Sketch Option: Add Dimension

Here's a quick tip for adding dimensions to your sketches. When inserting a sketch you have these options by default.

If you go to tools, options, sketches, you will find another setting that can expand these options.

Checking this box gives you these options for sketching:

This option allows you to type a dimension on the fly or it will tie a dimention to the sketch entity so you don't have to do it later.

Some of you may already have known about this, yes it was there in 2012. But you may not know that it was modified in 2013 as seen here:

Which now gives you the ability to skip a dimension. If you do not give it a value and press enter. It will not place the dimension and allow you to keep placing lines like normal.

John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support
CSWE

Rapidly dimension multiple radial dimensions in sketches

2012 has added many shortcuts that allow us to get our jobs done faster and more efficiently.  Here is a new function that you may find useful if you create a lot of revolved features.   2012 now gives us the function to add multiple radial or diametric dimensions at one time without having to select the centerline every time.   There is nothing special to activiate this function.  Dimenison between a centerline and a line or point.  Place your dimension to create either a radial dimension or a diametric dimension.  Now just select the next line or point you want to dimension.   Solidworks will automatically use the same centerline as the previous dimension.  Your pointer will also change to  for a radial dimension  and   for a diameter dimension.