Sketch : How to link dimension from other dimension ?

ROBOTIS_Japan · March 2021

Hi,
My 1st technical question.

Please see below image.

How to link with other dimensions when inputting new dimension?
Is there a Variable list somewhere, should I refer to it?

Thanks first,

konstantin_shiriazdanov · March 2021

From recent times you can create variable from the input fields of features and sketch dimensions. Type "#" symbol and in the bottom of the list you will see an option to create new variable and insert it in the current input field with desired value thus you can assign diam 9 of the circle on top to variable, and later use this variable in the dimension of the bottom circle

Prachi · March 2021

You can also use the equal constraint to make objects the same size within a sketch. You can use the equal constraint from sketch to sketch so long as the working plane is the same or parallel.

dirk_van_der_vaart · March 2021

How about using the equal command
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-equal.htm?Highlight=equal

Eric_Percy · March 2021

Shiba,
I really hope that you get an answer for this as it is one of the things that I miss the most from Inventor. The ability to have a dimension drive another dimension/2 (for example) is something that I used in every drawing.

tim_hess427 · March 2021

@Eric_Percy - As mentioned previously, there isn't a native way to reference other dimensions, but you can easily create variables that can be referenced by your dimensions. (I think there is an improvement request for something like this, maybe called "addressable dimensions" that you can vote on).

Right now, you can get the same affect by using variables. So, you could create a variable called #d1 which is equal to 10mm. Then, you can use #d1 inside formulas for dimensions, such as #d1*2. The variables can be updated at any time and anything referencing those variables will update as well.

gda_cto · December 2021

tim_hess427 said:

@Eric_Percy - As mentioned previously, there isn't a native way to reference other dimensions, but you can easily create variables that can be referenced by your dimensions. (I think there is an improvement request for something like this, maybe called "addressable dimensions" that you can vote on).

Right now, you can get the same affect by using variables. So, you could create a variable called #d1 which is equal to 10mm. Then, you can use #d1 inside formulas for dimensions, such as #d1*2. The variables can be updated at any time and anything referencing those variables will update as well.

Maybe it's the same effect, but its at least 2 extra steps. They don't need to be a variable. This is as common feature in every other mainstream CAD program, and the fact that it has been missing from OnShape for so long, despite having been asked for since it's inception is disappointing. It doesn't feel like the team is listening to people, or making an effort to make a very common, powerful and highly used and sought after feature available here. There are forum posts over 6 YEARS old asking for this feature, and it still doesn't exist. If i just want to make a relational dimension, i.e. a dimension should alwayss be half some other dimension, or whatever other constant, it shouldn't require creating variables.

konstantin_shiriazdanov · March 2021

From recent times you can create variable from the input fields of features and sketch dimensions. Type "#" symbol and in the bottom of the list you will see an option to create new variable and insert it in the current input field with desired value thus you can assign diam 9 of the circle on top to variable, and later use this variable in the dimension of the bottom circle

Prachi · March 2021

You can also use the equal constraint to make objects the same size within a sketch. You can use the equal constraint from sketch to sketch so long as the working plane is the same or parallel.

dirk_van_der_vaart · March 2021

How about using the equal command
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-equal.htm?Highlight=equal

ROBOTIS_Japan · March 2021

konstantin_shiriazdanov said:

From recent times you can create variable from the input fields of features and sketch dimensions. Type "#" symbol and in the bottom of the list you will see an option to create new variable and insert it in the current input field with desired value thus you can assign diam 9 of the circle on top to variable, and later use this variable in the dimension of the bottom circle

Thank you for very quickly reply.
I checked using "#" symbol in sketch dimension, this is nice shortcut!
It is be close what I want to do.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/ti/ry8tshlq4dzb.png

Fisher said:

You can also use the equal constraint to make objects the same size within a sketch. You can use the equal constraint from sketch to sketch so long as the working plane is the same or parallel.

dirk_van_der_vaart said:

How about using the equal command
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-equal.htm?Highlight=equal

Thank you for reply.

Sorry, the example I presented was not good.

