Dim Angle problems

Rhino Rhino for Windows
1

Dim Angle problem
Dim Angle problem886×643 253 KB

Let me describe the image I am trying to achieve. There are two connected arcs at the top of this figure. I would like to label the longer arc as 20 degrees, indicated with the numeral 20 and the degree sign centered just above the arc – with curved dimensional arrows running to the ends of the arc. The adjacent, shorter arc is 5 degrees. I would like to label this shorter arc in the same manner.

The Help file for DimAngle suggest this type of presentation can be set up by first selecting the arc, rather than its end points, but no such luck.

DimAngle, as you can see in the jpg, has introduced enormous numbers. Enormous point sizes relative to the drawing. And an enormous interpretation of the angle – 340 degrees rather than 20 degrees.

What would be a good first step? Maybe something to downsize the monster type font?

Thank you for your insights.

Michael

2

Hi Michael - you can adjust the size of the dimension itsself in DocumentProperties > Annotation styles > that dim’s style.

image

The general process seems to work OK here -

image

-Pascal

3

Thank you Pascal – good to hear your voice.
On my Rhino 7, I am not finding the display/control panel you reproduced above. If I go in through tools/options or just enter Options as a command, this is what I see:

Document Properties
Document Properties925×660 67.1 KB

There are no entry boxes for font size, etc.
Many thanks.
Michael

4

Hi Michael -

You need to expand the Annotation Styles:

image
image830×292 82.7 KB

-wim

5

Wim, thank you. That helped. I am now able to center the angle captions over the chosen arc. However, the oversized font dimensions, exaggerated arrow sizes, and positioning remain problems.

I adjusted the font height (I think) and reduced arrow size from 3.0 to 1.0. These experiments produced no change that I can detect.

Here is a jpeg.

DimAngle sizing & position problems
DimAngle sizing & position problems630×624 121 KB

Also, attached, is the Rhino 7 file I used to try out DimAngle annotations.

DimAngle font & arrow & position problems.3dm (47.9 KB)

The basic problem remains, how do I make the big dimensions proportionate to the smaller scale of drawing.

Thank you for your insights.
Michael

6

Hi Michael -

I’m not completely clear on how you would like those.
Something like this, perhaps?

image
image742×581 23.9 KB

-wim

8

Thank you again Wim, this is a big improvement.

I notice you changed “Model space scale” from 1.0 to 0.5, and the “Adjusted text height” to 1.

The “Font height” which I guess is a different value or parameter from the “Adjusted text height” is shown as 2.0.

There are nomenclature problems here for me. I don’t know what “Model space scale” means. Is it a ratio of the on screen size of the model to the real world size of the object?

(FWIW the real world object is a modified cylinder 2 cm in diameter and ~6 cm tall.)

“Font Height” seems like it might be a plug-in for the topographic term “Point size” but it is set at a value 2 times the “adjusted text height.”

I guess what I am looking for is a magic dial labeled “Font Point Size” that would enable me to dial the text up and down in height.

But I am beginning to wonder if “text” and the numbers and symbol that describe the size of an angle are the same thing. “Text” could mean a caption, and the numbers could be called a “dimension.”

I have been a Rhino user since 2008. Over the years, every time I have to use DimAngle, I hit the wall and turn to the forum for help.

Sorry for the rant.

The question is, how do I make the number and symbol that signify 20 degrees grow larger or smaller? What steps should I follow?

Many thanks for your time and insights.

Michael

9

Searched on “Model space scale” and found a helpful animation and some advice.

It appears there is a gate question that should be answered before launching into DimAngle: Is the dimension going to stay in Rhino3D? Or will it be printed out? On a printed page, the dimensions are of a constant size. In Rhino3d, they grow or shink as you zoom in and out from the model.

My project will be printed out (as a pdf) and passed along. The dimension font and arrow sizes are fixed, constant. In this case we are directed to work from a set of options under the heading of Layout. Will try my luck there. Michael

10

Hi Michael -

I’m not sure what is meant by that.

That said, …
In Rhino, there’s “model space”, and there is “paper space”, or “layout space”. The recommended workflow is that the user creates the model at full scale in model space, and adds annotations to a (scaled) detail on a layout.

The default annotation styles are set up with values that make sense when used on a layout: 2.5 to 3.5 millimeter.

When the objects in the model are of the size that, without scaling, fit on a piece of paper (such as your 2 cm Ø, 6 cm H cylinder), those sizes also might make sense in model space, as long as you don’t need to dimension small details on such object.

Generally, however, when a user prefers to annotate objects in model space, the default annotation style settings won’t make sense. A quick way to change all style settings in one go, is to simply change the “model space scale” value.

Note that the “Adjusted text height” setting is not something that a user can change. This value is simply the result of the multiplication of “model space scale” with “font height” and gives a very quick indication of what the scaled annotations will look like.

That dial is labeled “Height”. On a layout, that value will be the physical height of letters in the unit that the layout is set to. In a model, the final text height is in model units.
E.g., if height is set to “1”, and layouts are in inches, the text height will be 1 inch. If the model space scale is set to 3, and model units are in centimeters, text in the model will be 3 cm.

“Text” is both text that is created with the Text command, and all dimension and leader values with prefixes or suffixes and symbols set in the style.
-wim