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Insert Length Dimension

In one sentence: Measures the straight-line distance between two selected points or along a selected edge, with support for tolerances.

Overview

Workbench: TechDraw
Menu: TechDraw → Dimensions → Insert Length Dimension

The measurement is the true 3-D distance if geometry references are available (preferred), or the projected 2-D distance otherwise.

Step-by-step

  1. Click two vertices in a view (hold Ctrl to select the second).
  2. Choose TechDraw → Dimensions → Insert Length Dimension.
  3. Click to place the dimension text.

Tolerances

Set tolerance values in the dimension's Data properties:

  • OverTolerance / UnderTolerance for asymmetric (e.g. +0.05 / −0.00).
  • EqualTolerance for symmetric (e.g. ±0.05): set EqualTolerance = true and OverTolerance = 0.05.

Python API

import FreeCAD as App

doc = App.ActiveDocument
page = doc.getObject("Page")
view = doc.getObject("FrontView")

dim = doc.addObject("TechDraw::DrawViewDimension", "Length1")
dim.Type = "Distance"
dim.References2D = [(view, "Edge1")]
page.addView(dim)
doc.recompute()

Common mistakes and pitfalls

Projected dimensions on angled edges are misleading

A standard Length Dimension on an edge that is not parallel to the drawing plane measures the projected (foreshortened) length. Select 3-D vertices or use 3-D referenced dimensions for angled edges.

See also