Whats up with Foreshorten Dimensions and the Model Items Feature? 2

[SBaugh]

Try this for yourself and let me know if you have any problems getting a Foreshorten Diameter Dimension.

1) Make a shape that you are going to revolve, starting on the front plane that will go around an Axis at 0,0,0.
2) Add dimensions from the axis to the sketch... looks similiar to the link below

Revolve Image

3) Then revolve it and create a new drawing.
4) Put in the top view and create a full section

Try this first:
5) Crop the view showing only the side the sketch was created on, then import the dimensions.... did you get the Diameter Dimensions?
Cropped Missing Dia Dims

undo last step

6) Import the dimensions in the section view and then Crop the view showing only the one side where the Sketch is at... you should get the diameter Dimensions when you import first, but when you crop the view they don't turn to foreshorten dimensions like one would expect.
Cropped with Dia Dims

Back to Step 5 - I do not get the Diameter dimensions and this seems to me to be incorrect, because that is the same sketch and profile (plane) I made in the part and when I select "Feature" within "Insert\Model Items" I should get all the dimensions not just the vertical dimensions.

Back to Step 6 - I think most people prefer set up their views first before adding dimensions, so I have to disagree with the way Solidworks has this method setup. Where I have to add the dimensions before making my final cropped view. To add to this, when I crop the view the Diameter dimensions should become forshorten and reflect that otherside is out there some where. I am also unable to manually convert the Dims to Foreshorten after the fact.

Final Thoughts:
It should not be this hard to get Forshorten Diameter Dimensions. I have suggested an Enhancement Request to be able to simply "Show Dimensions" versus "Insert\Model Items". If you expand your FM tree you will be able to find the sketch and show the sketch... why can we not just show the dimensions as well? Its all there in the sketch and if I "Show Dimensions" versus letting SW think it knows whats best for me, then I can get the dimensions I need or want instead of relying on "Insert\Model Items". I think that is why a lot of users do not use this feature and simply redimension the entire model inside of Solidworks, because "Model\Items" does not give them the dimensions that is needed. This ER may not get me my foreshorten Dims, but it will at least give me all my dimensions I want and thats a start.

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer
GEASWUG Greater Evansville Area SWUG Leader

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[SBaugh]

I should point out that I can change each diameter dimension to Foreshorten one at time under the Display options, but I cannot in bulk (which is another ER I think).

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer
GEASWUG Greater Evansville Area SWUG Leader

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[ctopher]

Scott,
I have seen this issue for the last couple major versions. I have talked to my VAR a few times in the past, they blow it off as a minor issue.
I have not tried it in 2013 yet.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[SBaugh]

My tests are done un 2013 and its still the same problem. Almost 98% of the parts we make are all round. So foreshorten dimensions are a necessity, but with this kind of behavior it does not make it easy to deal with.

Insert\Model Items as always been a pain since it was released X amount of years ago. I wasn't crazy about it then, and I don't think they have made many improvements to it either. I still think the SHow dimensions is a good alternative and should be a 2nd way of implementing dimensions.

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Berry Plastics
Cad Admin\Design Engineer
GEASWUG Greater Evansville Area SWUG Leader

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376