Measuring Geometric Entities

You can measure different parameters of an object such as area, center of gravity, and perimeter.

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 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 Item .
The Measure in Part dialog box appears.

In the Specifications tab:

Select a calculation mode.
Select a geometric element to measure in the 3D area or the tree.
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 box. The following selection modes are available:
- Any geometry
- 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.
Optional: For surfaces, select the Second moment of area at COG along XY check box to compute the second moment of area values along x and y axes.

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.

Note: The Multiple measure

measurement mode is selected by default. It lets you create several measurements independent of each other without clicking the Measure Item command several times.

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.
Optional: 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.
2. Right-click the measurement, and select Activate.
  The measurement is activated. If you perform further geometry modifications, the measurement will be updated.

The measures created under a 3D shape representation are always associative with the geometry. 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, 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 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 visualization mode, you can create measures under a markup.

Before you begin: Activate a markup.

From the Tools section, click Measure Item .
The Measure Item dialog box appears.
In the Specifications tab:
1. Select a calculation mode.
2. Select a geometric element to measure in the 3D area or in the tree.
  You can click for multiselection. See Selection.
  When you hover over a geometry, the mask on the measure pointer changes according to the geometry type, to help you with your selection.
  Note:
  You can refine your selection by selecting the required geometry type in the Selection mode box. The following selection modes are available:
  
  Any geometry
  
  Picking point
  
  Point only
  
  Edge only
  
  Surface only
  
  Product only
  
  Edge limits
  
  Thickness
  
  Angle by 3 points
3. Select the Associative if possible check box to make the measure associative with the geometry.
4. 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.
5. Select the Keep Measure check box to make the measure persistent.
6. Optional: For surfaces, select the Second moment of area at COG along XY check box to compute the second moment of area values along x and y axes.
Note: The Multiple measure measurement mode is selected by default. It lets you create several measurements independent of each other without clicking the Measure Item command several times.
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.