What I want to do is like below GIF.
Like Autodesk Inventor, I want to calculate and use other linked dimensions. If dimensions of link source change, dimension of link destination will be changed automatically.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/od/m2gq8mf52ie1.gif

Eric_Percy · March 2021

Shiba,
I really hope that you get an answer for this as it is one of the things that I miss the most from Inventor. The ability to have a dimension drive another dimension/2 (for example) is something that I used in every drawing.

tim_hess427 · March 2021

@Eric_Percy - As mentioned previously, there isn't a native way to reference other dimensions, but you can easily create variables that can be referenced by your dimensions. (I think there is an improvement request for something like this, maybe called "addressable dimensions" that you can vote on).

Right now, you can get the same affect by using variables. So, you could create a variable called #d1 which is equal to 10mm. Then, you can use #d1 inside formulas for dimensions, such as #d1*2. The variables can be updated at any time and anything referencing those variables will update as well.

gda_cto · December 2021

tim_hess427 said:

@Eric_Percy - As mentioned previously, there isn't a native way to reference other dimensions, but you can easily create variables that can be referenced by your dimensions. (I think there is an improvement request for something like this, maybe called "addressable dimensions" that you can vote on).

Right now, you can get the same affect by using variables. So, you could create a variable called #d1 which is equal to 10mm. Then, you can use #d1 inside formulas for dimensions, such as #d1*2. The variables can be updated at any time and anything referencing those variables will update as well.

Maybe it's the same effect, but its at least 2 extra steps. They don't need to be a variable. This is as common feature in every other mainstream CAD program, and the fact that it has been missing from OnShape for so long, despite having been asked for since it's inception is disappointing. It doesn't feel like the team is listening to people, or making an effort to make a very common, powerful and highly used and sought after feature available here. There are forum posts over 6 YEARS old asking for this feature, and it still doesn't exist. If i just want to make a relational dimension, i.e. a dimension should alwayss be half some other dimension, or whatever other constant, it shouldn't require creating variables.

t_kempKPD · January 2023

Ya this is about to make me get a refund

tom_auger · March 2023

I'm just trolling these older posts that talk about driving dimensions to provide updates to others who are coming to the topic in more recent years. While we don't have direct referencing of other dimensions like you have in F360 and SW, the new on-the-fly variable creation method which has been in place since Dec. 2020 is a step in the right direction for sure!

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/15006/improvements-to-onshape-december-10th-2020/p1

ge0rge · March 2023

@lougallo Do you know if this is under development? This is something that we really are missing for our Enterprise, and it would be awesome to know if it's moving in the right direction. Thanks!

daniel_reis · June 2023

I had the same problem. To solve I've created a new variable, but the value must be a number if it was set to Length you can't add formula in your sketch.

Unfortunately there isn't a faster and direct way to do it.

gabe_g · January 23

gda_cto said:

tim_hess427 said:

@Eric_Percy - As mentioned previously, there isn't a native way to reference other dimensions, but you can easily create variables that can be referenced by your dimensions. (I think there is an improvement request for something like this, maybe called "addressable dimensions" that you can vote on).

Right now, you can get the same affect by using variables. So, you could create a variable called #d1 which is equal to 10mm. Then, you can use #d1 inside formulas for dimensions, such as #d1*2. The variables can be updated at any time and anything referencing those variables will update as well.

Maybe it's the same effect, but its at least 2 extra steps. They don't need to be a variable. This is as common feature in every other mainstream CAD program, and the fact that it has been missing from OnShape for so long, despite having been asked for since it's inception is disappointing. It doesn't feel like the team is listening to people, or making an effort to make a very common, powerful and highly used and sought after feature available here. There are forum posts over 6 YEARS old asking for this feature, and it still doesn't exist. If i just want to make a relational dimension, i.e. a dimension should alwayss be half some other dimension, or whatever other constant, it shouldn't require creating variables.

Yeah they have a bunch of features like nobody asked for yet the ones that are so basic like this one are still missing.
Suggestion For Develoment Team: You could create this feature by creating a variable internally(hidden from the user) just the same way one can reference the face of a part by clicking it. Like the user would click Line B and then click Line B and then assign length = to Line A / 2 (for half length for example) then store both values in a variable.

Sketch : How to link dimension from other dimension ?

Best Answers

Answers

Howdy, Stranger!

Quick Links

Categories