Creating Curvilinear Dimensions

You can create curvilinear dimensions.

A curvilinear dimension measures the overall length of a curve.

Important:

  • The curvilinear length symbol is defined in the standards.

  • You cannot measure only portion of a curve.

  • In some cases, depending on the curve and on the offset value, the offset representation mode cannot be computed (because the dimension line cannot intersect with itself along the curve): you will not be able to position the dimension further than a certain limit.

  • You cannot change the dimension line representation mode after the dimension has been created.

Before you begin: Open an existing 3D shape.
Related Topics
Dimension Styles

  1. Click Curvilinear Dimensions

  2. Select a curve or an edge as shown below.

    The dimension is previewed. By default, the dimension line is linear.



  3. Right-click to display the contextual menu and select Offset representation mode for the dimension line.

    Note:

    There are three kinds of representation mode:


    • Offset displays the dimension line as an offset curve of the projection of the measured curve.
    • Parallel displays the dimension line as a parallel curve of the projection of the measured curve.
    • Linear displays the dimension line as a straight line, parallel to the direction defined by the limit points of the measured curve.

    The dimension line is modified accordingly.



  4. Optionally drag the dimension line and/or the dimension value to position them as wanted.

  5. Click in the free space to validate and end the dimension creation.

    The semi-arc symbol displayed over the dimension value symbolizes a curvilinear length dimension.

    You can now handle the dimension just like any other dimension.