Nubie Dim Question

If I have 2 opposing arcs and want to dimension between them how can I pick
anything other than the center.
I have been using AutoCAD for ever and had a variety of different "pick"
points available in sketching & dimensioning, this would be a good one for
"quadrant". Short of doing a lot of construction and measuring a line
trimmed between the arcs I am lost. Anyone have a solution or am I missing
something?

 

Hey Gene, very easy.

Create two circle sand separate them on the screen.
These could be arcs as well, but for this learning experience we'll use
circles.
Now create a dimension between them, clicking on the circles (arcs) not the
centers, and you will get a dimension from the two centers, that's OK.
Now RMB (Right Mouse Button) on the dimension and go to properties and
select Min or Max for each of the two different "arc conditions".
Now play with that for a while and you'll instantly understand.

HTH,
Muggs

 

Further to Muggs' advice, (and his advice is the fundamental approach and
the one you "need to know")

there is a shortcut, which may not be familiar to some of those who learned
the software some years ago

- dimension the way Muggs stipulates
- (if dimension is NOT still highlighted, click on the text to select the
dimension)
- Each leader line should have a (green?? dep. on settings) handle at the
outboard end. Drag each handle in turn to the desired new location.

Voila

 

I think I have seen this create problems in that the MAX/MIN sometimes
changes on its own. Seems like once you go into the dim properties and set
it there, it pretty much stays put. Otherwise, if you pull it back away
from an edge, or something, it snaps back to center, or whatever. Not
always (of course) but enough times that I don't do it any more and wish I
could turn off that feature. It only gets me in trouble.

WT

 

I've seen that happen a lot. Nuisance . . . but at least it's only an
nuisance, unlike some OTHER problems.

 

Thanks to all............just seems to be a long way around.


In engineering isn't it strange how much you "have" to forget just to
advance. :<)