Tape Measure
Tool Tape Measure
Tool Use the Tape Measure Tool to measure distances, create construction lines or points, or scale a model. Activate the Tape Measure Tool from the Construction toolbar or the Tools menu.
Keyboard Shortcut: T
The Tape Measure Tool is primarily used to measure distances between two points. To measure a distance between two points:
Select the Tape Measure Tool. The cursor changes to a tape measure.
Click at the starting point of your measurement. Use the inference ToolTip to make sure you click on the exact point.
Move the cursor in the direction you want to measure. A temporary measuring tape line, with arrows at each end, will stretch out from your starting point as you move the mouse. The Tape Measure Tool’s measuring tape line functions like an inference line and will change color to match axes colors when it is parallel to any axes. The VCB dynamically displays the length of your measuring tape as you move the mouse around your model.
Note - Press the Esc key at any point during the operation
to start over.
Click at the ending point of your measurement. The final distance is displayed.
Tip
- You can also click and hold on the starting point of the distance
you wish to measure, drag
the mouse to the endpoint of the measurement, and release the mouse to
obtain a measurement.
Construction Line entities and Construction Point entities are useful for drawing precisely. To create an infinite parallel construction line using the Tape Measure Tool:
Select the Tape Measure Tool. The cursor changes to a tape measure.
Click on a line that will be parallel to the construction line, to set the starting point of your measurement. You must click on an "On Edge" point between the start and end points in the line segment.
Note - Start from an "On Edge" point inference
and move across a face to generate an infinite parallel construction line.
Start from an "Endpoint" to create a finite construction line
with a construction point at the end.
Press and release the Ctrl key.
Move the cursor the direction you want to measure. A temporary measuring tape line and a construction line will stretch out from your starting point.
Click again at the point where you want to set your construction line. The final distance is displayed in the VCB.
Tip
- Starting from an endpoint or midpoint results in a Construction
Point.
You can rescale your model to a more precise dimension during the modeling process by specifying the desired dimension between two points using the Tape Measure Tool. This line is referred to as the reference line. To scale an entire model:
Select the Tape Measure Tool. The cursor changes to a tape measure.
Click one end of a line segment to set the starting point of a measurement. Use the inference ToolTip to make sure you click on the exact point.
Move the mouse to the end point of the same line segment. A temporary measuring tape line, with arrows at each end, will stretch out from your starting point as you move the mouse.
Click again at the other end of the line segment. The final distance is displayed in the VCB.
Enter a new size for the line in the VCB and press the Enter key. This size will be used as the basis for a proportional rescale of your model. The following dialog box appears.
Click the Yes button. The model will be rescaled proportionally.
Note - Only components that are created within the
current model (not dragged from the Component Browser and loaded from
an external component file) can be resized.
The VCB displays the distance that a construction line is from the starting point. Specify a different distance simply by typing it in the VCB. Specify a negative length to draw the line in the direction opposite the one indicated.
Press and hold either the up arrow, left arrow, or right arrow keys, where up arrow equals blue, left arrow equals green, and right arrow equals red, while measuring to lock a specific axis.