Measure projected dimension

[-Nick-]

Hi,

How do I measure this distance, (the point of the red arrow), without drawing a sketch?

Is it possible to take a dimension from an orthographic side view and force the dimension tool to project selected points to the c-plane?

Thanks

[-Nick-]

Duh, total brain meltdown... What I meant to post was this :

I want to know the distance from the centre of the hole in the foreground to the logical continuation of the centre of the pulley, where it would meet the frame, as marked by the tip of the red arrow. 

[sanjay_jayabal]

Hi Nick,

Try this.

1. Launch Inspect > Measure.

2. Check the box for XYZ delta and Show Snap points.

3. Select the centerpoints of the two holes (hold down the Ctrl key to lock the snap points).

You should get the actual dimension along the selected vector as well as the projected dimension.  I hope this is what you are looking for.

best regards,

Sanjay Jayabal.

[-Nick-]

That would be the procedure if the two points were in the same plane, but they're not.  Perhaps these images explain it better :

Seen from the side, the black line represents the distance from point to point but this is not the dimension I am after. I want this dimension, (in cyan) :

This would be the dimension as if the side view measurement were projected on to the construction plane.

[chrisplyler]

Throw an Axis into each hole and measure between them.

[-Nick-]

Yes, that's a lot quicker that making a sketch, which is what I was doing.  Not perfect, (a button to project the dimensions onto the construction plane would be nice), but thanks.

[sanjay_jayabal]

Hi Nick,

Right, from your original picture I couldn't tell.  It looked like the face of the cylinder (with the hole in it) protruding out was on a plane parallel to the plane of the hole that is on the flange.

best regards,

Sanjay Jayabal.