Creating Angular Dimensions Using an Imaginary Line

What? Are you kidding? That was my reaction too.  Yes, creating an angular dimension without actual geometry can be done.  Anyone of us that has spent time just setting up a sketch with featureless construction geometry just to control an angle measured from the X or Y axis will appreciate this little ditty.

Below are the simple steps to accomplish this…

• 1. We’ll start with a part file open and a sketch already in process.  Click Smart Dimension from the Command Manager Sketch tab.

• 2. Select a line in the sketch or an edge in a drawing.

• 3. Click a collinear vertex.

• 4. You should see the crosshair appear, choose one of its segments and drag in the direction of where you want the angle dim to lie.

• 5. You will see the preview as normal between the edge selected and the segment from the crosshair.

• 6. Click to place the dimension.

• 7. Adjust the dimension as needed.

Yup, that’s it.