Dimension Alignment

[Anonymous]

Please see the attached drawing of my model. Is there a way I can get that dimension to be aligned with the frame member. I'm trying to show the overall length of that piece and then put another dimension showing how much to cut in. I could place a separate view of that part but I'm trying to avoid that. I have a parts list with the length but it would be nice to have that dimension. I thought maybe I could somehow select that line that I want it to be parallel to and make the dimension align with it. Is this possible?

[Anonymous]

Yes, try picking the top edge, or at the least, pick both ends
of the same edge. You picked one on the top edge, the other on thebottom
edge.

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[Anonymous]

But wouldn't picking just one edge provide a
slightly too short result if he's after the overal length before the ends are
chamfered?  Wouldn't measuring just one edge result in the length of a beam
terminating with a square-end at the point of contact with the vertical
strut?

Have to admit I'm more of a moulded-parts designer
than a frame generator user, so could well be wrong.

style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

"Dennis Jeffrey" <
href="mailto:djeffrey@teknigroup.com">djeffrey@teknigroup.com> wrote in
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href="news:6063007@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6063007@discussion.autodesk.com...

Yes, try picking the top edge, or at the least, pick both
ends of the same edge. You picked one on the top edge, the other on thebottom
edge.

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[Anonymous]

It works the same way as in AutoCAD. You do have running
endpoint snap when placing a dimension. I made a general statement. You
can see by his image that he mis-picked somewhere...

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[Anonymous]

I know what you were meaning, but think it will
provide the wrong dimension.

I think the op is after the tip-to-tip length of
the beam, but measured parallel to it.  If the beam was laid out flat it
would just be a horizontal dim.  I've tried to show in the attached
png. 

I think the only way to do this might be to draw a
sketch ontop of the view, dim that and then hide the sketch?.

Hope that makes sense.

style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

"Dennis Jeffrey" <
href="mailto:djeffrey@teknigroup.com">djeffrey@teknigroup.com> wrote in
message
href="news:6063244@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6063244@discussion.autodesk.com...

It works the same way as in AutoCAD. You do have running
endpoint snap when placing a dimension. I made a general statement. You
can see by his image that he mis-picked somewhere...

--
Dennis Jeffrey, Autodesk Inventor Certified
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[Anonymous]

Sorry, I misstook the extension line on the left for the end
of the part. I was able to properly dimension a similar part using one sketch
line perpendicular to the bottom edge (attached). I realize that this is a
weldment, and lots of people like to detail individual parts within the weldment
(still say it's bad practice especially on large complicated weldments with lots
of parts), but this part should still be an individual detail with a view
properly oriented to an orthogonal plane. If that were done, we wouldn't be
having this discussion. On the rare occasions where this situation needs to be
documented within an assembly view, a simple sketch will be needed in order to
place this dimension.

BTW, mine was done in IV 2009.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks Sam and Dennis. I've decided to do separate views of each part. When the part is laid out horizontally or vertically this dimension is correct as Dennis explained. And if I acually did the welds in the program this dimension would interfere with the fillet weld. I agree the individual details are the way to go now. Its funny though because in the view attached where I have the part horizontal, I would think Inventor would want to make the dimension parallel to a line drawn from endpoint to endpoint which it is not in this case but it is what I want so no problem there I just thought I'd mention it.
Still in my original attempt I think the option should be there to make the dimension parallel to a nearbly line. Power dims in autocad mechanical give that placement option. (see attachment) I'm just thinking it might be useful for a future situation.

thanks again..Mike

[Anonymous]

this is the attachment of the power dimension placement options I was talking about.

[dan_inv09]

If you want the dimension to be parallel to the point to point "line" you have to initially place it within a rectangle who's corners are at the points. Sorry it's still to early to describe it better, the dimension will go to horizontal if you drag it below the lower endpoint (or above the higher point) and if you go to the right of the rightmost point (or left of left) it will go vertical. With something long and narrow (or tall and skinny) it's harder to get into the area where it dimensions diagonally.

I agree it would be nice to be able to pick something to align it to.

[dan_inv09]

If you want the dimension to be parallel to the point to point "line" you have to initially place it within a rectangle who's corners are at the points. Sorry it's still to early to describe it better, the dimension will go to horizontal if you drag it below the lower endpoint (or above the higher point) and if you go to the right of the rightmost point (or left of left) it will go vertical. With something long and narrow (or tall and skinny) it's harder to get into the area where it dimensions diagonally.

I agree it would be nice to be able to pick something to align it to.

[Anonymous]

I see what you're saying. If drag the dimension inside the part it changes to be diagonal. So in my original post I was looking for the opposite of this. I thought if I dragged the dimension close to my part it would align with it like in the autocad screen shot I posted earlier. Thanks dan.