×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Attaching Datums

Attaching Datums

Attaching Datums

(OP)
   The ASME Y14.5M-1994 standard allows us to attach datums to dimensions and tolerance boxes, as well as to features.  When you do this, it means something different.  It is not just a reformat procedure.

   Is there a way to do this on SolidWorks such that it is actually attached?  

   I am still on 2003, but I just tried it on a 2006 machine, and there still did not seem to be a way.

                        JHG

RE: Attaching Datums

I have never been able to attach them directly to a dim. If you select a FCF or geometry, then insert datum, it should attach.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Attaching Datums

I'm not clear in what your trying to do. Are you trying to attach a datum to a leader line of a dimension or the actual value?

Macduff spin
Colin Fitzpatrick
Mechanical Design Engineer
Solidworks 2006 SP 4.1
Dell 380 XP Pro SP 2
nVida Quadro FX 3450/4000



RE: Attaching Datums

(OP)
macduff,

   Either one.

                    JHG

RE: Attaching Datums

I just tried with 2006, can not get it to do what you ask. It can only attach to geometry. If you drag it, it will make an extension line off the geometry ... except if a circle.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Attaching Datums

Why would anyone want to attach it to a dimension? It's the feature thats the datum.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Attaching Datums

It is and isn't. For example, if you have a rectangle, you can add datum to one side. That side is the datum. If the datum is with the dim value, the width (both sides) is the datum. Hope I explained clear.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Attaching Datums

Are you talking about attaching datum references in drawings or models?

If you're in a drawing and want to attach a datum symbol to a dimension, 1st treat it like a geometric tolerance.  Add something like runout, then put datum "A" in the primary box.
  Then, go back and replace the runout by selecting the "none" box.  What you're left with is a letter with a square around it, just below the dimension.  Hope that helps.

John Graham CSWP
Mechanical Design Engineer

RE: Attaching Datums

John,
I have also created them that way. But we shouldn't have to.
I think we need to turn in an Enhancement Request so whe can do it the correct way.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Attaching Datums

Chris,
I agree.  I've also turned in an enhancement request for this function in parts, which is even worse than drawings.  GDT's and datum refs's don't attach to dimensions in any way, and we like to fully define our parts, making them standalone models if need be.

John Graham CSWP
Mechanical Design Engineer

RE: Attaching Datums

The datum feature will attach to feature control frames and model feature edges.

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
      o
  _`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.

RE: Attaching Datums

SW2006 makes no claims (in the Help file) to be able to attach a Datum Symbol to a dimension.

However, the "SW2007 What's New" states that it can be done. So it appears to have been included in SW07.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Attaching Datums

(OP)
jdg268,

   Neat trick.  It doesn't solve everything, but it solves a lot.  

   Thank you.

                     JHG

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources