Dimensioning for design intent

[DGP125]

I am a new user coming from a solidworks background.

My question: I want to dimension the part myself based on design intent not ProE intent. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks,

 

[tobbo]

you can always turn off intent manager in sketchmode.....( but i think you will regret it. )Exactly what do you mean by "pro/E intent" ? all the dims you see in sketcher mode that are grey are weak dimension


//Tobias

 

[dgs]

You can dimension how ever you want. In sketcher, Pro|E wil assume dims as it goes to fully constrain the sketch. You can ignore them until you get the sketch entities you want and then create your own dim scheme, removing the ones Pro|E added as you go.

Pro|E can be a bit obstinate about removing the dims you want it to and you have to sort of go around the barn to get there. Sometimes it's helpful to sketch exaggerated and then apply the constraints you wan.

If you think about it, SW does the same thing in order to constrain the sketch, it has to. Those blue sketch entities are going to stay constrained to someting (the origin?) It just doesn't doesn't tell you what it's thinking.

 

[DGP125]

The problem I am having as well, is trying to dimension from one feature to another. Every time I use the dimension button it says "select one entity" when often I need two.

More often than not the design intent of the part is not the computer defaults. When I say design intent I am talking about dimensioning features for optimum tolerances or features that are related to one another.

Thanks,

Edited by: DGP125

 

[spidernate]

example?

 

[dgs]

The dimension tool is LMB select item 1, LMB select item 2, MMB to place the dim. Does that help?

Oh, and in Pro|E dimension and constrain things in sketcher to surfaces NOT edges. In SW you can't select edges in sketcher, in Pro|E doing so results in much more stable features.

It's true that Pro|E generally doesn't pick what I want, but that's OK I can easily change it.