topic Re: Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model in AutoCAD Forum

Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model

nickKBWRY — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 11:27:36 GMT

Hi, All

I'm trying to add dimensions to this dwg that will display the radiuses of the circles at each level they are placed.

All it seems to do though is lock them to the top of the drawing. Is there a way to do this?

Cheers

Re: Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model

dmfrazier — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:52:26 GMT

Dimensions land on the X,Y plane (where Z = 0) of the current UCS (see Help).

You have to change the UCS (using the Object option will probably work best) for each circle and its dimension.

Re: Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model

nickKBWRY — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 07:59:41 GMT

Not sure what this means...

Would that not also change the coords?

Re: Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model

nickKBWRY — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 09:37:11 GMT

Hopefully this is clearer for what I need... A dimension for each of the lines which are set so they are on the same elevation...

Re: Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model

dmfrazier — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 13:45:37 GMT

"Would that not also change the coords?"

"...which are set so they are on the same elevation."

I assume "elevation" means location on the Z-axis.

I assumed you would be dimensioning features that are on the X,Y plane of the UCS that is current at the time of placing the dimension. When you change the UCS, you would change only the location of the X,Y plane in the Z-axis, not the X and Y. (IOW, you would re-define where Z=0 is.) I hope this makes sense to you, because I don't know if I can offer a better explanation.

Another possible approach (which you can test) is to 3D-copy your first dimension from its Z=0 elevation to each of the other elevations and then grip-edit the attachment points to their new features.

Re: Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model

pendean — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 13:48:21 GMT

Greeting @nickKBWRY

Dimensioning in AutoCAD is a 2D function that follows the PLAN command setting of "current UCS" all the time. So... if you need a dimension at different Z elevations, you have a lot of manual UCS/PLAN commands changes to do for each and every dimension you want.

If you used to use a different CAD program that did it differently, that sadly does not apply here in AutoCAD. Sorry.

HTH

Re: Placing dimensions at different levels on a 3D model

dmfrazier — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 13:56:34 GMT

I apologize, Nick.

You have to use the ZA (z-axis) option of the UCS command.

It's not necessary to use the PLAN command at all.