Measurement Tool

[Terminus0]

Is there a way to get the measurement tool to measure the maximum distance between two curves? Because there seems to be an option on the popup that appears when the tool is activated but it doesn't seem to do anything. It still measures between the closest points. Am I using it wrong?

 

[ArtL]

Mr T I have always cheated when that happens, by either putting a point at the high point of the curve, or draw a short c-line at the point.Then I can dimension from the points, or lines.My be crude, but it works good enough for manufacturing purposes.Or checking purposes. You know where the center mark of the Radiuses are and the radius dimension,Pencil and paper will figure it out.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I have seen that a couple of times. Toggling the Show XYZ Measurements option on/off has fixed it for me.

 

[Terminus0]

I tried toggling the xyz measurements and it hasn't done anything.

 

[JMirisola]

If you're on 2013, make sure you have the point-to-point tool turned off as well. Also, make sure you're grabbing an edge and not a point.

Jeff Mirisola
My Blog

 

[Terminus0]

I'm in 2010

 

[CADFlyer]

I have always used the smart dimension tool to temporarily add a "Reference Dimension" between the 2 objects.

I actually prefer using the smart dimension rather than measure tool, as the measurement will remain part of the model til i delete it. I just wish the smart dimension tool would default to 'Reference', not 'DimXpert' at the part level.

 

[Terminus0]

Ok in summary
I'm using Solidworks 2010

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...7cae&file=Max_distance_between_two_curves.png

This picture should illustrate is what I'm trying to do.

I'm also trying to measure this on a dwg file.

All I want is a way to measure the maximum distance between two curves.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I think you will need some kind of macro to iteratively interrogate geometry describing the situation.

Draw two lines inside the profile
Set their lengths to equal
Constrain their outer endpoints coincident to the curves, and the inner endpoints coincident to each other
Add two more lines perpendicular and coincident to the first two lines, and tangential to the curves
An inscribed circle can then be created using the end points of one of the first two lines.

Can't help with the macro though.

 

[Terminus0]

Does anyone know where I can get a good tutorial on macros?

 

[EEnd]

I am not certain, but I think the value you are after will be the diameter of a circle constrained to be tangent to both curves.

Eric

 

[EEnd]

You may also need to add a line from the center of the circle to one of the tangent points and make that perpendicular to one of the curves. Alternatively once the tangent mates are in place, you could try dragging the circle to make it as large as possible.

Eric