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Measuring the total length of lines in a Drawing

Question asked by J. R. on Nov 3, 2019
Latest reply on Nov 3, 2019 by J. R.

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Hi,

I have a drawing with nested parts that will be exported as DXF for laser cutting. I want to measure the total length of all the lines in that drawing (both inside and outside edges of every part), so a time and cost estimate can be made. It doesn't have to be terribly accurate. I know that the Measure tool can provide the perimeter length of each part individually, but there are many small parts in the drawing, and measuring each and every one of them and then adding up their perimeters is very inconvenient. Unfortunately it seems that Measure tool doesn't add up perimeters when selecting multiple parts at once.

What is the quickest way to get the total length of all the lines in my drawing?

Neville Williams Nov 3, 2019 4:40 PM

Correct Answer

This could be a bit of a challenge.

I note that if the view is converted to sketch,

there are double lines on all edges where there is another edge below uppermost,

(like there would be on all pieces of flat metal with an upper and lower surface).

So it seems, even the routine within Solidworks program cannot remove this doubling up

You may need someone with experience writing macros ?

See the reply in context

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Neville Williams Nov 3, 2019 2:50 PM

You can use selection filter to "Filter Sketch Segments" then box pre-select to gather all sketch lines (including 3d sketches). Then activate measure command.

This will give you the total length. You can then go thru list to remove any centrelines from measure tool dialog box.

You will have to make all your sketches visible (View Sketches on visibility toolbar)

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J. R. @ Neville Williams on Nov 3, 2019 2:48 PM

Thank you for the suggestion, but there are no sketches in these parts in my drawing. They are all surface parts, often derived from other parts, rarely containing any sketches of their own.

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Neville Williams Nov 3, 2019 4:40 PM

This could be a bit of a challenge.

I note that if the view is converted to sketch,

there are double lines on all edges where there is another edge below uppermost,

(like there would be on all pieces of flat metal with an upper and lower surface).

So it seems, even the routine within Solidworks program cannot remove this doubling up

You may need someone with experience writing macros ?

Actions

J. R. @ Neville Williams on Nov 3, 2019 4:56 PM

Since I only have surfaces in my nested assembly (and therefore in drawing too), there were no double lines when I attempted to convert the view to sketch. From there on, it all worked perfectly. I only work with surfaces when it comes to laser cutting, because it would be very dangerous to export a drawing with solid bodies to DXF, as the doubled lines may also be present in the DXF, causing the laser cutter to cut everything twice

Thank you very much. Your solution worked like a charm.

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4 Replies

Neville Williams Nov 3, 2019 2:50 PM
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Correct Answer
You can use selection filter to "Filter Sketch Segments" then box pre-select to gather all sketch lines (including 3d sketches). Then activate measure command.

This will give you the total length. You can then go thru list to remove any centrelines from measure tool dialog box.

You will have to make all your sketches visible (View Sketches on visibility toolbar)
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- J. R. @ Neville Williams on Nov 3, 2019 2:48 PM
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  Thank you for the suggestion, but there are no sketches in these parts in my drawing. They are all surface parts, often derived from other parts, rarely containing any sketches of their own.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Neville Williams Nov 3, 2019 4:40 PM
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Correct Answer
This could be a bit of a challenge.

I note that if the view is converted to sketch,

there are double lines on all edges where there is another edge below uppermost,

(like there would be on all pieces of flat metal with an upper and lower surface).

So it seems, even the routine within Solidworks program cannot remove this doubling up

You may need someone with experience writing macros ?
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
- J. R. @ Neville Williams on Nov 3, 2019 4:56 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Since I only have surfaces in my nested assembly (and therefore in drawing too), there were no double lines when I attempted to convert the view to sketch. From there on, it all worked perfectly. I only work with surfaces when it comes to laser cutting, because it would be very dangerous to export a drawing with solid bodies to DXF, as the doubled lines may also be present in the DXF, causing the laser cutter to cut everything twice
  
  Thank you very much. Your solution worked like a charm.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions

Measuring the total length of lines in a Drawing

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