Make sure that all curve end points are coincident and tangent so that changes to the perimeter dimension can update the geometry predictably.
1. On the Direct Sketch toolbar, from the Dimensions Drop-down list, select Perimeter Dimension .
2. Select all the curves in the profile and click OK.
The perimeter expression is created in the format, Perimeter_pxx. Note The perimeter dimension is not displayed in the graphics window.
3. To change the value for the perimeter dimension, choose Edit→Sketch Parameters.
4. In the list, select the perimeter dimension.
5. Move the slider to adjust the value.
6. To delete a perimeter dimension, highlight the expression in the Dimension list and click Remove .
Note If you delete one or more of the curves used to define a perimeter dimension, the perimeter dimension is also deleted.
Perimeter Dimension dialog box Curves
Select Object Selects lines or arcs for the perimeter dimension. Ellipses, conics and splines are not selectable.
Expression Expression box
Specifies the total length of the perimeter dimension as you select lines or arcs.
l) Display as PMI overview
Use the Display as PMI command in the Sketch task environment or in a Direct Sketch to select and convert sketch dimensions to PMI dimensions.
Sketch dimensions converted to PMI dimensions:
Remain visible after exiting the Sketch task environment and continue to display even when the screen is refreshed.
Allow viewing and editing of their dimension values in other commands and applications, such as Feature Dimension and Drafting.
Where do I find it?
Application Sketch task environment and in a Direct Sketch.
Toolbar Sketch Tools→Display as PMI (Sketch task environment only) Menu Tools→ Display as PMI (Sketch task environment only)
Graphics window Right-click a sketch dimension in the graphics window and choose Display as PMI.
Convert dimensions to PMI using the context menu 1.
Double click a sketch.
The sketch opens as a Direct Sketch or in the Sketch task environment, and sketch auto dimensions
appear.
2.
Select the dimensions you want to convert to PMI.
日 3.
Right-click and choose Display as PMI.
The dimensions are converted to PMI dimensions.
4.
Click Finish Sketch .
The PMI dimensions remain visible outside the
Direct Sketch.
Convert dimensions to PMI using the Display as PMI dialog box
1.
Double click a sketch.
2. On the Direct Sketch toolbar, click Open in Sketch task environment .
Note If the Sketch task environment is already open
by default, skip this step.
3.
Click Display as PMI .
4.
Select the sketch dimensions you want to display as PMI.
5.
Click OK
6. Right-click in the graphics window and choose
Finish Sketch.
The dimensions remain visible.
Display as PMI dialog box
日 Select
Dimension
Lets you select individual sketch dimensions to convert and display as PMI dimensions.
Select dimensions by clicking or by dragging a rectangle.
Dimensions that are already PMI dimensions are pre-selected when you open the dialog box.
m) Dimensions: right mouse button options Right mouse button options
Style Opens the Drafting Annotation Style dialog box, letting you add tolerance
information and text to a sketch dimension. Note that you can use Annotation Style to edit multiple dimensions at one time. See Annotation Preferences in Drafting Help for more information.
You can use the Drafting Feature Parameters command to inherit tolerances and text notes, and any styling with the exception of text height, from the sketch onto a drawing. See Feature Parameters in Drafting Help for more information.
Note Not all Drafting Annotation Style settings are available in Modeling. For example, Character Size is unavailable because the Modeling and Drafting scales can be different. NX dims unavailable options.
Edit Opens Drafting's dimension editing function, letting you add tolerance information and text to a sketch dimension. See Edit Dimensions Overview in Drafting Help for more information.
New Group Creates a new group in the current sketch and adds the dimension to it.
Edit Value Opens the on-screen input box and displays the options bar in the upper left corner of the graphics window.
Convert to Reference/to Driving
Switches the current dimension from Driving to Reference and vice versa.
Edit Associativity Detaches a dimension from the geometry it references and attaches it to other geometry that you specify.
n) Dimensions options Dialog bar options
Dimensions Opens the Dimensions dialog box.
Create Reference Dimension
Activate this option to create reference dimensions. NX remembers the setting during the current session and applies it to subsequent dimensions you create.
Create Activate this option when you want NX to calculate the maximum dimension between
Alternate Angle
sketch curves. The figure below shows the same dimension with this option off (left) and on (right):
Dimensions options Dimensions
commands
Lets you specify commands for creating inferred or explicit dimensions.
