Working with a Radial Diameter Dimension Object on a PCB in Altium Designer

Parent page: PCB Objects

A placed Radial Diameter dimension.

Summary

A radial diameter dimension is a group design object. It allows for the dimensioning of an arc or circle with respect to the diameter, rather than the radius. The dimension can be placed either internally or externally, in relation to the circumference of the arc/circle.

Availability

Radial Diameter dimension objects are available for placement in both the PCB editor and the PCB Library editors in one of the following ways:

PCB Editor:

• Choose Place » Dimension » Radial Diameter from the main menus.
• Click the Radial Diameter Dimension button () in the drop-down on the Active Bar located at the top of the workspace. (Click and hold an Active Bar button to access other related commands. Once a command has been used, it will become the topmost item on that section of the Active Bar.)
• Click the  button on the Place Dimension drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.
• Right-click in the workspace then choose the Place » Dimension » Radial Diameter command from the context menu.

PCB Library Editor:

• Choose Place » Dimension » Radial Diameter from the main menus.
• Click the Radial Diameter Dimension button () in the drop-down on the Active Bar located at the top of the workspace. (Click and hold an Active Bar button to access other related commands. Once a command has been used, it will become the topmost item on that section of the Active Bar.)

Placement

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter dimension placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following sequence of actions:

1. Position the cursor and click or press Enter to anchor the dimension to the desired arc or circle.
2. Move the dimension's arrow pointer to the desired location around the arc or circle. The arrow can be placed either inside or outside and movement is in accordance with the Arrow Position value in the Radial Diameter Dimension properties panel. When the required position has been attained, click or press Enter to lock the arrow in place.
3. The text can now be initially positioned in relation to the tail of the arrow pointer. Move the text into the required position and click or press Enter to complete placement.
4. Continue placing further radial diameter dimensions, or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement are:

• Press the + and - keys (on the numeric keypad) to cycle forward and backward through all visible layers in the design respectively – to change placement layer quickly.
• Press the Tab key to access an associated properties panel, from where properties for the dimension can be changed on-the-fly.

Graphical Editing

This method of editing allows you to select a placed radial diameter dimension object directly in the workspace and change properties such as the position of its text and its reference point, graphically.

When a radial diameter dimension object is selected, the following editing handles are available:

A selected Radial Diameter Dimension.

• Click and drag A to adjust the leader position, relative to the 'tail' of the arrow pointer.
• Click and drag B to adjust the position of the arrow pointer around the circumference of the circle or arc or change the length of the arrow leader line.
• Click and drag C to move the start point of the dimension.

If the radial diameter dimension object is totally non-referenced (i.e. it is not attached to a reference design object) click anywhere on it – away from editing handles – and drag to reposition it. While dragging, the radial diameter dimension can be rotated or mirrored:

• Press the Spacebar to rotate the radial diameter dimension counterclockwise or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in accordance with the value for the Rotation Step, defined on the PCB Editor – General page of the Preferences dialog.
• Press the X or Y keys to mirror the radial diameter dimension along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.

Non-Graphical Editing

The following methods of non-graphical editing are available:

Via the Radial Diameter Dimension Dialog or Properties Panel

Properties page: Radial Diameter Dimension Properties

This method of editing uses the associated Radial Diameter Dimension dialog and Properties panel to modify the properties of a Radial Diameter Dimension object. 

   The Radial Diameter Dimension dialog on the left and the Radial Diameter Dimension mode of the Properties panel on the right. 

During placement, the Radial Diameter Dimension mode of the Properties panel can be accessed by pressing the Tab key. Once the Radial Diameter Dimension is placed, all options appear.

After placement, the Radial Diameter Dimension dialog can be accessed by:

• Double-clicking on the placed Radial Diameter Dimension object.
• Placing the cursor over the Radial Diameter Dimension object, right-clicking then choosing Properties from the context menu.

After placement, the Radial Diameter Dimension mode of the Properties panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:

• If the Properties panel is already active, by selecting the Radial Diameter Dimension object.
• After selecting the Radial Diameter Dimension object, select the Properties panel from the Panels button in the bottom right section of the workspace, or by selecting View » Panels » Properties from the main menu.

Via a List Panel

Panel page: PCB List, PCB Filter

The PCB List panel allows you to display design objects from one or more documents in tabular format, enabling quick inspection and modification of object attributes. Used in conjunction with appropriate filtering - by using the PCB Filter panel, or the Find Similar Objects dialog - it enables the display of just those objects falling under the scope of the active filter – allowing you to target and edit multiple design objects with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Tips

1. A radial diameter dimension object can be moved in the following ways:
   1. Selecting both the dimension object and the object that is being dimensioned. The whole can be dragged to a new location as required.
   2. Selecting the object that is being dimensioned only. The dimension text will follow the object in its alignment plane only. The dimension pointer and tail will expand/contract to keep the relationship between dimension and object being dimensioned.
   3. Selecting the dimension object only. It is important to note that the dimension cannot be moved on its own if it is referenced by a design object. To move the dimension only, it must first be detached from the object it is dimensioning.
2. The dimension's value automatically updates as the radius of the reference arc or circle changes.
3. Radial diameter dimensions are group objects consisting of text and track segments. They can be converted to their set of primitive objects by choosing Tools » Convert » Explode Dimension to Free Primitives from the main menus. Once exploded, a dimension object can no longer be manipulated as a group object.