How To Measure Arc Length In Solidworks

This helpful #TechTip is brought to you by our Training Manager John Setzer, and covers using the smart dimension tool when sketching arcs and circles. Find more options available to you, when y'all want to create a dimension and don't want the dimension location to be the heart of the arc or circle. Use the circumference!

The total video transcript is also available beneath the video, or in the clarification of the YouTube video. If interested in more Tech Tips, view our SOLIDWORKS Tips and Tricks YouTube playlist.

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Video Transcript

Hello and welcome to some other GSC Tech Tip. Today we're going to be talking almost some options using the smart dimension tool when you lot're sketching. There may be times when you desire to create a dimension to an arc or to a circle, and you don't want the dimension location to exist the center of that arc or circle.

Dimensions & Atmospheric condition

Well, when you choose to dimension to the arc or circle, selection the circumference of the arc or circle, and while SOLIDWORKS will automatically snap that to the center of that arc or circle, you will have options if you select this dimension and go to leaders, y'all volition see our conditions. The default is ever going to be center.

Min & Max

Then I always select the circumference of an arc or circle to dimension its location. Knowing it's going to go to center, and that'southward what I want, and that'due south what I get. Merely because I picked an arc instead of the point directly, I have options for min or in my case max, so that the dimension goes from the line to the farthest point beyond that arc centre on the arc. Min – we get to the theoretical insight if this was a full circumvolve.

Centre is the default, but min and max are options when you do dimension to an arc by picking its circumference. If you're dimensioning the location of 2 arcs or two circles, and then yous'll have our atmospheric condition for both sides. For example, picking the circumference of each of these circles, it gives me of grade a dimension middle to center that is again the default, just if I go to leaders.

I'll encounter our conditions for both sides, so I can say I want min to min or max to max or min to center. Or centre to max and basically mix and match to get dissimilar options as I wish. Something else to note is that later on you've created this dimension, if y'all select on the dimension, little squares or handles will appear at the stop of the extension lines.

You take hold of on that little handle, a petty symbol comes upwards, looks like a dimension. That means you can really grab that dimensional handle and drag it to another position, max or min condition on the circle. Like, and so. Something else to notation is that equally you're dimensioning, if you lot know ahead of time, practise you lot want to go to the min or max condition of an arc or circle?

Shift-Select

Concur down what I call in SOLIDWORKS, the magic key, which is shift. I'll concur the shift primal down then select the circle toward the inside that I desire to snap to. And so same thing on the other circumvolve. Shift-Select that to the inside. I got min and min based on where I selected.

This web log is authored past John Setzer, GSC'south Training Production Managing director. John discovered his beloved of teaching early in life. He worked his way through college as a youth coach, umpire, and referee before earning his bachelor's caste in didactics. Equally Training Manager at GSC, he has been sharing his SOLIDWORKS wisdom with GSC customers always since – over 20 years! John is a Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE), a Certified SOLIDWORKS Instructor, and a Certified SOLIDWORKS Technician. As the only CSWE with a state certification in teaching, John is well-versed is instruction all types of learning styles. John is a regular contributor to the GSC weblog, bachelor at world wide web.gsc-3d.com/blog.

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GSC fuels customer success with 3D applied science solutions for pattern, simulation, information management, electrical schematics, PCB, technical documentation, and 3D printing, also as the most comprehensive consulting, technical back up, and training in the industry. As a leading provider of SOLIDWORKS solutions, HP, and Markforged 3D printing technologies, GSC'south world-class team of dedicated professionals have helped numerous companies innovate and increase productivity past leveraging avant-garde technologies to drive 3D business success. Founded in 1989, GSC is headquartered in Germantown, WI. For more than information virtually GSC, please visit world wide web.gsc-3d.com.