the Vertex snap.
• The SNAP tab at the base of the workspace should be activated.

Take Note

• The Annotation layer was created in the Student_2D template.
• Objects which describe the sketch, such as annotation (dimensions, hatch patterns, leader arrows etc) should preferably be created on a layer specifically created for this task.

Dimensioning the Sketch

Orthogonal Dimensions

Ribbon : Draw | Dimension | Orthogonal

Default Menu : Dimension | Orthogonal

Palette : Sketch | Dimension | Orthogonal

Orthogonal Dimensions are used to create point-to-point dimensions where specific input is required, for example, between 2 parallel points.In the illustration below, Orthogonal Dimensions have been inserted using the points indicated by the numbers.Orthogonal Dimensions require a snap mode, in this case, the vertex, to ensure positional accuracy of the insertion points.Orthogonal Dimensions can also be used to dimension the diameter of a cylindrical object.

Orthogonal dimensions will be used to insert horizontal and vertical dimensions on the sketch. Orthogonal dimensions are best inserted using a vertex (endpoint) snap mode. This provides complete accuracy between the dimension points.

Using either Select Dimension | Orthogonal using the menu options above. The Annotation layer will automatically be a activated as the current layer when selecting any Dimension tool.

Right click onto the SNAP tab at the base of the workspace and activate the Vertex snap. When done, make sure the SNAP tab is activated prior to inserting Orthogonal dimensions.

Position the cursor over the vertex point at the left edge of the sketch, shown by point 1 below. Left click when the magnetic marker finds the vertex snap.

Position the cursor over the vertex point shown by point 2 below, then left click when the magnetic marker finds the vertex point of the center line.

Using vertex snaps to insert the dimension

Repeat this process, using the Orthogonal dimensioning tool to insert all horizontal and vertical dimensions on the sketch. The result should be similar to the illustration below.

Orthogonal dimensions inserted onto sketch

Modifying Dimensions using the Edit tool

Right click in the editor

Dimension lines and text can be modified easily using the Edit tool, shown above.The Edit tool attaches nodes to the dimension lines and text which represent points which can be modified.

In this task, the vertical dimension at the left edge of the sketch will be modified so that the endpoint of the dimension is moved away from the vertex of the sketch, shown below right.

Dimension extension line endpoint to be moved away from sketch, above right

Deactivate SNAP and activate GEO at the base of the workspace. The GEO magnetic lines will be used to move the extension line into the same plane.

Select the Edit tool located at the top of the left toolbar in the workspace or right click in the workspace and select this tool from the local menu, shown above.

Select the left vertical dimension, then attach the cursor to the node shown circled below left.

Hold down the SHIFT keyboard key to maintain the planar integrity of the dimension line, then drag the dimension point towards the left, shown below right.

Press the ESC keyboard key to exit this command.

Moving the endpoint of the dimension line to the left

Repeat this process on any dimension where the dimension endpoint is too close to a vertex point on the sketch.

Angular Dimension

Ribbon : Draw | Dimension | Angular

Default Menu : Dimension | Angular

Palette : Sketch | Dimension | Angular

The Angular Dimension tool dimensions an angled line by selecting the associated line, then the angled line to dimension.

Select the Angular dimension tool from the menu options above.

Select the lines shown by points 1 and 2 below left, then drag the dimension arc to a position shown below right.

Inserting an Angular dimension

Diameter Dimension

Ribbon : Draw | Dimension | Diameter

Default Menu : Dimension | Diameter

Palette : Sketch | Dimension | Diameter

 

Diameter Dimensions are used to dimension circular objects such as circles.The Diameter Dimension is an associative dimension; its value is updated when the associated object is modified.The text of the dimension can either be seated in an aligned position to the dimension line, shown below, or horizontally. To seat the dimension text horizontally, check the Force Text Horizontal option in the Format page of Dimension Settings.

Select the Diameter dimension tool from the menu options above.

Select the largest circle, then drag the dimension line to any position outside the circle. The position of the text will be modified at a later stage.

Inserting a Diameter dimension

Repeat this process for other diameters in the sketch, where necessary.

Diameter dimensions inserted onto circles

Radius Dimensions

Ribbon : Draw | Dimension | Radius

Default Menu : Dimension | Radius

Palette : Sketch | Dimension | Radius

Radius Dimensions are used to dimension radial objects such as arcs.The Radius Dimension is an associative dimension; its value is updated when the associated object is modified.The text of the dimension can either be seated in an aligned position to the dimension line, shown below, or horizontally. To seat the dimension text horizontally, check the Force Text Horizontal option in the Format page of Dimension Settings.Diameter Dimensions are used to dimension circular objects such as circles.

Select the Radius dimension tool from the menu options above.

In any order, select the arcs in the sketch and drag the dimension line to a suitable position, similar to the illustration below.

Inserting Radius dimensions

Modifying Dimension Properties

The Selection Info palette is used to modify the properties of selected dimensions.

Hint

The overall format of dimensions is created by right clicking onto any dimension tool prior to creating the dimensions. Dimensions which have already been inserted onto the sketch are modified by selecting the dimension, then using the Selection Info palette to modify the dimension properties.

In this task, the diameter dimensions will be modified so that their text, where practical, is seated inside the circle.

Select the diameter dimension shown below, then open the Text properties in the Selection Info palette, shown below right.

Activate the option to Force dimension text inside extension line, shown below right.

Forcing the diameter dimension text inside the circle

The result is shown below.

Diameter dimension text forced inside circle

In the case of the radius dimensions, the alignment of the text will be forced into a horizontal position, shown below.

Seating the radius dimension text horizontally

Select the radius dimension, then use the Text option in the Selection Info palette to Force text horizontal inside align, shown below.

Changing the text position of the dimension text using the Selection Info palette

The result is shown below.

Radius dimension text seated horizontally outside of arc

Hint

Once a dimension is correctly formatted, use theFormat Paintertool to apply the properties to other dimensions.

The drawing, at this stage, should resemble the illustration below.

Fully dimensioned sketch