How to get signs in distance measurements?

[sirmick]

Is there any way to get distance measuremeants to show the proper sign? Solidworks always returns the absolute value of Delta x,y,z instead of the proper value.

 

[JNR]

More information please - what do you means by "distance measurements"? Ie: what commands are you using - are you talking about dimensions (as in withleaders and arrows) and if so in sketches/drawings/models - is it in mate distances - feature definitions - sketch relationships - measure commands?

John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

There are only 10 types of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[Dennyd]

sirmick,

Would Ordinate Dimensioning be a solution for your problem?

- - -Dennyd

 

[MadMango]

I think [blue]sirmick[/blue] is refering to the Measure Tool in a part or assy model.

Ray Reynolds
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[MElam]

What do you mean by "show the proper sign"?

In the Measure tool, have you tried the Options... button at the top of the dialog box?

 

[SBaugh]

When you use the Measure tool you get 6 options.

Distance
Projection
Normal
Delta X
Delta Y
Delta Z

With those 6 options your saying you can't get a true mesaurement between 2... points, faces, edges, or parts?

If you use a Plane/Face up to a point, face, edge, or part. Then you get the XYZ measurement. If you want more than just those. use screen and pick a point, edge, face, or part and measure from that to the area you want.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I think sirmick is talking about plus & minus dimensions when using Ordinates from a datum. SW shows them as "plus" (no minus sign) in all directions.

Not sure what the standard is for this, or whether it even makes a difference with current NC machine programming. The way a part is oriented & dimensioned isn't necessarily the way the part is oriented for machining.

Anyone else know?

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

 

[sirmick]

Sorry for the ambiguity. What I want to know is why is it that when I use the measurement tool Delta X,y,z are always positive. Distance formula is ((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2+(z2-z1)^2)^1/2. x2-x1 etc are the deltas of the variables. Sometimes they evaluate to be a negative number. So why is it that SolidWorks never shows a negative number with the measurement tool. Direction is important with measurement.

 

[krywarick6]

Going out on limb here.

Negative 3 - Negative 2 = Negative 1

Negative 1^2 = 1

Regardless of the delta value, the squared result will always be positive.

Does this make sense?

Christopher Zona
Litens Automotive Partnership
Concord, Ontario, Canada

 

[MElam]

sirmick,

You stated "Direction is important with measurement" which should be read as "Direction is important in addition to measurement".

Have you ever seen a tape measure with negative numbers?

If you need direction as well, submit an enhancement request (or look at the graphics). The outcome would have to be dependant on order-of-selection.

 

[sirmick]

Imagine that. -1^2 = 1!!! I never knew! Thanks for the math lesson.

The squared value doesnt mean too much its an intermediate step. Look, what is so complicated and bizarre about asking whether or not SW will give signed answers for displacement? I guess I should have used the term displacement instead of distance in the very beginning.

It just seems to me that given two points P1 (0,0,0) and P2 (-10,10,-5) the values in delta x,y,z should read either (-10,10,-5) OR (10,-10,5) not (10,10,5) which is what SW returns.