How to create "Arc Dimensions" in Inventor!

[Cosmic Traveller]

HI! I've looked everywhere & cannot see an option for dimensioning an "Arc" segment on my dwg! Is this even possible in Inventor! TIA!
Paul

[g_kenyon]

Dimensioning an arc in the idw environment is super easy.

Activate the dimension tool. Select an arc. Right click & locate dimension type on the drop down. There is another drop down down from there, on which you can select radius, diameter, angle, arc length.

Hope that answers your question.

[Cosmic Traveller]

Still not having any luck with this! Shouldn't the extension lines come out on an angle similar to doing an "angular dim"! I have a small cylindrical box with a handle on it which I want to locate on the outer edge of the circumference but am still not able to come up with the "arc dim" as you described! Any ideas!
Thanks!
Paul

[bmichell]

Paul,


The extension lines do not come out on an angle as you indicated. The dimension symbol with the dimension in the middle of the curve is the actual arc length. (you can check it mathematically) This is not how I would draw the arc length by hand. Its another issue that should be added to the wish list.

Brad

[Cosmic Traveller]

I am able to get an arc dim on a small arc on one of the gussets, and you can see its an arc because it draws a small arc by the dimension! It won't let me arc dim on the outside of this vessel! Nor will it dim to a part on the outer circumference of this cylindercal box! Thanks again!
Paul

[bmichell]

Paul,


Please post you sketch so we can see what you looking at. Also indicate exactly where you want the dimension so I can try to get it. Also post the sketch with the dimension you were able to obtain.

Brad

[Cosmic Traveller]

Sorry Brad! I've been so incredibly busy I haven''t had time to post this dwg for you! I'll have to let this one slide for now! Have a good one!
Paul

[robert.templeton]

Mr. Paul,

I was able to create an arc length and arc angle (not archangel) dimension, but Inventor would not create those dimension for semicircles or complete circles. I do not know if that is a bug or a feature. It may be the trig functions that Inventor uses to compute the arc dimensions go to zero or infinity at those two angles.