PMI dimensions and annotations

Creating PMI elements

Annotations and dimensions placed on model geometry are PMI elements. They are created in two ways.

Note:

The commands you use to place dimensions and annotations on sketches and on the model are the same. However, dimensions and annotations placed on 2D sketch elements and those placed on 3D model elements behave differently. The differences are most apparent during editing.

Using locked and unlocked PMI dimensions

In synchronous models, you can use PMI dimensions to modify the model. You control the effect of model changes by choosing whether a dimension on a model edge is locked or unlocked, and by specifying the direction of change.

You can edit individual dimensions to lock and unlock them, as needed to modify the model. Use the lock button on the Dimension Value Edit dialog box to change a dimension from unlocked to locked.

Note:

If the Lock button is not available, you can select the Maintain Relationships command to enable it.

To learn how you can modify a model by editing dimension values, see the Help topic, Editing model dimensions.

PMI dimension colors

The following table explains the color codes assigned to dimensions. Dimension colors indicate whether the dimension value can be modified dynamically.

PMI dimension color codes

Color

Solve condition

Dynamic Edit?

Attached to

Blue

Unlocked, free to change

Yes

Synchronous elements

Red

Locked, dimension constrained

Yes

Synchronous elements

Purple

Driven by another dimension or variable

No

Ordered elements or otherwise uneditable PMI

Brown

Not available

No

Not adequately attached to any element

PMI dimension edit cursors

As you move the Select cursor over a dimension, it indicates the type of operation that is available if you click at that location.

Depending on whether a dimension is locked or unlocked (red or blue), or driven by another dimension (purple), you can change the dimension edit mode from value editing to format editing (or vice versa) based on the following:

PMI dimension edit cursors

Cursor image

Operation

When is it displayed?

Example

Click edits the dimension value.

Note:

Alt+click edits the dimension formatting.

Cursor is over the dimension text.

Drag a terminator inside or outside the extension lines.

Cursor is over a dimension terminator.

Click modifies the dimension properties.

Note:

Alt+click edits the dimension value.

Cursor is over a dimension line or extension line.

PMI dimension modification handles

There are two types of dimension modification handles: a value edit handle and formatting handles.

Dimension value edit handle
Dimension formatting handles

To learn how you can show and hide, edit, and manipulate PMI elements, see the Help topic, Display and edit PMI elements.

Modifying PMI text size and color

To learn more, see the Help topic, PMI text size and color.

Preselection preview

When you place your cursor on a dimension value, you see two preselection preview features that show you how a dimension value edit will be applied: direction of edit and model face selection.

Direction preview
Face selection preview

To change the selection set, you can set and clear relationships on the Live Rules options window.

You also can affect the outcome by changing the solve option on the Modify Dimension command bar.

To learn more, see these Help topics:

Not-to-scale dimensions

You can override the value of a driven dimension by right-clicking the dimension and selecting Not to Scale from the context menu. Solid Edge underlines the values of not-to-scale dimensions.

The not-to-scale designation appears in the dimension value edit dialog box.

You can change the value and the formatting of a not-to-scale dimension by clicking anywhere on the dimension. If you only want to edit the dimension formatting, you can Alt+click the dimension text, instead.

Using keypoints

When placing PMI model dimensions that you want to use to change the model, you can use the 3D keypoint filter, Center And Endpoints and Midpoint . This ensures that dimensions are placed on keypoints that are valid for modifying the model. These keypoints are at the centers of circles and arcs and at the midpoints and endpoints of edges.

Note:

The Center and Endpoints, and Midpoint filters use virtual vertices to derive the appropriate keypoint.

To use either of these keypoint filters during dimension placement, select the Keypoints button on the Dimension command bar, under the Other group button. Then select the desired filter.

Using a dimension plane

When you add PMI dimensions and annotations to a model, they are aligned parallel to a dimension plane. The default plane is the base plane most parallel to the screen. However, you can choose a different plane using the Lock Dimension Plane option on the command bar. This option is available when you have selected a dimension or annotation command.

Only planes you set explicitly appear in the graphics window. These are displayed in red-brown half-highlight.

To turn off a dimension plane you have set, press F3.

Using intersection points

You can use a model intersection point to place a PMI dimension. Using an intersection point:

Solid Edge automatically detects the presence of intersection points. You can use the intersection point method when placing any dimension.

Note:

To turn off Intersection Point mode, select a dimension command and press the I key.

Example:

Following are some examples of when you might want to place dimensions using intersection points.

Edge modified by rounding
Edge modified by trimming
Edge modified by splitting

You also can use QuickPick to locate all intersection points--not just the least-distance default--as shown in the following example:

You also can place a dimension using the intersection point of a virtual centerline and the surface of a cylindrical or conical object, including canted, toroid, spherical, and splined shapes. These intersection points are available on demand, without having to invoke Intersection Point mode.

To learn how to use this feature, see the Help topic, Place a PMI dimension using an intersection point.

Placing PMI dimensions on sheet metal bends

When placing PMI dimensions on sheet metal bends, Solid Edge takes into account the dimension’s position relative to a bend and automatically provides the best solutions in QuickPick. You can place a dimension using either of the following:

Note:

When placing the dimension, you can press I to switch between the different dimension options available in QuickPick.

Editing the bend angle updates the dimension style between a layer face intersection and a bend silhouette.

The dimension value changes dynamically as you change the angle.

Using a dimension axis

Sometimes you need to add a PMI element that measures along an axis that is not orthogonal to the object you are dimensioning. This may be the case when you use the Distance Between, Angle Between, Coordinate Dimension, or Symmetric Diameter command.

When one of these dimension commands is in progress, you can use the Dimension Axis option under the Properties group button on the Dimension command bar to set the dimension axis.

Adding PMI dimensions

You can use the Smart Dimension command to add dimensions to circles, arcs, and ellipses as well as linear elements.

When adding a dimension that requires two points:

  • The first click determines the point to measure from.

  • The second click specifies the point or element to measure to.

Dimension stacking and chaining

  • Linear dimensions can be stacked or chained using the Distance Between command.

  • Angular dimensions can be stacked or chained using the Angle Between command.

  • Symmetric diameter dimensions can form a stack, not a chain.

  • All dimensions in a stack or chain must be placed with respect to the same active dimension plane.

  • Each stacked or chained dimension has its own entry on PathFinder.

Adding PMI annotations

Here, the datum annotation is attached to an existing feature control frame.

They also can connect to faces.

Moving a PMI element

There are several ways you can move PMI elements.

If you move an annotation that is attached to another PMI element--including stacked and chained dimensions--they move together.

Moving an annotation connected directly to a face results in translation along the face only, not off it.

To learn how to move and manipulate PMI dimensions and annotations, see the Help topic,Move PMI elements.

Using property text in PMI elements

You can extract and use property text in PMI dimensions and in callout and balloon annotations.

To learn more about property text, see the Help topic, Using property text.

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