dimensioning sheet metal parts

Because solidworks adds a radius to the outside ofa sheetmetalpart, how do you align a dimension to pick up the tangent edge of the radius. For example if a sheet metal part is shaped like aZ with the rib (or center line)of theZ being at a 45 degree angle, how do you snap to the tangent part of the radius so the dimension is aligned with the flat surface of the rib. If my explanation is confusing what till you read this. Just picture the letter Z, the center line of the Z is what I am trying to dimension, but I cannot pickup the tangent radius at the upper right, and lower left of the Z bracket. Any help would be appreciated.





Ron A.

One way is to draw lines in the drawing of your Z part. Then you add relations to these lines so they are tangent to an arc or colinear to the edge you need to dimension.


After that you add dimensions pickingthe line you draw. Good luck.