Power dimensions in AutoCAD Mechanical

00:04

With the AutoCAD Mechanical toolset,

00:07

you can use power dimensioning tools that automatically recognize objects and default to the appropriate dimension type.

00:15

The Power Dimension command can be accessed either through the ribbon on the Home tab,

00:19

Annotation panel, or on the Annotate tab of the ribbon, in the Dimension panel.

00:25

With a drawing open, select Power Dimension.

00:28

In the drawing area, move your cursor around your object.

00:33

Notice how the program begins to automatically prompt placement points based on the object.

00:39

Select a point for the first extension line origin on the object.

00:44

Now, you can pick other points on the object.

00:47

In this example, the dimension is snapping to the endpoint of the linear object.

00:53

To adjust which object snaps are available, from the Status bar, expand the Object Snap menu.

01:00

Here, you can choose from midpoint, center, and others.

01:05

Pick an endpoint, and then specify the location of the dimension.

01:10

When the dimension changes color, it indicates that the location matches the specified distance from object lines,

01:16

derived from any drafting standards you have set up.

01:20

Once the dimension is placed, on your keyboard, press ENTER.

01:24

Pick two other points and place the new dimension.

01:27

Try to create a third dimension, but notice that you cannot snap to an existing dimension.

01:33

Place a third linear dimension.

01:38

Move your cursor over to the circle and notice how the object snap shifts to the center point of the circle.

01:45

To place a dimension or radius dimension, press ESC on your keyboard and begin the Power Dimension command again.

01:53

Then press ENTER and select the circle.

01:56

Notice that the glyph that displays near the cursor indicates a diameter dimension.

02:02

Move your cursor to an arc, and the glyph changes to a radius dimension.

02:07

Hover your cursor over a line, and the line glyph displays.

02:12

Select the circle and place the dimension.

02:16

On your keyboard, press ENTER.

02:18

You can manually choose the dimension type as well.

02:22

Right-click in the drawing area and dimension options display in a shortcut menu.

02:27

Select Angular.

02:29

Then, in the drawing, pick two lines that form a corner and place the dimension of the angle.

02:35

Once you are finished with the manual override, right-click again, and from the shortcut menu, select Exit.

02:43

Power dimensions can be used to place linear, angular, radial, diameter, baseline, and chain dimensions.

02:50

These dimensioning tools are specifically designed for manufacturing,

02:54

making them relevant and convenient for use within this domain.