With automatic dimensioning, you can create multiple dimensions with minimal input, resulting in instant groups of ordinate, parallel, or symmetric items that are appropriately spaced. Smart dimensioning tools force overlapping dimensions to automatically space themselves appropriately while integrating tolerance and fit list information into the drawing. Inspection dimensions enable you to specify testing criteria. Read on to learn more about how you can use Power Dimension to quickly change, edit, or delete dimensions and spend your time innovating rather than managing workflow issues. It’s much more enjoyable.

Using Distance Snap
Back when I was drafting on basic AutoCAD, a long time ago, I had a bad habit. I’d spend hours making my drawings look good. Yeah, you know what I mean; it all starts when trying to place dimension lines at just the right distance from the geometry, then it snow balls into aligning dimensions and rearranging dimensions and before you know it you’ve just spent another hour. Thankfully, we upgraded to AutoCAD Mechanical and I found power dimension and its distance snap… the rest they say is history.

So here’s how it works. After you’ve specified the first and second extension lines, power dimension will ask you to specify the dimension line location; just like AutoCAD does. But instead of trying to find another dimension to align it with, keep dragging your cursor. The preview will ‘snap’ to a location and change from green to red. This is power dimension’s distance snap and while it is snapped in position and red, the dimension line is 12mm or ½” from the geometry. If it looks good, click your mouse to specify its location.

Download pdf Save Time and Effort with AutoCAD Mechanical Power Dimensions