Putting dimensions on a 3d drawing

Hallo, i would like to know how to put dimensions on a 3d drawing. Does
anyone know a simple way to do it?

 

Hi

One way is to use the textevaluation to display the result of a simple
calculation.
After changing the Texteval variable (getdist) will not turn up as the
text "(getdist) but will display the distance measured 3D.

Check Text and Texteval variable.

 

Thank you.

 

I've done this sort of thing in modelspace for 3d drawings of furniture I've
designed. The dimension tool can be used after you have correctly
established the current UCS for the job(s). Sometimes this is harder than it
sounds, as you may want to dimension to points with different Z coordinates,
and there are view related issues to sort out.

I'd recommend reading up on POINT FILTERS and UCS, and then playing with it.

 

I always use 3 point UCS for each plane. It works fine.

JPC

 

Yes --- but I wonder if the problem is to have dimensions on a
perspective drawing.
There could be trouble reading dimensions that is not paralell with the
UCS ; that's why I suggest a compleatly different aproach by using the
Text option to display the dimensions paralell with the UCS but use
AutoCAD functions such as (Getdist) and (Getangle) that acturly do the
calculations 3D and not as how points are projected from WCS to UCS.
------- now I agrea that I still uses old AutoCAD versions and the
problem is maby due to these , where Dimensions _are_ 2D calculations
on the UCS and not the 3D calculations you maby expect.

 

What do you do for extension lines, ticks/arrows, etc.?

 

Well ---- perspective drawings are usealy not dimensioned and there are
no real "the right way" to do these dimensions so I use to draw lines
and uses block arrows , make the arrows in a sense way so the measures
can be read ; such drawings maby show a perspective of an item and when
you know what measures is looked for , it often is just the main
measures , --- then adding these to the UCS make them more readable,
often the measures with a perspective drawing is only to tell the major
measures.

As we all know dimensions are usealy placed on the tradisional top side
and front isometric views , they confirm with scale and there are rules
for these but --- whenyou want to picture an item in perspective view ,
then things can go wrong ,very wrong. That's why , and so that the text
can be read , I recoment a method I used many times myself ; you just
need to know the limitations with the tradisional dimensioning, that
the calculations often are made from the UCS.

Also it is easy fast and dirty ,just to do the dimensions that is
needed with the Text and Texteval option, guess anyone who know AutoCAD
know how to combine text with strcase ---- guess some want to load
small functions and blocks , but if the drawing just need a few main
measures ,then a good knowleage of AutoCAD do it just as well, beside
then you know that a measured distance is measured 3D not 2D and
according to the UCS.

 

Here's a 'fast and dirty' 3d model with conventional dimensions place on it:

http://www.michaelbulatovich.ca/officedesks3d.PDF

I don't do it a lot, but the cabinet maker got the gist of it from this
drawing. I wonder how your process might look different.

 

Here's a 'fast and dirty' 3d model with conventional dimensions place on it:

http://www.michaelbulatovich.ca/officedesks3d.PDF

I don't do it a lot, but the cabinet maker got the gist of it from this
drawing. I wonder how your process might look different.

 

This is what I like about this fora, answers are relevant.

 

I'm thinking 3 keys with the acronym PDP
Position/direction/position
View Position/Ucs Direction/Ucs Postion(z depth)

1. I would postion my view as to my appeal.
2. I would put the xy axis in the plane that you want to place the dim
in (point the z axis perp to the plane that you want to work)
3. I would move the ucs TO the plane you wish the dimension to be
LOCATED.

Maybe I'm missing something? Is this 3d plane jane autocad?

 

I'm thinking 3 keys with the acronym PDP
Position/direction/position
View Position/Ucs Direction/Ucs Postion(z depth)

1. I would postion my view as to my appeal.
2. I would put the xy axis in the plane that you want to place the dim
in (point the z axis perp to the plane that you want to work)
3. I would move the ucs TO the plane you wish the dimension to be
LOCATED.

Maybe I'm missing something? Is this 3d plane jane autocad?

 

Sound real but am I mistaken ; you see my comment only deal with the
foults you could engage with a UCS that is not paralell with the
dimentions. What I say is that you must be aware that Dimensions are
calculated on the UCS meaning, that if an edge carry various Z value
according to the UCS or is not paralell to the UCS then dimensions will
not be true.

"> 2. I would put the xy axis in the plane that you want to place the
dim

Yes.

"> 3. I would move the ucs TO the plane you wish the dimension to be

Yes.

But if you look at Michael Bulatovich very very nice drawing

http://www.michaelbulatovich.ca/officedesks3d.PDF

Then it look like the Dimensions are placed on an UCS very close to the
lines dimensioned and then Michael engage an perspective -- am I right
? --- anyway this way dimensions are taken on the right UCS and draw
out so they can be read.