Selecting the Quadrant

When dimensioning a slot for instance with 2" centers and 1/2" radius ends
the overall length would be of course be 3". Is there any way to select the
quadrants of the end circles to show an overall length instead of having to
do the math to calculate it. This is a very simple example but in
complicated shapes, I want to show an overall length for material estimating
purposes.
In AutoCAD which I use also, the quadrant can be snapped to when
dimensioning.
Any ideas for me when using SW2001Plus. I'm surprised that this has never
been an issue with SW users.

Thanks,
Terry

 

Terry,
I am not sure about 2001 but in 2004,
1. Do not dim the centers of the end radius
2. Pick both the arcs to dim
3. This will appear to be the center dim ...but... it is different.
4. Right click on the dim and in the pop up pick "max" to "max"
The dim will then be to the outside of the arcs....or overall. I too am a
ACAD man and miss the quad picks and others.
Hope this helps, took me 2 hours to find this the first time.

Gene

 

Thanks Gene,
It doesn't seem to work in 2001 but it just so happens, I'm upgrading to
2004 very soon so I'll know it's there in the new program.

Terry

 

Terry...

Gene left out one step....once You've rightclicked the dimension You gotta
pick properties and from there set it to max-max or min-min....or center-max
.....or what ever

Krister

 

Thanks Krister,
Worked Great!

 

There is an new/easier way now -
When you have dimensioned the 2 arcs and it dispays ctr to ctr, you can now
LMB on the dim and the ends of the dimension witness lines will show as
green dots. Grab the green dot and drag it to the outside of the
arc/circle - it will now dimension as you want it.

There are some other neat things that you can do with the dimension - e.g.
rotate it, tilt it, etc. but it is all in the help.

Merry

 

It would be nice if one could measure via the quad during the design phase.
I typically don't have a drawing created at this point and need this gap
distance to determine design requirements (pull out calculator and take two
measurements)

Keith

 

min - max also works in part & assy sketches

 

Not in a sketch, just using the measurement tool!

 

ooops, i interpreted measure as dimension