SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part V: Creating Drawings

Ordinate and baseline dimensions

Ordinate and baseline dimensions are appropriate for collections of linear dimensions when you
have a number of items that can all be dimensioned from the same reference. Flat patterns of
sheet metal parts often fall into this category. When you apply ordinate dimensions, a zero location
is selected first, followed by each entity for which you want a dimension. When dimensions become
too tightly packed, SolidWorks automatically jogs the witness lines to space out the dimensions ade-
quately. You can create jogs manually by using the RMB menu. Once you create a set of ordinate
dimensions, you can add to the set by selecting Add To Ordinate from the RMB menu.

Baseline dimensions are normal linear dimensions that all come from the same reference and are

stacked together at a defined spacing. To find the default settings for baseline dimensions, choose

Tools ➪ Options ➪ Dimensions ➪ Offset Distances.

Tip

Baseline dimensions work best either when they are horizontal or when the dimension text is aligned with the

dimension line (as is the default situation with the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, stan-

dard dimensioning). Vertical dimensions where the text is horizontal do not usually stack as neatly because the

dimension text runs over the dimension line of the adjacent dimensions. Figure 23.9 shows ordinate and base-

line dimensions in the same view. n

FIGURE 23.9

Ordinate and baseline dimensions in the same view

You can access ordinate and baseline dimensions from the Dimensions/Relations toolbar or by

right-clicking in a blank space, selecting More Dimensions, and then selecting the type of dimen-

sion that you want to use.