Autodesk Mechanical Desktop

[#1]

How do I add an ordinal reference dim to a construction line that was used
when creating a feature?

For example, when creating a rectangular cutout in a panel I want to
dimension the "center" of the cutout, not the edges. I can do this with
construction lines when creating the sketch for the rectangular feature, but
the construction lines are obviously gone in the drawing view.

Is there any way to attach an arbitrary dimensionable reference point to a
feature? Any work-arounds?

Thanks,

- Joe

[#2]

If you recreate the construction line in paperspace and annotate it you can dimension to
it. Some people make a small hole or notch at the middle of the feature to be able to
dimension off it. Or of course you can make the pardims visible in paperspace

--
Kent


"Joe Dupre" wrote in message
news:0574B5EADE4E2C76AB9ADB2EC466B4C6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> How do I add an ordinal reference dim to a construction line that was used
> when creating a feature?
>
> For example, when creating a rectangular cutout in a panel I want to
> dimension the "center" of the cutout, not the edges. I can do this with
> construction lines when creating the sketch for the rectangular feature, but
> the construction lines are obviously gone in the drawing view.
>
> Is there any way to attach an arbitrary dimensionable reference point to a
> feature? Any work-arounds?
>
> Thanks,
>
> - Joe
>
>

[#3]

Actually I forgot, you can use mid snaps on amautodims now. run amautodim, choose
ordinate (I think that is what you mean?) and choose all the features except the 0.0
location. then use mid snap to place the 0.0

--
Kent
>
> "Joe Dupre" wrote in message
> news:0574B5EADE4E2C76AB9ADB2EC466B4C6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > How do I add an ordinal reference dim to a construction line that was used
> > when creating a feature?
> >
> > For example, when creating a rectangular cutout in a panel I want to
> > dimension the "center" of the cutout, not the edges. I can do this with
> > construction lines when creating the sketch for the rectangular feature, but
> > the construction lines are obviously gone in the drawing view.
> >
> > Is there any way to attach an arbitrary dimensionable reference point to a
> > feature? Any work-arounds?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > - Joe
> >
> >
>
>

[#4]

"Kent Keller" wrote in message
news:7E343A4EE85202508E6BC5F208DFEFA4@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Actually I forgot, you can use mid snaps on amautodims now. run
amautodim, choose
> ordinate (I think that is what you mean?) and choose all the features
except the 0.0
> location. then use mid snap to place the 0.0


Can you expand on this? I don't see quite how to do this (what objects to
pick and why). There isn't much documentation on AMAUTODIM that I could
find.

I don't know what this will look like once transmitted, but I have attempted
to create some ASCII art to show what I am attempting. Below shows a corner
of a panel, with an obround hole near the edge. How can I create a
horizontal ordinal dimension with the upper right corner being reference
(0.00), and dimensioning to the midpoint of the top of the obround? (Or
ideally the point that is midway between the two arcs, shown by the + in the
drawing.)

- Joe


______________
|
_________ |
(____+____) |
|
|

[#5]

If your trying to dimension to the center of a slot, the true center of the
slot that is, what I usually do is place a workpoint then sketch around that
workpoint and extrude the slot as a whole.
Then when you create views the parametric dimensions will appear.
Otherwise I use just regular Autocad linear dimensions and annotate them.

Good luck!

"Joe Dupre" wrote in message
news:EFC6F84F1A4759BE405293C7BFC2331B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
> "Kent Keller" wrote in message
> news:7E343A4EE85202508E6BC5F208DFEFA4@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Actually I forgot, you can use mid snaps on amautodims now. run
> amautodim, choose
> > ordinate (I think that is what you mean?) and choose all the features
> except the 0.0
> > location. then use mid snap to place the 0.0
>
>
> Can you expand on this? I don't see quite how to do this (what objects to
> pick and why). There isn't much documentation on AMAUTODIM that I could
> find.
>
> I don't know what this will look like once transmitted, but I have
attempted
> to create some ASCII art to show what I am attempting. Below shows a
corner
> of a panel, with an obround hole near the edge. How can I create a
> horizontal ordinal dimension with the upper right corner being reference
> (0.00), and dimensioning to the midpoint of the top of the obround? (Or
> ideally the point that is midway between the two arcs, shown by the + in
the
> drawing.)
>
> - Joe
>
>
> ______________
> |
> _________ |
> (____+____) |
> |
> |
>
>

[#6]

Joe

If you want the true Center, then try addins some small line or circle to the drawing view
as a annotation at the true center, and dimensioning to that. If the edge works for you
see the avi file I posted in customer fils

