by Martin Phelps
From time to time a rotated dimension may be required in a drawing, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Adding the diameter “Dimensions” 30 and 40 is no problem since both of these could be added to the drawing using “Aligned” dimension command. This allows the user to pick two points, the dimension line is then aligned with the two selected points.
However, if this command is used to dimension the depth of the thread, although a dimension is added it does not give the correct value and the dimension extension lines at the wrong angle, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Although there are a number of possible solutions to this problem, probably the best is to use the “Dimrotated” command. Unfortunately by default this command does not have an icon, so access is via the keyboard.
Typing in “Dimro” is sufficient to access the command from the expanded command line.
Once active, the command requires a designated angle for the “Dimension Line” which can either be applied by typing the angular value or by picking two points to define the angle, if the angle is not known, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Once selected the two end points of the dimension leader lines can now be picked. The next picked point will position the dimension line.
The completed “Dimension” is shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4.