Measuring Distance Between Geometric Entities

You can measure distance, and if applicable angle, between geometric entities.

This task shows you how to:

Create Measures under a 3D Shape Representation
Create Measures under a Markup

Create Measures under a 3D Shape Representation

In the authoring mode, you can create measures under a 3D shape representation.

Before you begin: Activate a 3D shape representation.

From the Tools section of the action bar, click Measure Between .
The Measure Between in Part dialog box appears.

In the Specifications tab:

Select a type of measure.
The following types are available:
- Minimum distance
- Maximum distance
- Maximum distance from 1 to 2
- Curvilinear distance
Select a calculation mode.
Select geometric elements to measure the distance or the angle between them.
To help you with your selection, the mask on the measure pointer changes according to the geometry type when you hover over a geometry.
Note:
You can refine your selection by selecting the required geometry type in the selection mode boxes. The following selection modes are available:
- Any geometry
- Any geometry, infinite
- Picking point
- Point only
- Edge only
- Surface only
- Edge limits
Optional: Select the Axis System check box to perform the measurements with respect to an axis system other than the global axis system.

Note: You can either select an axis system in the work area or define an axis system by selecting two edges on the geometry.
Select the Keep Measure check box to make the measure persistent.

Select the Under Measures node check box to create the measure feature under a dedicated measures node in the tree.

Tip: Alternatively, select the Create measures under the Measures node of the Part check box, under Me

> Preferences > Common Preferences > Parameters, Measures, and Units > Measures > Measure Tools > Measure Creation area.

The measurement results are displayed in the 3D area and in the dialog box.

In the Customize tab, select the parameters to be displayed in the 3D area and under the results.

Note: In the tree, the KWE parameters are only displayed for the measured parameters selected in the Tab list. In case of center of gravity, the geometrical center of gravity of the object is calculated without taking into account the applied material.
Optional: In the Export tab, export the result of the measurement as geometric elements.
Click OK.
The measure is created. A set of knowledge parameters is also generated under the measure node in the tree.
To deactivate or activate single, or multiple measurements inside a part:
1. Right-click the measurement, and select Deactivate.
  The measurement is deactivated. Any further geometry modification will not update the measurement. A mask appears in the specification tree for an inactive measurement.
2. Right-click the measurement, and select Activate.
  The measurement is activated. If you perform further geometry modifications, the measurement will be updated.

When you create a measurement, it is in the active state by default.

The Activate and Deactivate options are available for all types of measurements like measure between, measure item (point, edge, surface, and volume) and measure inertia features inside the part. You can prevent unnecessary updates from users by deactivating the measurements.

An invalid mask appears on the measurement in the specification tree if you:

Activate a measurement that has a broken link.
Activate a measurement that corresponds to a deactivated linked geometry.

Important: You can measure the canonic polyhedral surface geometries such as plane, cylinder, cone, and sphere.

Create Measures under a Markup

In the visualization mode, you can create measures under a markup.

Before you begin: Activate a markup.

From the Tools section, click Measure Between .
The Measure Between dialog box appears.
In the Specifications tab:
1. Select a measurement mode.
  The following modes are available:
  - Multiple measure
  - Chain measure
  - Fan measure
  By default, the Multiple measure mode is selected.
2. Select a type of measure.
  The following types are available:
  - Minimum distance
  - Maximum distance
  - Maximum distance from 1 to 2
  - Measure along a direction
  - Band analysis
3. Select a calculation mode.
4. Select geometric elements to measure the distance or the angle between them.
  You can click for multiselection. See Selection.
  To help you with your selection, the mask on the measure pointer changes according to the geometry type when you hover over a geometry.
  Note:
  You can refine your selection by selecting the required geometry type in the selection mode boxes. The following selection modes are available:
  
  Any geometry
  
  Any geometry, infinite
  
  Picking point
  
  Point only
  
  Edge only
  
  Surface only
  
  Part only
  
  Product only
  
  Edge limits
  
  Picking axis
  
  Arc center
  
  Coordinate
  
  Center of 3-point arc
  
  Intersection
5. Select the Associative if possible check box to make the measure associative with the geometry.
6. Optional: Select the Axis System check box to perform the measurements with respect to an axis system other than the global axis system.
  
  Note: You can either select an axis system in the work area or define an axis system by selecting two edges on the geometry.
7. Select the Keep Measure check box to make the measure persistent.
In the Customize tab, select the parameters to be displayed in the 3D area and under the results.

Note: In the tree, the KWE parameters are only displayed for the measured parameters selected in the Tab list. In case of center of gravity, the geometrical center of gravity of the object is calculated without taking into account the applied material.
Click OK.
The measure is created. A set of knowledge parameters is also generated under the measure node in the tree.