Configuring Draftsman Surface Finish Object Properties in Altium Designer

Parent page: Surface Finish

Draftsman object properties are definable options that specify the visual style, content and behavior of the placed object. The property settings for each type of object are defined in two different ways:

• Pre-placement settings – most Surface Finish object properties, or those that can logically be pre-defined, are available as editable default settings on the Draftsman - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog (access from the button at the top-right of the workspace). Select the object in the Primitive List to reveal its options on the right.
• Post-placement settings – all Surface Finish object properties are available for editing in the Properties panel when a placed Surface Finish indicator is selected in the workspace.

     The Surface Finish Sign object default settings in the Preferences dialog and the Surface Finish mode of the Properties panel

View

• Symbol – the standardized graphic symbol that will be shown in the Surface Finish indicator. Use the drop-down menu to choose a surface manufacturing process, as defined in the ISO 1302:2002 standard.
• Line Style – the thickness and style of the line used to render the Surface Finish symbol and its leader/pointer line, if enabled. Use the line weight drop-down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the color selector where the line color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.
• Extension Line Style – the thickness and style of the line that automatically extends from an object edge when a Surface Finish indicator point is moved beyond the object's bounds. Use the line weight drop-down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets, and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the color selector where the line color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.
• Extension Line Gap – the spacing between the target object edge and the beginning of the extension line.
• Extension Line Offset – the distance that the extension lines will protrude beyond the Surface Finish symbol.

 Arrow Style

• Head Style – select the drop-down to choose from a range of preset pointer styles (headers).
• Width – the width of the target pointer head, such as an arrow. This setting also defines the diameter of a round head style.
• Length – the length of the pointer head, such as an arrow.
• Full Length – the length of the arrow lines when positioned on the outside of the surface finish line.
• With Leader – enable to add an arrowed connector line between the Surface Finish indicator and the target object face.

Value

• First Requirement – a coded and numerical tolerance for the surface texture.
• Second Requirement – an additional coded and numerical tolerance for the surface texture.
• Manufacturing Method – the permitted processes to be used to manufacture the surface.
• Machining Allowance – a numerical constraint for the surface machining accuracy.
• Allow Different Requirements – when checked, an additional bracketed symbol is added to the selected Surface Finish object (applies to a free, i.e. not attached, symbol only). This indicates that other attached Surface Finish objects in the drawing may override the currently selected Surface Finish object, which acts as a general/base setting for all surfaces.
• Surface Lay and Orientation – use the drop-down menu to specify the desired pattern style and direction for the surface.

Font

• Use Document Font checkbox selected – the font used for the Surface Finish indicator's characters is that defined by the document options. See the Document Font entry in General section of the Properties panel when in Document Options mode.
• Use Document Font not selected – use the Font drop-down menus to choose the desired font type and size, and select the lower buttons to enable text attributes – the Surface Finish symbol will proportionally scale with the font size. The associated color button () opens the color selector, where the font color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.