How to dimension from the edge of a circle

[jordan3PPHR]

Hi,

I want to dimension from the edge of the circle rather than its center. I have done this before in other CAD software's like CATIA V5, where if you simply select the edges rather than the center points.

See screenshot below of what I am trying to do:

My settings:

I am self taught on Inventor so I am probably missing something quite basic...

I am using Inventor Professional 2019.

Thanks

Jordan

[Gabriel_Watson · Accepted solution]

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/dimension-between-the-outside-of-two-circles/m-p/85388...

[cadman777 · Accepted solution]

They way I do that is draw a construction line between both circle od's, and constrain that line to each circle's center point using a Coincident constraint (select the circle's center point and then select anywhere along the line except midpoint). Then dimension that construction line with the dimension Aligned to it. This method allows you to orient the circles in any direction and the line will follow along and maintain the proper distance, provided the line has no Vertical/Horizontal constraint on it, and the dimension is not fixed Vertical/Horizontal. See attached...

[jordan3PPHR]

Thank you Galaxybane.

Managed to get it to work. Seems a bit backwards that  you have to select the edge you want then go to the other side to prompt this command. Oh well I can now do it which is the main thing!

Cheers

Jordan

[jordan3PPHR]

That seems quite a useful way to do it

Thanks

[cadman777]

This method works on my IV2010 too...but I never really used it!

And you don't even need that construction line!