How to better select Keypoints for dimensioning in Solid Edge

matt.johnson

18 Apr, 2012 04:27 PM

Dimensioning to keypoints in Solid Edge can be made easier and in certian situations more accurate by using keyboard shortcuts. Most easily remembered with the word "MICE"; users can use keystrokes of "M", "I", "C" and "E" to aid in selection. "M" = midpoint, "I" = intersection, "C" = Center and "E" = endpoint. See tutorial for examples of workflow.

1. Step 1:

   Hovering on a line segment and pressing the "E" key will jump the selection to the nearest endpoint of the selected line. Shown here is a user highlighting a line segment and pressing the "E" key; this snaps the selection to the nearest endpoint of the selected line, in this case the topmost point.
   

   

2. Step 2:

   Using the "E" keystroke saves the user the need to be close enough for the endpoint to be infered by Solid Edge. This saves time and is more accurate in situation where multiple lines connect at a single point. Shown here is the manual way of moving the mouse to the physical endpoint; no keyboard shortcut used.
   

   

3. Step 3:

   Hovering on a line segment and pressing the "M" key will jump the selection to the midpoint of the selected line. Shown here is a user highlighting a line segment and pressing the "M" key as the 2nd step in placing a dimension; this snaps the selection to the midpoint of the selected line and places the dimension.
   

   

4. Step 4:

   Using the "M" keystroke saves the user the need to be close enough for the midpoint to be infered by Solid Edge. This saves time and is more accurate in situation where multiple lines of geometry my clutter in the area around the intended midpoint . Shown here is the manual way of moving the mouse to the physical midpoint; no keyboard shortcut used.
   

   

5. Step 5:

   Hovering on a circle or arc and pressing the "C" key will jump the selection to the center of the selected entity. Shown here is a user highlighting an arc and pressing the "C" key; this snaps the selection to the center of the selected arc.
   

   

6. Step 6:

   Using the "C" keystroke saves the user the need to be close enough for the center to be infered by Solid Edge. This saves time and is more accurate in situation where multiple arcs are present. This is particularly useful with non concentric arc and circles when trying to find the center of geometry. Shown here is the manual way of moving the mouse to the physical center; no keyboard shortcut used.
   

   

7. Step 7:

   Touching one line segment then hovering on a differnt line segment and pressing the "I" key will jump the selection to intersection of the two selected lines. Shown here is a user touching the 2 lines making up the 90deg cut out inthe bottom; 1st the line on the left and then hovering the line on the right and pressing the "I" key; this snaps the selection to the intersection of the selected set of lines.
   

   

8. Step 8:

   Using the "I" keystroke saves the user the need to be close enough for the intersection to be infered by Solid Edge. This saves time and is more accurate in situations here multiple intersections may be present and is useful for when the intersection lies outside the current view's zoom state. Shown here is the manual way of moving the mouse to the intersection; no keyboard shortcut used.
   

   

9. Step 9:

   "I" keystroke will pick up interesections of any elements that were touched prior to hovering on a differnt line segment and pressing the "I" key. In this case quick pick will launch and display the possible options. Shown here a user has touched multiple entites prior to hovering and pressing "I" this returns multiple interesection results.