How did the loop measure tool become even more difficult (impossible)?

[alan]

What happened to the loop measure tool in inventor 2020?  I noticed this in 2019 also.  I have seen posts (back in 2015) where users hoped to simplify a technique I had always used, where you have to create a sketch and project a surface (edges) to select a loop to measure.  This does not seem to have been simplified, but taken away completely.  I also have always used a loop measurement to determine a suitable O ring inside diameter, now cannot figure out how to do it at all.  It looks to be included in with the area measurement on an "enclosed area".  There inside and an outside edge  loop on every plane surface.  Which one are you giving me?  How do I select the one I need?  How many additional steps are now required to do this, or has it been taken away completely?  A loop is simply the length of every curve or line connecting tangent to another until it returns to the same point, is that complicated?  I have found no use yet for the "improved" and more complicated dialog.

[SBix26]

Use Select Other to find the loop in the Measure tool.

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2020.1.1 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Alan,

No, it is not taken away. To enable Loop Select, you need to start Measure command and then right-click on a piece of geometry -> Select Other -> find the loop. It should work. Or, it is a bug.

Many thanks!

[alan]

I appreciate the fast response!  Believe it or not, I thought to look there when I got back on the model and found it.  I had to get past the common art of misdirection.  It was not where it was before, but everything else was and new things were too.  I investigated help and the forums, no mention except for the loop parameter with area in the measure context menu.  I would still like to know what that loop output parameter refers to?  This reminds me of my wife at home, I think she just likes to keep moving things around after I get used to where they are just to see that look on my face.  She knows where they are because she put it there, it would help if there were a way I knew where they had been put though.

[Anonymous]

The ability to measure loops is not available in assy mode... at least it doesn't work for me. I can only measure a loop when I open a part. This seems like a bug.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! It is there. You need to right-click on the selected geometry -> Select Other -> scroll down to see the Loops. If it still does not work, please share an example.

Many thanks!

[alan]

I too was thrown off when the loop measure feature was moved to a
right-click context menu, since it was chosen in a more explicit manner
prior to that. When first changed, it was more confusing because other
alternative measurement choices were still displayed at a higher level and
"loop" was "hidden" in a different place.

I just tested the posted issue by going to an assembly and trying it. I
think the reply post missed the distinction between part and assembly,
since it does work on an opened part but not the part in an assembly. I
think attention was likely focused on confusion from the earlier change in
its location.

[SBix26]

Not sure what version of Inventor you're using, but I tried in 2021, and could easily measure, in an assembly, a sketch loop visible on a component part.  Is that what you mean?

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.2.2 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

[alan]

I am using 2021, but did not try in my test by measuring a sketch loop. In
the past I had to make a sketch by projecting a loop (edge) of the model as
a workaround, especially if the loop was a result of extruding multiple
sketches or adding fillets, but I did not see in the original post that the
user was using a sketch. It is not required for an edge loop measurement
in a part file only.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Alan,

You are right. Now I remember the discussion. This is specific to face loop, not sketch loop. It was disabled in assembly for performance reason. It is because the new Measure command needs to build up selection list in order to accommodate various measurement type. The process of building loops for body geometry can take a lot of time. Unfortunately, it is excluded from the Measure command at assembly level.

Many thanks!