Lining Up Dimensions (Free)  

This task shows you how to line up the following dimensions relative to a point in the free space:
  • Length dimensions
  • Distance dimensions
  • Radius dimensions
  • Diameter dimensions
  • Angle dimensions.

In other words, you are going to organize dimensions into a system with an offset. The offset will align the dimensions according to each other, based on the position of the smallest dimension.
Open the Tolerancing_Annotations_14.CATPart document.

  1. Select the dimensions to be lined up.

    When selecting the dimensions, make sure that they belong to a single, coherent system (if you select dimensions which could form two different systems, you could get unexpected results).

  2. Do either of the following:

    • Right click and select Line-Up,

    • click Line-Up in the Positioning toolbar,

    • select Tools > Positioning > Line-Up from the menu bar.

  3. Click anywhere in the free space.

    The Line Up dialog box appears.

    This dialog box has the following options:

    • Offset to reference: Distance or angle to the selected reference.

    • Offset between dimensions: Distance or angle between dimensions that can be organized as cumulated or stacked dimensions.
      For both the above options, two fields are available. The first field is dedicated to length, distance and angle dimensions and the second field (grayed out in our example) is dedicated to radius and diameter dimensions. Whether a field is active depends on the type of dimension selected.

    • Align stacked dimension values: Aligns all the values of a group of stacked dimensions on the value of the smallest dimension of the group.

    • Align cumulated dimension values: Aligns all the values of a group of cumulated dimensions on the value of the smallest dimension of the group.

    • Automatically add a funnel: Displays a funnel automatically whenever the dimension value of cumulated dimensions cannot be correctly displayed.

    • Only organize into systems: Neither the smallest dimension of each system nor dimensions that cannot be organized into systems will be moved. When checked, it makes the Offset to reference option obsolete.

    • Reset: Resets the options according to the settings customized in Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Functional Tolerancing & Annotation, Dimension tab, Line-Up area.

  4. Enter the desired value in the Offset to reference field. For example, 20 mm.

  5. Enter the desired value in the Offset between dimensions field. For example, 20 mm.

  6. Select Align stacked dimension values to align all the values of a group of stacked dimensions on the value of the smallest dimension of the group.
    Optionally, select Automatically add a funnel to display a funnel automatically whenever the dimension value cannot be correctly displayed.

  7. Click Only organize into systems option: neither the smallest dimension of each system nor dimensions that cannot be organized into systems will be moved.

  8. Click OK to validate.
    The dimensions are now aligned. The position of the smallest system dimension is not modified. The stacked dimensions are aligned according to the smallest dimension.

    The dimensions are lined up.

    When you click in the free space, the linear offset between the smallest dimension and the reference is automatically set to 0 value. The space between two dimensions will be the space defined in the Options dialog box (Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Functional Tolerancing & Annotation > Dimension tab, Line-Up area). See Dimension in the Customizing chapter for more details.