topic BUG: 3-point angular dimensions in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

BUG: 3-point angular dimensions

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:05:40 GMT

F360 has a tool to create three point angular dimensions but it is currently unusable. The attached image shows the problem

Instructions are to click on the vertex point and then the two end points. Call the vertex V and the end point A and B. So I click in order on V, A, and B. The angular dimension should be between the lines (or virtual lines) VA and VB. Instead, F360 shows the angle between the lines VA and AB. Note that it does not help to click on the points in a different order; this will just give a different incorrect dimension.

Three example are shown in the attached screen capture:

top right: I sketched three points, selected the dim tool, and clicked on the points in the order (left, top, bottom).

bottom right: I sketched an arc, selected the dim tool, and clicked on the vertex and then the two end points.

left: I sketched to attached lines. I created an angle dimension in two ways. First I selected the two lines, giving the correct 58 degree dimension. Then I clicked on the vertex and the two end points, giving the incorrect 115.641 degree dimension.

Re: BUG: 3-point angular dimensions

jeff_strater — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:06:47 GMT

Thanks for posting this.

The 3-point angle dimension interprets the points as:

first point
common point
second point

Then the angle is interpreted as the angle between the two lines (first point, common point) and (second point, common point). This dimension, then, supports dimensioning all 4 quadrants of this angle and its complement.

See this screencast: http://autode.sk/1Hii0yO for a quick demo of how it works.

Hope this helps clear up the mystery

@jeff_strater - This reply has been edited by the moderation team as the legacy links were no longer valid

Jeff Strater (Fusion development)

Re: BUG: 3-point angular dimensions

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:16:29 GMT

Thanks for the quick reply.

I had tried picking the vertex first (like Solidworks) and last (I think like old Autocad) but it did not occur to me to pick it in the middle. Not any more or less intuitive I guess but a bit odd.

I am actually glad to see that, although F360 is still missing important features, the tools that are in place seem to work well. Much better than lots of features and lots of bugs. I will be putting some "skin in the game" and graduating from hobbyist to paying customer. Then will hope that F360 keeps improving at the current rate so that I can retire Solidworks in a year or so,

Re: BUG: 3-point angular dimensions

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:27:11 GMT

I just checked the instructions for three-point angular dimensions in drawings. They clearly state that the vertex should be picked first - same as SW and other programs. So in a model use the Dim tool and click end-vertex-end and in a drawing use the angular dim tool and click vertex-end-end. Maybe the behavior in the model environement should be changed to match the drawing environment and other CAD software??

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/ENU/Fusion-Fabrication/files/GUID-4786CBB7-62F9-4604-845B-A7EE14D05825-htm.html

To create an angular dimension by specifying an angle vertex

Under the Annotation tool group, select Angular Dimension.
Press Spacebar.
Click to specify the angle vertex point.
Click to specify the first endpoint of the angle.
Click to specify the second endpoint of the angle.
Move the cursor and click to place the dimension.