(Not answered) How can I measure the normal distance from a face to a point in an assembly?

joshtargo

How can I measure the normal distance from a face to a point in an assembly?

Max_Kluge

Hi Josh

Just click on the two entities you want to measure the distance from. in the bottom right there is a small measuring tape. Just click on it and you will receive the different distances.


Hope this helps you out. There is also the Shortcut " [ " for measurements, if you like that more.

joshtargo

I specifically need the distance normal to a surface, even if the point is outside of the normal projection. Also, it needs to be in an assembly, when various parts are put together.

MichaelPascoe

@josh_targo please share a link to your document so we can understand how to help you better.

This is not ideal, but one way to get the normal measurement would be to create a mate connector and make it tangent to the face.

Another way would involve custom features. Since only the part studio offers custom features, you would need to click the in context studio and measure it there. Here is the improvement request for custom assembly features.

joshtargo

it's just like the picture above, but imagine the point a few inches to the right (in the image).

joshtargo

I want the normal distance from the slanted plane to the point.

"Just make a part studio" is not the answer I want. This should be a trivial modification for the programmers.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/598cadbc051409bdac78f7d1/w/fdd69096d199077d71a0ac6b/e/7fba283c12f4ce5935a92d2f?renderMode=0&uiState=66858c3f7c86921adcb7c4e7

MichaelPascoe

It is trivial for Part studios. Not trivial for Assembly studios. If you don't have moving parts, consider using multi part studios instead of an assembly if you want to use custom features. Then when you are finished, insert it into the assembly as a rigid studio.

joshtargo

MichaelPascoe said:

It is trivial for Part studios. Not trivial for Assembly studios. If you don't have moving parts, consider using multi part studios instead of an assembly if you want to use custom features. Then when you are finished, insert it into the assembly as a rigid studio.

Thanks, I'm aware of the distinction and have been using Onshape for over a year now for several projects. I'm simply asking the question from my original post, if it's possible to measure distances normal to a surface in an assembly, without having to create a part studio in context to do it.

martin_kopplow

As long as your surface is planar, it works exactly as desribed above: Click on face, klick on point, click on measure tape and read the distance value in direction of surface normal (Z). Pic below was taken in the assy.

joshtargo

As you can see in my picture a few posts ago, it does not work for planes that are not orthogonal to one of the three axes.

rick_randall

@josh_targo

Josh, as a workaround I would create a plane (plane point, using your two inputs) and measure parallel distance between face and new plane - then delete plane afterwards if not needed. Not a perfect solution, but should get you there.

Oops, just noticed you were talking about assemblies,above advice is for part studio - but I'm with you, wish they had the "normal to" dimensions included in the measure tool.

Nick_Holzem

This function is not available in assemblies today. 

Vote up improvement here:
https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/24790/measure-tool-to-give-perpendicular-normal-to-measurement-for-point-and-plane-selections-in-assembly#latest