Measure Diameter of Sphere

[hex705]

Not sure this is the right forum ... but will give this a shot.  Have done a search and not found an answer.

Is there a way to quickly get the DIAMETER of a SPHERE with the MEASURE tool? (or some other tool?)

MEASURE seems to only return AREA???  (And sometimes loop length).

In the attached image (also below) I would like to know the diameter of the blue sphere.

Clicking on it with measure returns AREA only (yes I could do the math, but why?).

Am I missing something?  Thanks in advance for your help.

steve

[laughingcreek · Accepted solution]

What a strange problem.  The only way I saw to do it is to create a sketch, and "project" the sphere body onto it.  This will create a circle in the sketch that you can measure.

[JeromeBriot]

Hello,

Another workaround: right click on the sphere then "Edit feature"

Hope this helps

[hex705 · Accepted solution]

thanks for the tip (and the fast reply) -- that works.

steve

[hex705]

Thanks -- that also works.  I was using a linked file and I don't seem able to use ' edit feature' with linked files.  I can get properties -- but they basically tell me the sphere is blue.

Edit Feature does work in the source file -- but switching files to get a dimension seems unnecessary.

I appreciate both work arounds, but will adda feature request to get more info about spheres with measure.

best,

s

[BaronTC]

I don't have Edit Feature available in the right click menu and I don't think the sphere is 'linked'. It's just a sphere I created from a point. 

[etfrench]

Using the Rotate tool in a sketch to create a sphere is usually better than using the primitive Sphere tool.

[BaronTC]

@etfrench wrote:

Using the Rotate tool in a sketch to create a sphere is usually better than using the primitive Sphere tool.

---

I'm curious as to why they would be any different? At least in a direct editing mode, anyway. Also, doing it with that method it seems I need to first create a circle, then cut it in half and then do the Rotate as trying it with the circle I get an error about the shape crossing the axis, or something like that. I don't remember the exact wording but I know I worked past it by cutting the circle in half, which itself required adding a point, then a plane of some kind or a line, etc.

[etfrench]

The Revolve command requires a closed profile and an axis to revolve around.  For a sphere, this means a 180 degree arc and a line connecting the arc endpoints.  The line provides the axis and also closes the profile created with the arc.

[BaronTC]

Ah, I see. So my half-sphere method was taking the long route. Thank you
for explaining the more direct approach!