dimensiong to middle of part or mid-plane

[sps_cad_guy]

Is there any way to dimension my features, whether it's a sketch or using the hole feature, to either the middle of my part or to a middle plane I have?

I am wanting a group of tapped holes to be the same from the middle of my part, regardless of what the overall size of the part is.

How can I dimension like this?

Thank you for your help.

[mrattray]

The best practice is to use the part's origin geometry. Regardless, you should be able to reference any plane using the project geometry tool.

[JDMather]

Yes, there are several ways to do this.

If the part has symmetry then model symmetrical about the Origin Center Point and use that as your datum (or project the workplane.

Perhaps it would be best if you posted an example file of your work.

[sps_cad_guy]

The part will not have symmetry. There wil be a notch in one side, again dimensioned from the middle.

I will have 12 tapped holes, 6 each side of the middle, but I will have different sized plates.

Thank you for your help.

[mrattray · Accepted solution]

File attached. You should be using the origin geometery to reflect the obvious symmetery of the part whenever possible. I'm sure JD will post his white paper on the how's and why's of this. It's well worth a read.

[sps_cad_guy]

Ok, thank you. I'll start my parts like that from now on.

[PaulMunford]

You can also place a workpoint at the centre of a part face...

[JDMather]

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@sps_cad_guy wrote:

The part will not have symmetry......

I will have 12 tapped holes, 6 each side of the middle, but I will have different sized plates.

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Sounds like symmetry to me.  My definition of symmetry is not that the entire part is symmetrical, but that significant features can be modeled/controlled about some obvious symmetry.

You should have posted finished part any way that you could do it for suggestions on improved techniques, anyone can make a rectangular face.

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/SkillsUSA%20University.pdf