DraftChoice Tech Document #1:
Measuring Line Angles

Document For: Intermediate to Advanced Users
Software Version: 3.00 Revision g (included with TubeCAD)

Follow these steps to measure line angles in DraftChoice Plus
FROM THE ZERO DEGREE AXIS:



Step 1 Use the Option, Attach command to set the Attach option to Vertex. Switch all other options off. Click on the OK button, then click the right mouse button to exit the Option menu.

Step 2 Determine if you want to measure the line's angle from zero with a clockwise or counter-clockwise angular measurement. To measure clockwise, click on the angle direction button in the DraftChoice toolbar: so that it is activated. If your angle is to be measured counter-clockwise, then make sure that the button is deactivated.

Step 3 Choose the Measure, Angle command.

Step 4 DraftChoice will ask you to define the the center of the angular measurement. To find the exact center, it is important to find the line's endpoint. Click on the Attach button in the DraftChoice toolbar: so that it is activated. Select the line to be measured toward the end used for the center (beyond the midpoint).

Step 5 If the correct point was selected (the end of the line), then Click on the Ortho button in the DraftChoice toolbar: so that it is activated. This will cause line drags to be perfectly horizontal or vertical. Drag the line to the right (any distance) and click with the mouse button like this:



Step 6 Click on the Ortho button: again so that it is deactivated.

Step 7 Use the mouse to select the other end of the line being measured. Click on the line beyond the midpoint and the end will be selected and an angular dimension will draw like this:



To read the value more clearly, zoom in on it using the Image, Window command. The angle in this example reads "269.094" degrees.

Follow these steps to measure line angles in DraftChoice Plus
BETWEEN TWO LINES:



Step 1 Use the Option, Attach command to set the Attach option to Vertex. Switch all other options off. Click on the OK button, then click the right mouse button to exit the Option menu.

Step 2 Determine if you want to measure the line's angle from zero with a clockwise or counter-clockwise angular measurement. To measure clockwise, click on the angle direction button in the DraftChoice toolbar: so that it is activated. If your angle is to be measured counter-clockwise, then make sure that the button is deactivated.

Step 3 Choose the Measure, Angle command.

Step 4 DraftChoice will ask you to define the the center of the angular measurement. To find the exact center, it is important to find the line's endpoint. Click on the Attach button in the DraftChoice toolbar: so that it is activated. Select the line to be measured toward the end used for the center (beyond the midpoint). A line will begin to drag from the center like this:



Step 5 If the correct point was selected for the center (the end of the line), then select the other end of the first line to measure by clicking near the end away from the center. An arc will begin to drag like this:



Step 6 Use the mouse to select the end of the other line being measured. Click on the line beyond the midpoint away from the center and the end will be selected and an angular dimension will draw like this:

Written by Michael Cone
Advanced Tubular Technologies

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Copyright © 1996 Advanced Tubular Technologies, Inc.
Last modified July 16, 1996.