Unlinked dimension question

[deadeye]

Say I model a 2” cube and then create a drawing for it. When I slap a dimension on one of the sides, the dimension is going to read 2”. But I want to over-ride the text with something else for whatever reason, and I’m prompted with the warning about the tolerance no longer being live. The dimension text is no longer linked to the model, which is expected. Question is, do these ‘over-ridden’ dimensions have a name such that I can go into doc properties and give them a special color so that next time I open the drawing they’ll stand out?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[handleman]

You may want to check out thread559-165835.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

There is not a separate setting for overridden text dimensions, but you could place them onto a separate layer and assign a distinctive colour to that layer.

I am sure you are aware that using overridden dims is NOT a recommended practice, and that is probably why an option is not available to colour them.

 

[deadeye]

Not to draw this out too long but here’s why we do it. Our Customer demands that the cube be 3” max. The part we produce ends up being 2” plus/minus a fourth. Our outgoing inspection department needs a print that reads 3” max so they can ensure the cube meets spec before it goes out the door. Either we give them a drawing of the true model including the fudged dimension or we create a bogus model to support the 3” max dimension. The fudged dimension idea seemed to be the lesser of two evils.

 

[Standing]

deadeye,
Think about this.
Draw your part at maximum material condition with a plus nothing tolerance +.000 and the minus tolerance of what ever.


Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

deadeye ... I assume you haven't discovered Configurations yet?

 

[deadeye]

Following the cube example, the hardware we use to get to the 2" plus/minus a fourth, comes from an existing catalog of available sizes so obviously I must model them exactly as they are, tolerances included, to do internal design. The resulting part may or may not be anywhere near the Customers max. Sometimes I have the need to use the exact same (external) hardware set to support 5 different customers with 5 different max requirements. Again, I don't see the need to make bogus models or configurations just to support this situation. The bogus dimension is the quickest solution.

 

[GBor]

I think CBL's comment was to say that you could generate the fab drawings from the 3" configuration and the internal design using the 2.00+/-0.25 configuration.

Garland E. Borowski, PE
Borowski Engineering & Analytical Services, Inc.
Lower Alabama SolidWorks Users Group
Magnitude The Finite Element Analysis Magazine for the Engineering Community