--
Kent


"Joe Dupre" wrote in message
news:EFC6F84F1A4759BE405293C7BFC2331B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
> "Kent Keller" wrote in message
> news:7E343A4EE85202508E6BC5F208DFEFA4@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Actually I forgot, you can use mid snaps on amautodims now. run
> amautodim, choose
> > ordinate (I think that is what you mean?) and choose all the features
> except the 0.0
> > location. then use mid snap to place the 0.0
>
>
> Can you expand on this? I don't see quite how to do this (what objects to
> pick and why). There isn't much documentation on AMAUTODIM that I could
> find.
>
> I don't know what this will look like once transmitted, but I have attempted
> to create some ASCII art to show what I am attempting. Below shows a corner
> of a panel, with an obround hole near the edge. How can I create a
> horizontal ordinal dimension with the upper right corner being reference
> (0.00), and dimensioning to the midpoint of the top of the obround? (Or
> ideally the point that is midway between the two arcs, shown by the + in the
> drawing.)
>
> - Joe
>
>
> ______________
> |
> _________ |
> (____+____) |
> |
> |
>
>

[#7]

Thanks Kent,

Where are the customer files? Is this a FTP site?

Thanks,

-Joe


"Kent Keller" wrote in message
news:179ECD8B5CD416195B7B65FBA4CAF4E7@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Joe
>
> If you want the true Center, then try addins some small line or circle to
the drawing view
> as a annotation at the true center, and dimensioning to that. If the edge
works for you
> see the avi file I posted in customer fils
>
> --
> Kent
>
>
> "Joe Dupre" wrote in message
> news:EFC6F84F1A4759BE405293C7BFC2331B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> >
> > "Kent Keller" wrote in message
> > news:7E343A4EE85202508E6BC5F208DFEFA4@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > Actually I forgot, you can use mid snaps on amautodims now. run
> > amautodim, choose
> > > ordinate (I think that is what you mean?) and choose all the features
> > except the 0.0
> > > location. then use mid snap to place the 0.0
> >
> >
> > Can you expand on this? I don't see quite how to do this (what objects
to
> > pick and why). There isn't much documentation on AMAUTODIM that I could
> > find.
> >
> > I don't know what this will look like once transmitted, but I have
attempted
> > to create some ASCII art to show what I am attempting. Below shows a
corner
> > of a panel, with an obround hole near the edge. How can I create a
> > horizontal ordinal dimension with the upper right corner being reference
> > (0.00), and dimensioning to the midpoint of the top of the obround? (Or
> > ideally the point that is midway between the two arcs, shown by the + in
the
> > drawing.)
> >
> > - Joe
> >
> >
> > ______________
> > |
> > _________ |
> > (____+____) |
> > |
> > |
> >
> >
>
>

[#8]

Joe -

Customer Files is a discussion group for upload of problem files
for review. Please Zip any files prior to uploading to conserve
user download time and server space.

For NNTP newsgroup readers the Customer-files newsgroup can be
found at
news://discussion.autodesk.com/autodesk.autocad.customer-files.

You may also access the customer-files group via the HTTP
web-based forums at
http://discussion.autodesk.com/WebX?14@@.ee940b5.
--
Anne Brown
Manager, Moderator
Autodesk Product Support discussion groups
Discussion Q&A: http://www.autodesk.com/discussion


Joe Dupre wrote:
>
> Thanks Kent,
>
> Where are the customer files? Is this a FTP site?

[#9]

When I want to dim to the center of a cutout, I add a centerline, the refdim
to the centerline. Is this what you might be looking for?

--
David Russell
QED, Inc.
750 Enterprise Dr.
Lexington, Ky. 40510
ph. 859-231-0338
fx. 895-231-0376
e: jdr407@kih.net
"Joe Dupre" wrote in message
news:0574B5EADE4E2C76AB9ADB2EC466B4C6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> How do I add an ordinal reference dim to a construction line that was used
> when creating a feature?
>
> For example, when creating a rectangular cutout in a panel I want to
> dimension the "center" of the cutout, not the edges. I can do this with
> construction lines when creating the sketch for the rectangular feature,
but
> the construction lines are obviously gone in the drawing view.
>
> Is there any way to attach an arbitrary dimensionable reference point to a
> feature? Any work-arounds?
>
> Thanks,
>
> - Joe
>
>


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.280 / Virus Database: 147 - Release Date: 9/11/2001

[#10]

Duhhh absolutely better than my suggestion of annotations. Boy this brain of mine is
due for a good flushing, it is getting a little gummed up I think

--
Kent


"David Russell" wrote in message
news:B61B3038D4D772B14DFE17D79AD614F7@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> When I want to dim to the center of a cutout, I add a centerline, the refdim
> to the centerline. Is this what you might be looking for?
>