Measuring in the Part Design App

You can also create measurements in the Part Design app.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:

The task below assumes that the created measure will be persistent.

In a context in which non-persistent measures are taken, the measure is not added in the tree. Furthermore, when clicking OK in the Measure Item or Measure Between dialog box, the measure disappears.

See Also
In the Knowledge Base
Selecting objects for measure computation

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.
  1. From the Tools section of the action bar, click Measure Item .
    The Measure in Part dialog box appears.
  2. In the Specifications tab:
    1. Select a calculation mode.
    2. 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
    3. 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.

    4. Select the Keep Measure check box to make the measure persistent.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
  3. 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.

  4. Optional: In the Export tab, export the result of the measurement as geometric elements.
  5. Click OK.
    The measure is created. A set of knowledge parameters is also generated under the measure node in the tree.
  6. 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.

Measure Distance Between Two Elements 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.
  1. From the Tools section of the action bar, click Measure Between .
    The Measure Between in Part dialog box appears.
  2. In the Specifications tab:
    1. Select a type of measure.

      The following types are available:

      • Minimum distance
      • Maximum distance
      • Maximum distance from 1 to 2
      • Curvilinear distance

    2. Select a calculation mode.
    3. 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
    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. 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.
  3. 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.

  4. Optional: In the Export tab, export the result of the measurement as geometric elements.
  5. Click OK.
    The measure is created. A set of knowledge parameters is also generated under the measure node in the tree.
  6. 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.