moving angle dimensions on revolve featur

[snufflufikist]

I have this problem often:

I'll sketch a revolve feature in the part that has an angle (usually I sketch on the "top" of the part). When I create the drawing, I realize that due to space considerations I need to dimension the angle on the opposite side of the part from where I sketched it (in my case, usually the bottom). However, the feature dimension is stuck on the top, where I sketched it. Is there any way to move that dimension to the bottom, like you can with a fillet or chamfer note?

 

[jsantangelo]

Try mirroring the item you want to dimension across the Axis of Revolution. Then convert that mirrored segment to a Construction curve. Dimension that Construction Curve as desired. This is what I also do for when I want to dimension the overall angle of the revolve instead of a half angle.

Here's a QnD Video on what I'm talking about.

Right click to Save Target As... if you want to save it to your local computer.

http://santangelo-eng.com/proe_tuts/revolve_dimensioning.swf (Copy this link if the above one does not work for whatever reson. Remove any gaps in the link)

Cheers!

 

[snufflufikist]

Thank you very much for your reply and video. I think I was not clear enough in my problem description so I will try again. This time with a screenshot.

Note that the 2 blue dimensions have no room. However, there is plenty of space down below to show these angles. How can I move these dimensions down to the bottom?

Thank you,

View attachment 5193

 

[jsantangelo]

Can't you just grab the shown dims and move them? While dragging the dims with the left mouse button you can right click and the arrows will toggle. Something else to try is move the Angle value (45 deg) and then drag by the arrow.
<a href="http://santangelo-eng.com/proe_tuts/move_angle_dim.swf" target="_blank">
Here is a really quick video of what I'm talking about.</a> (1 MB)

If not then can you upload and share the model and drawing? Please indicate what version of Pro/e it is.




Edited by: jsantangelo

 

[snufflufikist]

Can't you just grab the shown dims and move them?

Yes, I can. I can flip arrows, I can move them and manipulate them in many different ways, but what I can't do is change the "attachment point". When you have a fillet or a chamfer on a cylindrical part, if there is not enough space, you can just change the attachment point to the bottom of the view. If it were AutoCAD, (non parametric), I would simply mirror the dimension about the centreline, but in Pro/E I can't move the dimension to the bottom of the part. Here's a screenshot to illustrate.

View attachment 5197

If I want the 4.00 on the bottom I can just move it and adjust the witness lines accordingly. If I want the chamfer on the bottom, I can "edit attachment". If I want the angle on the bottom... I have to either go back to the model and edit the sketch (often this means deleting and re-doing the sketch due to the complex web of constraints) or I have to create a driven dimension that is prone to give me grief in the future.

 

[jsantangelo]

I have to either go back to the model and edit the sketch (often this means deleting and re-doing the sketch due to the complex web of constraints) or I have to create a driven dimension that is prone to give me grief in the future.

For what you want to do then your best bet is to go back to the model and edit the sketch of the revolve feature. For your example it looks like you are mirroring the upper and lower part. When you delete the upper dimension it shouldn't be too difficult to re-dimension the lower part. It will keep the other dimensions/constraints the same. Just re-dimension where you want it. Locking dims is really useful too. I have my config.pro set to lock dims after I modify them. This will prevent the sketch from going crazy or blowing up.

Another QnD video (1.8 MB)

Edited by: jsantangelo

 

[snufflufikist]

It is not mirrored. It is a revolved part (cylinder). There is only a sketch on the top which is revolved about the centre line.

Editing the sketch is therefore not a pleasant option.

 

[jsantangelo]

It is not mirrored. It is a revolved part (cylinder). There is only a sketch on the top which is revolved about the centre line.

Editing the sketch is therefore not a pleasant option.

Why is it not so pleasant? It shouldn't be painful to edit the sketch. Can you share the model so I can understand why it's not a pleasant option?

 

[snufflufikist]

Here is an example:

Here's the revolve sketch

View attachment 5205

Here is the drawing

View attachment 5206

I've taken a simple example here. I've had much worse ones where it would be very messy if I kept those two dimensions together. It's more clear if I moved one of those angle dimensions to the bottom of the view. How will I do it? I have a few options, (each with their own weaknesses):

1. erase one of them and insert a driven dimension on the bottom of the view (weakness is obvious, driving dimensions preferred oven driven)
2. mirror the sketch, dimension one of the angles on the mirror, and revolve it 180° instead of 360° (I thought this would work, but it seems to fail the feature...)
3. remove one of the cuts altogether and create a new feature to define it, this time sketching on the bottom of the plane instead of the top like all the other sketches (weakness: it's inconsistent with all the other sketches in my model, every one of which is defined the same way, and it means I have to use 2 features where I should have only needed one)

Why can't I change the "attachment" point of the dimension? like I can do with rounds and chamfers?

View attachment 5207

This view shows what happens when I rmb > edit attachment on the R.5. I can move the attachment point to anywhere along the round. The obvious place of course would be to move it to the bottom of the view.

 

[jsantangelo]

If you re-watch the first QnD video I made you can achieve what you
want. It's achieved by mirroring the sketch features you want to move the dimension to and then converting the mirrored lines to construction lines. You can't move the dimension attachment in the revolves like in chamfer or rounds so you have to use the method I originally showed.

Edited by: jsantangelo

 

[snufflufikist]

Ah yes, I missed that method too.

That sounds like the best solution available. Thanks very much for your time and help on this!

 

[jsantangelo]

Share the knowledge

 

[dross]

Can't you just change the orientation of your view in the drawing so that top is bottom and bottom is top?