Need help with dimensions

Solidworks version: Solidworks 2008 SP5.0

Hi, I'm stuck on dimensions. Everytime I do it, it keep on getting mess up.

Below is a quick paint picture of my troubles that will hopefully better explain.

The overall dimension need to 5.125in but everytime I use "Smart Dimension" the drawing looked like picture "B". Help me please. Why does it lose it shape and get deform like picture "B"

Cant say Im an expert but, personally not heard of "smart dimension".

Have you tried using the standard linear dimension tool?? Perhaps the smart ones not that smart...

Autocade version: Solidworks 2008 SP5.0

 

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Unless I am seriously missing something here, Solidworks and AutoCAD are not the same thing. Not even the same company that sells it.

And with that, I am moving your thread to the SolidWorks-section and hope you get some help there.

You are in the wrong forum - you should have posted this in the SolidWorks forum. For beginners I recommend sketching one line or one circle or polygon and dimension it immediately. This will give you a sense of scale for the rest of the sketch.

just as jd said, dimension 1 line first. the problem is your drawing is not to scale.

You can start by adding two vertical reference construction lines if it helps you. one at the origin and one 5.125" away.

here is an example for you.

I added the minimal amount of dimensions and fully defined the sketch using relations. all the lines im pointing to in red i gave an = relation so they all are driven by that .5" dimension. There is also a number of Colinear relations added to various lines to fully define it. If you draw the short line from the origin and the line to the far right you will have an idea of the size of your sketch. Right now the overall dimension is probably in the 6-7" range and when you add that 5" dimension its pulling your end line in but leaving the rest in place because they are not defined.

Cant say Im an expert but, personally not heard of "smart dimension".

 

Have you tried using the standard linear dimension tool?? Perhaps the smart ones not that smart...

Smart Dimension in SW basically lets you select your components and allows a number of different dimensions to be added based on cursor position.

Another technique is to create a construction sketch box the overall width and height of your object and then simply trace over it and add you dimensions. (see attached)

Thanks for the help and moving to correct location. I edited my post. I meant "Solidworks Version" not Autocad. I had both program open at the same time so it was a typo.