Datum

This function allows you to create a Datum annotation which is composed of a series of linear dimensions having a common reference point (Datum) and separated by a distance defined by the user.

Access

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

This opens the tab containing the Filters and Attributes sections.

Procedure

  1. Select the appropriate Filters options.
  2. Select the starting point to be used as the reference point (Datum).
  3. Select the second point .

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

    • 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 Datum Dimension Properties).
    • Select the Direction icon and force the dimension position along the X-axis or the Y-axis using the commands located in the ribbon. Alternatively, select a different direction by selecting an existing segment or line in the graphic area.
  4. Identify the dimension position .
  5. Enter the distance to be applied between two consecutive dimensions in the Dimension distance dialog. You can either directly enter the value or select the required option from the Measurement menu and Attributes sections.

    6. Note: The distance is applied perpendicularly to the reference direction.

       

  6. Continue to create as many Datum dimensions as you may need by sequentially selecting all the required points. For example select the centre of the circle and click the right mouse button or click on the Apply icon :

  7. Once all the required Datum dimensions have been identified, click the right mouse button or click on the Apply icon to validate.

Notes:

  • The Datum dimensions created will be referred to the starting point defined at step 2.
  • To select multiple points having the same characteristics (defined through the Filters icons) for automatic dimensioning, activate the Into a windows icon from the Measurement section.
  • The top left corner of the screen always displays the value of the previously positioned dimension and the dynamic value of the current dimension still to be positioned.

 

Datum Dimension Properties

This dialog is loaded during the Datum annotation creation, single Datum dimension editing and Datum dimension 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 display the drop down menu from which you can select a predefined text to be added after the Datum 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 value of the upper limit of the permitted tolerance range. This value is displayed after the dimension value.

Inf. tolerance

Enter the value of the lower limit of the permitted tolerance range. This value is displayed 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.

Datum Annotation Properties

This dialog is loaded during the Datum annotation editing: the edited properties apply to 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.

Distance

Distance to be applied between two consecutive dimensions (see example).

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 for both sides of the arc.

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 the 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 levels with the Bottom of the dimension value or with 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 Datum annotation