hello all,
I am in an assembly and am trying to measure from a tangent of a spherical surface to a flat surface. How do I get SW to see the tangent surface? I have tried shift and pick and other combinations but do not seem to get what I want.
Thanks
Sid
Are you using SW 2013? You need to turn the point to point measuring off:
Yes using 2013. The point to point is not on and the min distance is selected. I cannot get the tangent surface of a screw selected. I have 2 planes normal to eachother and an axis running down the center of the screw. How do I put a datum point on the tangent head of the screw? This dialogue of SW is not very intuitive.
Sid
Sid,
Are you using the Measure Tool? If so, you can try clicking on drop-down arrow at the Arc/Circle Measurements icon at top left and select Minimum Distance.
Don't work Glenn.
Sid,
Either something is broken or you have not explained it well enough for us to understand what is happening. SolidWorks normally has no trouble measuring from a spherical or toroidal surface, or even a non-analytical surface, to a flat or a plane. The one case I can think of that doesn't work is if the plane intersects with the sphere or toroid. In that case, the Measure tool tells you that they intersect.
Perhaps your system has just got its knickers in a twist and you need to reboot.
Jerry S.
Sid,
Try adding a point on the tangent and measure to that. Also when in the measuring window click on the top left to change from center to center, min & max distance.
Chris