Measuring

Measurement tools are are constrained to the current workplane. If you snap to a point that does not lie on the workplane, that point will be projected onto the workplane. Make sure the workplane is set properly for the objects you wish to measure, or the measured values will not be accurate. See Workplanes Results of measuring are displayed in the Measurement Info Palette, which is opened automatically when using a measuring tool.

Tip: To copy the contents of the Measurement Info Palette to the Windows clipboard, use the Copy command from the local menu. You can then paste the information into any word processor, text editor or other program that will accept text.

The Measurement Info Palette can be set to keep a history of all the measurements you take. Use the Keep History button at the top of the palette to retain measurement history. Use the Clear Content button to delete the content of the palette.

Previously, the measure coordinates of the point tool could only measure the X and Y values as it functions like a 2-D tool and even though 3-D point was selected it showed a zero value. We need a measure 3-D point tool that is independent of the work plane much like the 3-D line tool and be drawn regardless of the work planes on. The only workaround for this was to draw 3-D line to check its starting and ending coordinates. Now measurement tool can show x, y, z coordinate. Output coordinates is in world CS.

The default coordinate units are those set in the Space Units page of the Drawing Setup (see Space Units) You can adjust the units by selecting an option from the Inspector Bar or local menu. English units are available in fraction and decimal formats, and metric units can be displayed as well.

2D Geometric Parameters

(Available in Platinum)

Default UI Menu: AddOns/Special Tools/Analyze/2D Geometric Parameters

Ribbon UI Menu:

Note: You can display the Special Tools toolbar by right-clicking in any toolbar area and selecting Special Tools.

Calculates engineering properties (area, center of gravity, moments of inertia, etc.) for a 2D closed object.

1. Select the closed area.

1. The area is highlighted, and its axes are indicated in red.

The parameters of the closed area appear in the Geometric Parameters window.

1. Click OK to close the window, and select Finish from the local menu or Inspector Bar to exit the tool.

Local menu options

By Closed Graphic (default): Selects a single closed object.

By Closed Area: Click inside a closed area to obtain the properties for only that area.

Relative Axis: Enables you to define another axis for the calculation of the properties.

Finish Geometric Parameters: Completes the 2D geometric parameters operation.

Section Properties

(Available in Platinum)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Section Properties

Ribbon UI Menu:

Feature to display Section Properties of any closed 2D object.

To display Section Properties of any 2D closed object, “Section Properties” needs to be selected first. Clicking on a 2D object with Section Properties option enabled displays the Section Properties dialog box.

To display Section Properties:

1. Draw a 2D Closed Graphic
2. Select Section Properties
3. Select the 2D Closed Graphic
4. Graphic is highlighted and Section Properties Dialog Box is shown

Add Main Axis: Adds main axis to graphic.

Units of Measurement: Selection of Measurement units (in, ft, yd, mm, cm, m).

Coordinates of a Point

(Available in all TurboCAD Variants)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Coordinates of the Point

Ribbon UI Menu:

Select the point, and its coordinates are displayed in the Measurement Info Palette.

Curve Length

(Available in Platinum, Professional and Deluxe)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Curve Length

Ribbon UI Menu:

This tool works exactly the same as the Measure Distance. Click on a 2D or 3D curve. Its length is displayed in the Measurement Info Palette.

Select a second point on the curve to measure a partial length of the curve.

Measuring Angles

(Available in all TurboCAD Variants)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Angle

Ribbon UI Menu:

Measures the angle between three points, or between two lines.

1. Select three points that define the angle you want to measure.

1. The angle is measured and displayed. It is calculated according to the order of selected points.

The angle is also displayed in the Measurement Info Palette.

Local menu option: By Entity: Measures the angle between two lines. The lines must intersect (this tool does not infer where extensions of lines will meet)

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1. Select the first line. The point you select on the line defines the angle that will be measured.

1. Select the second line, and the angle is displayed.

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In this example, if you selected the lines in a different location, you will measure a different angle.

Measuring Area

(Available in all TurboCAD Variants)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Area

Ribbon UI Menu:

Measures the area of a closed defined boundary.

1. Select points to define segments of the boundary. The points do not have to lie on existing objects; they can be anywhere. A thick line indicates the progress of the boundary.

1. Select the first point again to close the boundary, or select Close from the local menu or Inspector Bar. The defined area is filled.

1. The calculated area is displayed in the Measurement Info Palette.

Local menu option: By Entity: Enables you to select the entire perimeter of an object. You can also use this option to define a chain along a portion of an object. This is useful when you need to measure the area of curved objects.

1. Select a closed object, or select points along a portion of an object.

1. Select the first point again to close the boundary, or select Close from the local menu or Inspector Bar. The defined area is filled.

1. You can also use By Entity to define a boundary along more than one object.

Measuring Distance

(Available in all TurboCAD Variants)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Distance

Ribbon UI Menu:

Measures the distance between two points, the cumulative length between additional points, or the length of entire objects (perimeter).

1. Select two points to define the distance you want to measure.

The distance and deltas in X and Y are listed in the Measurement Info Palette.

1. If needed, continue selecting points. The outline of selected segments is indicated by a thick line.

The first listed measurement is the total length of segments. The second group of measurements relate to the first and last points - in this case, Point 1 and Point 3. The last group applies to the last segment only (Point 2 to Point 3).

1. Continue selecting points, in order, to determine the perimeter of the object.

Note: If you want to obtain the measurements of curved objects, you need to use the local menu options. Local menu options:

By Entity: Enables you to select two or more objects to determine their total length.

1. Select the first object.

1. Select the second object. The total length is calculated based on the shortest line connecting the two endpoints.

Note: When selecting objects, be sure to click close to the desired start point. If you select close to the wrong end, you may obtain an incorrect measurement.

1. Select additional objects if needed. The total distance, deltas between the first and last points, and data for the last segment are listed in the Measurement Info Palette.

Single Entity: Measures the distance of a single object.

1. Select the desired object.

The total distance and data deltas between the first and last points are listed in the Measurement Info Palette.

1. If you select another object, the data from the first object disappears, and is replaced by that for the new object.

Measuring Surface Area

(Available in Platinum, Professional and Deluxe)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Surface Area

Ribbon UI Menu:

Select a surface. Its surface area is displayed in the Measurement Info Palette.

Note: To select multiple surfaces hold down the Shift key.

Measuring Volume

(Available in Platinum, Professional and Deluxe)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Volume

Ribbon UI Menu:

Select the object. Its volume is displayed in the Measurement Info Palette.

Note: To select multiple surfaces hold down the Shift key.

Mass Properties

(Available in Platinum, Professional, and Deluxe)

Default UI Menu: Tools/Inquiry/Mass Properties

Ribbon UI Menu:

You can access the Mass Properties of ACIS® solid objects in a drawing. Additionally, when selected, the Mass Properties are viewable from the Custom properties of the select 3D object, and these properties, in turn, can be automatically placed in the Selection Info palette

To access Mass Properties:

1. Draw or select one or multiple 3D Solid Objects.

2. Select Mass Properties from the Tools/Measurement menu.

3. Select one or multiple 3D Solid objects.

4. Press Finish

5. The following Dialog Box opens:

When you press “Apply”, all the selected entities will be assigned as Custom Properties accessible in the Local Menu:

With this local menu displayed, click ‘Regenerate’ in order to see these properties displayed in the Selection Info Palette:

Note: In order to add more Materials and Densities, the user can go to: “C:\Program Files\IMSIDesign\TCW2021\Materials” and edit “tc_matsDensity.ini”