Measuring 3D objects in PDFs

Use the 3D Measurement Tool to measure 3D models. You can create measurements between combinations of points or edges of the 3D model. As you move the pointer over the 3D model, specific points and edges are highlighted. The 3D Measurement Tool supports four types of measurements: perpendicular distance between two straight edges, linear distance between two points, the radius of circular edges, and the angle between two edges (or three points).

You can associate 3D measurements with specific views. If the default view is active when a measurement is added, a new measurement view is created. This view is added to the view hierarchy in the Model Tree. The measurement is associated with that view only. The measurement shows up as a child of the view.

You can also display comments while taking measurements. These comments (also called measurement markups) are preserved after the document is closed.

Snap Enables options in the 3D Measurement Tool palette

Snaps to the entire edge.

Snaps to a straight-line segment of an edge.

Snaps to a circumference.

Snaps to the apparent edge of a part, such as the side of a cylinder.

Snaps to the geometric plane making up a face of the part.

Measurement Types options in the 3D Measurement Tool palette

Measures the distance between two positions on the 3D model. Click to set a start point, and then click another location to set an end point or edge.

Measures the distance between two edges taken at a right angle to the starting edge.

Measures the radius at the location clicked.

Measures the angle between two edges.

Units and markup options

To use the Units and Markup measurement tools, select the 3D Measurement Tool, and then right-click inside the model.

Select to change the measurement units.

Displays or hides the coordinates of the mouse pointer location in the Measurement Info Window.

Type the text that you want to appear with the measurement, both in the 3D model area and in the Comments panel. (Not available if Measurement Markup is not selected.)

Select when you want to take measurements in a model, but not add them to the document. The measurements are only visible while the current measurement is active. If you start another measurement or change tools, the markup disappears.

Disables the ability to snap the insertion point to a likely target. Select this option to improve performance when you are working with a large model. Return to Snap To 3D Content to ensure precise measurement in 3D objects.

Opens a dialog box that lists the keyboard shortcuts for several navigation shorts. You can use these shortcuts while you are measuring.

Opens the Measuring (3D) Preferences dialog box.

The Measurement Info Window displays the Units And Markup settings for the model. Select to remove the window from the model window.

Removes/displays the 3D Measurement Tool palette.

Measuring preferences

Change the 3D Measuring preferences to determine how 3D data is measured. These options appear in the Measuring (3D) panel of the Preferences dialog box.

Displays measurements based on the model units, if present, generated from the original 3D model. Deselect this option to specify the units of measurements manually. This setting can be changed in the 3D Measurement Tool palette.

Uses units of measurement that you specify here rather than the measurement units in the 3D model.

Specifies the maximum number of digits in the measurement number.

Specifies the color of the line that appears when you click or drag to measure an object.

Sets the text size for the measurement display.

Specifies units as either degrees or radians.

Designates whether the diameter or radius is measured for circular parts.

Displays the circumference associated with the radial measurement.

Turns on snap and specifies whether points, arcs, edges, silhouette edges, or faces are snapped to. Sensitivity indicates how close the pointer must be to the item being snapped to. For Snap Hint Color, specify the color of the snap line that appears when you hold the pointer over the 3D object.