Request for enhancement

[bolsover]

For a sketch to be fully defined, it is generally necessary to add a number of dimensions to the sketch features.
Currently, there are just 3 methods for adding dimensions:

void  AddDimension (Circle Circle)
  Adds a dimension to the radius of a circle More...
 
 
void  AddDimension (CircularArc Arc)
  Adds a dimension to the radius of an arc More...
 
 
void  AddDimension (SketchPoint P1, SketchPoint P2)
  Adds a dimension to the sketch between two points More...

The problem I'm facing is that I need to be able to add horizontal and vertical measurements between two points.
An additional method with the following signature would do the trick nicely:

void AddDimension(SketchPoint P1, SketchPoint P2, int direction)

Doubtless there are several other addDimension functions that would also be of value.

DB

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

I've suggested a similar enhancement before. Also the ability to dimension a point at a perpendicular distance from a line is another common type needed.

 

[bolsover]

Hi Nate
I 'solved' the problem by adding an otherwise redundant reference sketch point with appropriate constraints and then dimensioning from there..

  def drawCircle(self):
    #add circle to sketch
    circlea = Circle([1,1],5,False)
    circlea = self.sketch.AddCircle(circlea)
        
    #add reference point and constraints for dimensions
    pointa = SketchPoint(0,1,True)
    pointa = self.sketch.AddPoint(pointa)
    self.sketch.AddConstraint([pointa, circlea.CenterPoint],Sketch.Constraints.Horizontal)
    self.sketch.AddConstraint([pointa, self.sketch.Origin],Sketch.Constraints.Vertical)
    
    #add dimensions
    self.sketch.AddDimension(circlea)
    self.sketch.AddDimension(pointa, circlea.CenterPoint)
    self.sketch.AddDimension(pointa, self.sketch.Origin)

It's messy - but at least I can get a fully defined sketch.
I'll wrap the idea up in a utility method so I can just make a call to AddDimensions...
Actually here's a possible solution:

def addDimensions(self, sketch, point):
    #add reference point vertical to origin and horizontal to point to be dimensioned
    pointa = SketchPoint(0,point.Y,True)
    pointa = sketch.AddPoint(pointa)
    
    #add constraints
    sketch.AddConstraint([pointa, point],Sketch.Constraints.Horizontal)
    sketch.AddConstraint([pointa, sketch.Origin],Sketch.Constraints.Vertical)
    
    #add dimensions
    sketch.AddDimension(pointa, point)
    sketch.AddDimension(pointa, sketch.Origin)

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

Right, but these things are already function solved in Alibre and shouldn't have to be solved by us again. Same with adding a radius to two arbitrary non-parallel lines. I made my own function to mathematically do it but it should just be built in. Most users aren't as proficient or determined as us.