Ordinate dimension

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

The first dimension always has the value "0" and is considered as the reference dimension for any others, which will have a value corresponding to the distance from it.

The dimensions are automatically generated with a parallel alignment in respect to the orientation of the first one and aligned at its application point.

Note:

This command only requires the picking of one point at each step.

Access

  • Click the Ordinate icon in the Annotations tab.

Or

  • Type Ordinate in the Quick Search field and select Ordinate dimensions.

This opens the tab containing the General, Filters and Attributes sections.

Procedure

  1. Select the appropriate options from the Filters and Attributes sections of the Options tab.

    Note: Alternatively you can select the 4 sides function from the General section of the Options tab.

  2. Select the starting point (zero point) . Its value is always "0" and will be used as the origin for calculating subsequent dimensions.
  3. Identify the application point of the first dimension related to the starting point. This will be the reference for the alignment of all dimensions created before exiting the command.

    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.

    • 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 Ordinate Dimension Properties).

    • 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.

    • Turn on / off the active lines display by using the Active line icon.

  4. Continue to create as many Ordinate dimensions as you may need by sequentially selecting all the required points. For example select the centre of the circle .

    Note: From now on, it will be possible to define only new Dimension Properties ( Properties icon or [T] Key) and activate the selection of specific points / elements included in a defined area (Into a windows icon).

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

Notes:

  • The Ordinate dimensions created refer to the starting point (zero point) defined at Step 2 and will be aligned at its application point.
  • 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.
  • If two dimensions are too close and the texts overlap, an automatic step is created. ClosedSee image.
  • During the creation of each single dimension, it is possible to select the Grid parameters icon . The grid will work around the absolute co-ordinate facilitating the dimensions alignment.

Ordinate Dimension Properties

This dialog is loaded during the Ordinate dimensions creation, Ordinate dimension editing and Ordinate 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.

Minus symbol before value

Activate this option to display the minus symbol before the Ordinate dimension values when applicable.

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 Ordinate 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.

Ordinate Annotation Properties

This dialog is loaded during Ordinate 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.

Decimal places

Enter the number of decimal places to display.

Local scale

Enter a new text scale in this field.

Overlap text start line

Enter the extra horizontal and vertical displacements to be applied to reposition individual Ordinate dimensions in case of overlapping.

Overlap text line length

Head mark on zero point

Activate this option to mark the starting point (zero point). ClosedSee image.

Minus symbol before value

Activate this option to display the minus symbol before the Ordinate dimension values.

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.

Text position

Select the text position with respect to the witness line: Bottom, Centre, Top (in case of vertical orientation of the dimensions these options corresponds to left, centre and right ).

Active line

Activate this option to display, by default, the intermediate active lines.

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 the 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 levels 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 Ordinate annotation