Before I make a post in the IdeaStation, I wanted to ask two questions:
1. Is there already a request in the IdeaStation for a better measurement capabilities in Inventor? If so, I couldn't find it.
2. Are more versatile and user-friendly measuring/inspection capabilities something many people besides me would like to see?
I find the tools in Inventor's Inspect > Measure panel very cumbersome, limited, and non-user friendly. I often have to escape out of the command between every measurement to be sure it will operate properly. I cannot measure any distance involving a round surface, such as the tangential distance to a circumference. I cannot see a history of previous measurements. I have to use round-about methods to measure certain features; for example, I have to click a random face before I can pick the center of a circle as my first measuring point.
The ability to keep measurements displayed, almost like temporary 3D dimensions, for purpose of active analysis of a component (as I was trying to do with my boss the other day) would be very useful; that way as I'm navigating around my part or assembly I can see in real-time the precise dimension of features I care about rather than measuring and re-measuring as I'm trying to determine things about the model.
Would anyone else like to see an Idea posted in the IdeaStation requesting these or any other improvements to the Measuring tool?
Yes, I would like to see a more advanced maeasuring tool. A specially when it came to tangent distances.
Even though you didn't find anything I would post it anyway. That is your true test to see if there is a calling for it. Besides, if there is already one in the idea station the Autodesk admins will mark it as a duplicate.
Just do it. What do you have to loose? When you do, post a link to it here in this thread.
If this solved your issue please mark this posting "Accept as Solution".
Or if you like something that was said and it was helpful, Kudos are appreciated. Thanks!!!!
@Cadmanto: thanks for the input. See the new IdeaStation post here: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-IdeaStation/Improved-measurement-tools/idi-p/3842001
Thanks,
DRoam
He deserves all of it. The praise that is.
Thanks for noticing. One of the ways I try to minister at work.
If this solved your issue please mark this posting "Accept as Solution".
Or if you like something that was said and it was helpful, Kudos are appreciated. Thanks!!!!
"drawings" ,
What are you trying to say about the measuring tool? Did you cast your vote in the ideas station per the link above?
If this solved your issue please mark this posting "Accept as Solution".
Or if you like something that was said and it was helpful, Kudos are appreciated. Thanks!!!!
Sometime I just end up creating a sketch in the model, project the geometry and create a tangent line and get the distance and find the length of the line. Then delete the sketch.
I think the poster is trying to get the tangent distance from a curved surface to another point/edge/face. As simple as it is to do in a sketch with a line and tangent constraints in a 2D world, this is a bit tougher in a 3D world. Are you measuring on a single plane X and Y components with a Vector Length or X, Y and Z with the Vector length being the product of all three components.
I do agree that the Measure Tool needs improvement though.