Draft Dimension

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Text
Label
Draft

Draft Dimension

Menu location
Annotation → Dimension
Workbenches
Draft
Default shortcut
D I
Introduced in version
0.8
See also
Draft FlipDimension

Description

The Draft Dimension command creates a linear dimension, a radial dimension or an angular dimension.

Linear dimensions based on edges and radial dimensions are parametric. This means that they will update if the measured edge is modified. Measured edges can belong to Draft objects but also to solid bodies. Angular dimensions are not parametric.

Draft Dimensions can be displayed on a TechDraw Workbench page using the TechDraw DraftView or TechDraw ArchView commands. Alternatively the TechDraw Workbench offer its own dimension commands. But these create dimensions that are only displayed on the drawing page and not in the 3D view.

Linear dimension defined by three points

Usage

See also: Draft Tray, Draft Snap and Draft Constrain.

Linear dimension

  1. Optionally select a straight edge in the 3D view.
  2. There are several ways to invoke the command:
    • Press the Dimension button.
    • Select the Annotation → Dimension option from the menu.
    • Use the keyboard shortcut: D then I.
  3. The Dimension task panel opens. See Options for more information.
  4. If you have not yet selected an edge do one of the following:
    • Press E or the Select edge button and select a straight edge in the 3D view.
    • Hold down the Alt key, select a straight edge in the 3D view and release the Alt key.
    • Define the measured distance by picking points:
      • Pick a first point in the 3D view, or type coordinates and press the Enter point button.
      • Pick a second point in the 3D view, or type coordinates and press the Enter point button.
  5. To position the dimension line do one of the following:
    • For an aligned dimension:
      • Pick a point in the 3D view, or type coordinates and press the Enter point button.
    • For a horizontal dimension:
      • Move the pointer above or below the edge or points.
      • Hold down the Shift key, move the pointer and pick a point in the 3D view.
    • For a vertical dimension:
      • Move the pointer to the left or right of the edge or points.
      • Hold down the Shift key, move the pointer and pick a point in the 3D view.

Radial dimension

  1. Optionally select a circular edge in the 3D view.
  2. Invoke the command as explained above.
  3. The Dimension task panel opens. See Options for more information.
  4. If you have not yet selected an edge do one of the following:
    • Press E or the Select edge button and select a circular edge in the 3D view.
    • Hold down the Alt key, select a circular edge in the 3D view and release the Alt key.
  5. To position the dimension line do one of the following:
    • For a diameter dimension:
      • Pick a point in the 3D view, or type coordinates and press the Enter point button.
    • For a radial dimension:
      • Hold down the Shift key and pick a point in the 3D view.

Angular dimension

  1. Invoke the command as explained above.
  2. The Dimension task panel opens. See Options for more information.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Press E or the Select edge button and select a first straight edge in the 3D view. Repeat this to select a second straight edge.
    • Hold down the Alt key, select two straight edges in the 3D view and release the Alt key.
  4. To position the dimension arc pick a point in the 3D view.
  5. The displayed angle depends on the edges and the picked point.

Options

The single character keyboard shortcuts available in the task panel can be changed. See Draft Preferences. The shortcuts mentioned here are the default shortcuts (for version 1.0).

Notes

Properties

See also: Property editor.

A Draft Dimension object is derived from an App FeaturePython object and inherits all its properties. The following properties are additional unless otherwise stated:

Data linear and radial dimension

Dimension

Linear/radial dimension

Radial dimension

Data angular dimension

Angular dimension

Dimension

View

Annotation

Display Options

Graphics

Text

Units

Scripting

See also: Autogenerated API documentation and FreeCAD Scripting Basics.

To create a Draft Dimension use the make_dimension method (introduced in version 0.19) of the Draft module. This method replaces the deprecated makeDimension method. 

dimension = make_dimension(p1, p2, p3=None, p4=None)

There are various ways to invoke this method, depending on the arguments passed to it: 

dimension = make_dimension(p1, p2, p3=None)
dimension = make_dimension(object, i1, i2, p4=None)
dimension = make_dimension(object, i1, mode, p4=None)

To create an angular dimension use the following method: 

dimension = make_angular_dimension(center, angles, p3, normal=None)
dimension = make_angular_dimension(center, [angle1, angle2], p3, normal=None)

The view properties of dimension can be changed by overwriting its attributes; for example, overwrite ViewObject.FontSize with the new size in millimeters.

Example: 

import FreeCAD as App
import Draft

doc = App.newDocument()

p1 = App.Vector(0, 0, 0)
p2 = App.Vector(1000, 1000, 0)
p3 = App.Vector(-2500, 0, 0)
dimension1 = Draft.make_dimension(p1, p2, p3)
dimension1.ViewObject.FontSize = 200

polygon = Draft.make_polygon(3, radius=1000)
doc.recompute()

p4 = App.Vector(-2000, 1500, 0)
dimension2 = Draft.make_dimension(polygon, 1, 2, p4)
dimension2.ViewObject.FontSize = 200

center = App.Vector(2000, 0, 0)
p5 = App.Vector(3000, 1000, 0)
angle1 = 45
angle2 = 10
dimension3 = Draft.make_angular_dimension(center, [angle1, angle2], p5)
dimension3.ViewObject.FontSize = 200

dimension4 = Draft.make_angular_dimension(center, [angle2, angle1], p5*1.2)
dimension4.ViewObject.FontSize = 200

doc.recompute()


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