Directed Distance
Use the Directed Distance dimension to set the distance in a specified direction between two geometric entities.
The directed distance from, or to, an edge is defined using a stationary point for the directed point-to-point distance along the edge. For example, there are four ways to define the directed distance between two circles.
Add a Directed Distance dimension as follows:
1
Click the Directed Distance () toolbar button.
2
Select two vertices or curved edges, or a vertex and a curved edge.
3
Optionally, select a straight edge that specifies the direction in which the distance between the entities is measured.
4
Move the mouse pointer to position the arrow symbol.
5
Click to place the symbol.
6
If you have not chosen a straight edge in Step 3 above, in the Settings window for Directed Distance specify the components of the direction vector in the x and y text fields.
7
If you have chosen a straight edge in Step 3, you can optionally change the Direction for the dimension from Parallel with edge (default) to Perpendicular to edge.
8
Edit the value in the Distance text field. Note that the distance can also be negative or zero.
9
Click Build Selected to see the effect of the new distance value.
The Settings window for Directed Distance contains the following sections:
•
Geometric Entity Selection: Select the entities for the dimension.
•
Direction: Set the direction in which the distance is measured by selecting one of the options from the Direction list box:
-
Vector: Specify the direction by the x and y components of a direction vector. This is the default option.
-
Parallel with edge: The direction is parallel with the edge in the Straight edge selection.
-
Perpendicular to edge: The direction is perpendicular to the edge in the Straight edge selection.
•
Dimension Value:
-
Enter the distance expression in the Distance text field. The distance may be positive, negative, or zero. The sign does not matter when Direction is set to Perpendicular to edge.
-
Toggle the Constrain button to switch between using the dimension as a constraining dimension (, default) or measuring dimension (). The value of a measuring dimension is not imposed as a requirement to the drawing. Instead it is updated according to other dimensions and constraints in the geometry sequence. For more information see Measuring Dimensions.
-
Select the Create measuring parameter checkbox to generate a parameter for the dimension. Edit the name displayed in the Parameter name text field. When in sketch visualization mode, the parameter name is displayed in the dimension’s label in the Graphics window. Use dimension parameters in expressions in geometry and other features as described in Dimension Parameters.
•
Help Points: Change the help point coordinates for the selected entities. The help points are used as the initial guess to determine which directed distance to measure (see Help Points).