Dimensions

Contents

• Dimensioning a 2D Sketch
  

  You dimension 2D or 3D sketch entities with the Smart Dimension tool. You can drag or delete a dimension while the Smart Dimension tool is active.

• Maintaining Proportions in a Sketch Profile
  

  When you specify the first dimension in a sketch for parts or assemblies, all entities in the sketch profile automatically scale uniformly based on the dimension.

• Creating Horizontal Dimensions
  

  You can specify a horizontal dimension between two entities. The horizontal direction is defined by the orientation of the current sketch.

• Creating Vertical Dimensions
  

  You can create a vertical dimension between two points. The vertical direction is defined by the orientation of the current sketch.

• Locking Dimensions
  

• Angular Dimensions
  

• Creating Circular Dimensions
  

• Creating Arc Dimensions
  

  You can dimension the true length of the arc.

• Creating Path Length Dimensions
  

  You can set a path length dimension to a chain of sketch entities. You can set the dimension to be a driving dimension, so that when you drag the entities, the path length resizes consistently.

• Creating Dimensions Between Two Points
  

  You can place a horizontal, vertical, or linear dimension between two sketch points, sketch segment endpoints, or model vertices. You can also use the model origin as a point.

• Formatting Dimensions in Parts and Sketches
  

  You can change the appearance of dimensions in parts and sketches.

• Inserting Driven Dimensions
  

  You can insert driven (reference) dimensions when creating sketch entities. This is helpful if you want to switch between inserting driving and driven dimensions.

• Dimensions Between Arcs or Circles
  

  By default, distances are measured to the center of an arc or circle.

• Dimensioning Two Points of the Same Arc
  

  You can add a dimension where both ends are on the same arc, such as in the case of radii and holes where it is necessary to dimension both quadrants or the center and a quadrant.

• Displaying Dimensions
  

  You can use Add Dimension to display dimensions when creating sketch entities.

• Using Centerlines to Create Radial and Diametric Dimensions
  

  You can create multiple radial or diametric dimensions without selecting the centerline each time. This type of dimensioning is helpful when you create sketches for revolved geometry that require several diameter dimensions.

• Sketch Geometry Status
  

  Sketches include a status, and sketch entities within the sketch include a state. Sketch entity states are displayed in different colors to facilitate identification.

• Sketch Status Conventions
  

  Sketches can be in any of five states described below. The state of the sketch is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the SolidWorks window.

• Resolving Over Defined Sketches
  

• Fully Defined Sketches
  

  The Fully Define Sketch tool calculates which dimensions and relations are required to fully define under defined sketches or selected sketch entities.

• Override Dims on Drag/Move
  

  You can override dimensions by dragging sketch entities. The sketch dimensions update at the end of the drag. They remain driving dimensions and update in the part, assembly, and drawing.

• Creating Zero and Negative Value Dimensions
  

  You can specify zero and negative values for sketch dimensions. This is helpful when you want to flip an entity's sense of direction.

• Displaying a Ghost Image of a Missing Sketch Entity
  

  If the reference for a sketch relation or dimension is missing, you can display a ghost image of that missing reference by hovering over or selecting the dangling relation or dimension.