This is useful when creating sketches for revolve features. In a sketch with a centreline and additional line or point entities, you are able to dimension symmetrical to the centreline. Dimensioning symmetrical about a centreline.You are then free to place the dimension.

After choosing Find Intersection and selecting a second sketch entity, the second dimension line should be attached. Alternatively, you can choose to repeat the steps by right-clicking on it, which starts the creation of a second vertical sharp.

Select the second entity of the dimension.

At this point the virtual sharp should be created and the first dimension line will be attached.

Select the second sketch entity (with which the first one could intersect).

Select Find Intersection from the menu.

With the smart dimension tool active, right-click on the first sketch entity.

Using the Smart Dimension tool and Find Intersection option, you are able to easily create a dimension to the virtual sharp of a sketch. If the next entity is also a circle or an arc, continue to hold the Shift-key down).Ī virtual sharp is the point that exists where two edges, lines, arcs, and/or curves would intersect if those entities were extended.

Select the other piece of geometry (no need to hold down the Shift-key if the geometry is straight.

With the smart dimension tool active, hold down the Shift-key and select the circle geometry.

You can do this by utilising the Shift-key. However sometimes you need to place a dimension tangent to the outside of the circle or arc. If you choose an arc or a circle for dimensioning, the default location that SOLIDWORKS takes the dimension from is the centre point. Dimensioning tangent to outside of an arc or a circle.As an alternative option, you are also able to easily show the length of an arc. The default option for dimensioning an arc is a radius. You are now free to place the dimension.Then select the other end point of the arc.With the smart dimension tool active, select the first arc end point.However, it is possible to dimension up the angle of an arc using just an arc’s three known points.

Many users are unsure how to achieve an arc angle without adding additional straight construction geometry. Using the Smart Dimension tool, it is simple to get the angle between 2 pieces of straight geometry. The following tips show some useful dimensions that are not commonly used within the Smart Dimension tool. Every user of SOLIDWORKS is familiar with the Smart Dimension tool with which they can dimension both 2D and 3D sketches – where the type of dimension produced will be determined by the sketch entities selected.

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