Chain dimension

This function allows you to create a series of linear dimensions spatially aligned.

The dimensions are automatically generated with:

  • A parallel orientation in respect to the orientation of the first one and aligned at the level of its application point.
  • The starting point coincident with the application point of the previous one.

Note:

After initial selection, subsequent dimensions only require one point to be picked at each step.

Access

  • In the Annotations tab, click the icon in the Ordinate section of the ribbon.
  • Type Chain in the Quick Search field and select Chain dimension.

This opens the tab containing the Filters and Attributes sections.

Procedure

  1. Select the appropriate Filters options.
  2. Define the first reference dimension by selecting its extremities: example point and point .
  3. Identify the application point of the first dimension: example point .

    4. Note:

    The position of the first dimension is displayed dynamically depending on the mouse position. Before validation, it is possible to perform the following operations from the General section of the Options tab:

    • Select the X-axis or the Y-axis direction by dragging the zero point in the required direction or click the Direction icon to select a different direction by selecting an existing segment or line in the graphic area.
    • To load the Dimension Properties dialog by clicking on the Properties icon. This dialog can also be loaded by pressing the [T] Key to enter and configure text after validation.(See Chain Dimension Properties).

  4. Continue to create as many Chain dimensions as you may need by sequentially selecting all the required points. From now onward it is possible to:

    • Select multiple points having the same characteristics (defined through the Filters icons) for automatic dimensioning by activating the Into a windows icon and drawing a rectangle around the required area in the graphic area.
    • Define the new Dimension Properties ( Properties icon or [T] Key).

    For example select the centre of the circle , the final point of the arc and the intersection point .

    Note:

    If you move the mouse back across an existing dimension, the values of the existing and of the new one will be modified according to the new application point.

     

  5. Once the last required dimension of the Chain has been identified, click the right mouse button or click on the Apply icon to validate and close the command.

Chain Dimension Properties

This dialog is loaded during the Chain dimensions creation, Chain dimension editing and Chain dimension/s adding.

General values Tab

Remember settings

Activate this option to save your current settings.

Text

Enter the text string in this field.

You can use keyboard shortcuts to add special characters:

  • [F4]: Diameter symbol.
  • [Shift] + [F4]: Degree symbol.
  • [Ctrl] + [F4]: Plus-minus symbol for tolerances.

Decimal places

Enter the number of decimal places in this field.

Text attribute

Select the text attribute from the drop-down list: No Attribute, Underline, Overline, etc.

Text colour

Select the text colour.

Tolerance colour

Select the tolerance colour (See Tolerance Tab).

Tolerance Tab

Remember settings

Activate this option to save your current settings.

Add Tolerance String

Activate this option to enable the drop down menu from which to select a predefined text to be added after the Chain dimension value: No Tol., (4 holes), (2 holes), Symm 0,05, etc....

Tolerance on

Activate this option to display the tolerance values defined in the Sup. tolerance and Inf. Tolerance fields.

Sup. tolerance

Enter the upper limit value of the admitted tolerance range. This value displays after the dimension value.

Inf. tolerance

Enter the lower limit value of the of the admitted tolerance range. This value displays after the dimension value.

Decimal places

Enter the number of decimal places to display.

Before

Enter the text to be added before the dimension.

This option allows you to select predefined text in the application:

  1. Click the icon.
  2. Select a text string from the Default string list.
  3. Click OK to validate.

After

Enter the text to be added after the dimension.

This option allows you to select predefined text in the application:

  1. Click the icon.
  2. Select a text string from the Default string list.
  3. Click OK to validate.

Chain Annotation Properties

This dialog is loaded during the Chain annotation editing: the edited properties apply at the whole set of dimensions.

General values Tab

Height

Enter the height of characters in this field.

Width

Enter the width of characters in this field (only for static text). It is disabled if the Static proportional text option is activated.

Char gap

Enter the distance between each character in this field. It is disabled if the Static proportional text option is activated.

Gap under text

Enter the distance between the text and the dimension line in this field.

Decimal places

Enter the number of decimal places to display.

Local scale

Enter a new text scale in this field.

Select font

Click this button to define the font parameters.

Static proportional text

When this option is activated, proportional text is applied; the width of characters is calculated as a ratio relative to the height of characters.

Text attribute

Select the text attribute in this drop-down list: Underline, Overline, etc.

Trailing places

Select whether you want to display (Yes) the insignificant zeros following the decimal places or not (No).

Separator

Activate this option to draw a point after the integer when there are no trailing places.

Leading places

Activate this option to display all of the insignificant zeros which precede the decimal place.

Show feature string

Click this button to display the CAM string defined inside the "Feature.cfg" file.

Attributes Tab

Text colour

Select the text colour.

Arrow Style

Select the arrow style displayed at each extremity of the dimension line.

Tolerance Tab

Add Tolerance String

Activate this option to display the tolerance settings.

Select the tolerance settings from the drop-down list below the option.

Tolerance on

Activate this option to insert tolerance text after the dimension value.

Sup. tolerance

This field indicates the upper tolerance value. The value depends on the tolerance settings selected in the Add Tolerance String drop-down list.

Inf. tolerance

This field indicates the lower tolerance value. The value depends on the tolerance settings selected in the Add Tolerance String drop-down list.

Tolerance dual value

Activate this option to display the upper and lower tolerance values between brackets after the dimension value.

Double dimension

Activate this option to display the dimension value in both mm and inches.

Decimal places

Enter the number of decimal places in this field.

Trailing places

Activate this option to display the insignificant zeros following the decimal places.

Leading places

Activate this option to display all of the insignificant zeros which precede the decimal place.

Tolerance position

Select whether to position the upper and lower tolerance value level at the Bottom of the dimension value or in the Middle of the dimension value.

Before

Enter the text to be added before the dimension in this field.

This option allows you to select predefined text in the application:

  1. Click the icon.
  2. Select a text string from the Default string list.
  3. Click OK to validate.

After

Enter the text to be added after the dimension in this field.

This option allows you to select predefined text in the application:

  1. Click the icon.
  2. Select a text string from the Default string list.
  3. Click OK to validate.

Editing existing Chain annotation