How to Break Leader Lines over Geometry?

Question

How to Break Leader Lines over Geometry?

Jake Omaha (Mechanical)

(OP)

9 Jun 23 13:48

I need to break the leader lines of dimensions over geometry. I know there is the break lines button in the property manager but that only breaks a leader when it intersects another leader. Any help is appreciated. See pics of what I have and what I want. Thanks.

https://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=39befeeb-7f61-4147-b8ee-9

ctopher (Mechanical) · Answer 1 · 2023-06-09 15:05:30

RE: How to Break Leader Lines over Geometry?

ctopher (Mechanical) 9 Jun 23 15:05

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks
ctophers home

Jake Omaha (Mechanical) · Answer 2 · 2023-06-09 15:11:08

@ctopher. The extension lines gap and 'beyond dimension line' were both .05 before and I adjusted the 'beyond dimension line' to .125. Didn't do anything for me.

jassco (Mechanical) · Answer 3 · 2023-06-09 16:44:12

Hi, Jake:

No. Gaps of extension lines are automatic. You just need to pick correct entities (edges) to place your dimension.

Best regards,

Alex

ctopher (Mechanical) · Answer 4 · 2023-06-09 16:47:08

Does it update after changing, then restart SW?

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks
ctophers home

jassco (Mechanical) · Answer 5 · 2023-06-09 16:50:03

Hi, Jake:

If those two dimensions apply to multiple features, you can add CF symbol to indicate them as continuous features. If they are not CF features, you can add "2X" (less quotation marks) to the dimensions and attach them to the features on the left.

Best regards,

Alex

Jake Omaha (Mechanical) · Answer 6 · 2023-06-09 20:24:18

@ctopher Restarting solidworks makes no difference.

@jassco I could do the 2X or CF note but I prefer to have a broken leader line. It was really easy to do in ProE

SBaugh (Mechanical) · Answer 7 · 2023-06-09 21:49:17

you have to make sure the option is on under your dimensions as well. it's not automatic.

I turn on the filter to select all my dimensions and then turn on the Break Line option.

Scott Baugh, CSWP pc2

Mechanical Engineer
Ciholas
https://www.ciholas.com/

Quote:
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

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Jake Omaha (Mechanical) · Answer 8 · 2023-06-13 13:06:24

Scott, I can break leaders that intersect each other fine, what I want to do is break leaders that intersect the model geometry on the print.

jassco (Mechanical) · Answer 9 · 2023-06-13 13:22:36

Hi, Jake:

That does not seem doable.

Your dimensions (both 6.525 and 9.855) are objects (DAO) in Solidworks. And the extension lines are children objects in the dimensions. These two objects are only related to their parent objects which are the edges that you applied the dimensions to. The extension lines have no relationship with the edges which they run over.

Best regards,

Alex

SBaugh (Mechanical) · Answer 10 · 2023-06-13 14:17:06

Not doable, you should have selected the closest edge to and the dimension line would not intersect the geometry. To make it work you will have to add construction sketch geometry if you absolutely need it look like that. For my drawings unless its dimensioned to that line its assumed to be the same dimension. Assuming can be bad, but I prefer Ordinate over linear its so much cleaner than linear and if the same is true, if there is no dimension to that line its the same Dim for both lines.

Scott Baugh, CSWP pc2

Mechanical Engineer
Ciholas
https://www.ciholas.com/

Quote:
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

Jake Omaha (Mechanical) · Answer 11 · 2023-06-13 19:15:08

Bummer I was hoping there might be away. If I were only to dimension the closest edge I would put a typical or similar note so there is no assumption necessary. On ProEngineer at my last job there was an easy way of breaking the lines how I want, guess solidworks has a little catching up to do.

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How to Break Leader Lines over Geometry?