Expressions List Lists the names and values of all dimensions in the current sketch.
Current Expression Lets you edit the name and value of a selected dimension.
Remove Highlighted Lets you delete the selected dimension.
Value Lets you change the value of the selected dimensional constraint by dragging the slider.
Dimension Placement Lets you specify how NX places dimensions:
Auto Placement
Manual Placement, Arrows In
Manual Placement, Arrows Out
Leader Direction Specifies the direction in which the leader extends from the dimension text.
Options are
Leader From Left
Leader From Right
Fixed Text Height Maintains the text of dimensions at a constant size when you zoom a sketch in or out.
o) Edit Dimension Associativity
Use the Edit Dimension Associativity command to attach an existing dimension to different objects.
When you attach a dimension you can:
Retain the expression value and resize the target geometry to match it.
Change the expression value to match the target geometry.
日
Perpendicular, Horizontal, and Vertical dimensions will maintain their creation direction so that the dimension will not flip to a different correct result.
Where do I find it?
Toolbar (Modeling)
Direct Sketch→Edit Dimension Associativity (Sketch task environment)
Sketch Tools→Edit Dimension Associativity
Menu (Modeling)
Tools→Sketch Constraints→Edit Dimension Associativity (Sketch task environment)
Tools→Constraints→Edit Dimension Associativity Shortcut Menu Right-click a dimension and choose Edit Associativity
Attach a Dimension to different geometry
This example shows you how to attach a dimension to a different curve.
Note that you can optionally measure the target geometry and assign its geometric value to the dimension variable.
1. Right–click the dimension leader line you want to attach and choose Edit Associativity.
2. In the Settings group, set the Expression Mode
to Remove Expression, Measure Geometry.
3. Left–click the new curve.
Edit Dimension Associativity dialog box Dimension to Edit
日 Select
Dimension
Specifies the dimension you want to reattach. The dimension must reside in the active sketch.
Note You cannot reattach a Perimeter dimension or a dimension associated with an Offset constraint. For more information, see Offset Curves.
Object 1 Select Object
Specifies the first target when a dimension refers to either one or two objects. For example, Object 1 might be the radius of a circle, or one end point of a horizontal or vertical
dimension. Valid targets are curves, edges, points, datum axes, or datum planes in the current part or assembly.
Note Normally, pick order at the time a dimension is created determines which sketch object is object 1 and which is object 2. However, if either of the selected objects is a datum the software automatically makes it Object 1, regardless of the order in which it was selected. There can be only one datum associated with a dimension, and it is always Object 1.
Object 2 Select Object
Specifies the second target when a dimension refers to two objects. For example, Object 2 might be the second end point of a horizontal or vertical dimension. Valid targets are curves, edges, points, datum axes, or datum planes in the current part or assembly.
Settings Expression Mode
Keep Expression, Adjust Geometry – keeps the value of the current expression and resizes the target geometry to match it.
Remove Expression, Measure Geometry – changes the expression value to match the target geometry.
p) Sketch Parameters
Use the Sketch Parameters command to edit or delete expressions for driving dimensions in the current sketch.
Where do I find it?
Menu Edit→Sketch Parameters
Sketch Parameters dialog box Dimension
Select Dimension
Selects the driving dimension you want to edit or remove.
Current Expression
Displays the value of the expression you select. Edit the expression using either the box or the slider. As you move the slider, the software dynamically updates the part.
Remove Deletes the selected expression from the part file.
q) Animate Dimension
Use the Animate Dimension command to dynamically display the effect of varying a given dimension over a specified range. Any geometry affected by the selected dimension is also animated.
Note Unlike Drag, Animate does not change the sketch dimensions. When the animation is finished, the sketch returns to its original state.
Where do I find it?
Toolbar (Modeling)
Direct Sketch→Animate Dimension (Sketch task environment)
Sketch Tools→Animate Dimension Menu (Modeling)
Tools→Sketch Constraints→Animate Dimension (Sketch task environment)
Tools→Constraints→Animate Dimension
Animate a dimension
1. Double-click a sketch curve.
2. On the Direct Sketch toolbar, choose Animate , or choose Tools→Constraints→Animate