Measure 3D models using 'measure mode' for detailed inspection or to include with your feedback for colleagues.
💡 Though measure mode is the recommended way to measure 3D models, legacy measurement tools are still available. You can find more details about those in our article on legacy measurement tools.
Activating measure mode
While viewing a 3D model, you can toggle measure mode on/off by pressing the ‘M’ key on the keyboard. Alternatively, select the ‘Measure’ option from the measurement menu in the 3D viewer toolbar.
The cursor will have a ruler icon next to it, to indicate you are in measure mode.
Feature selection
When in measure mode, hovering over the model will highlight features that you can select in orange. You can highlight and select:
Straight Edges.
Curved Edges.
Flat Faces (Polygon or Circular).
Curved Faces.
Endpoints and midpoints of straight edges and arcs.
Point selection
The endpoints and midpoints of straight edges and arcs are accessible through hovering. To select an arbitrary point on the model, hold down the Shift key and click a point on the model. You can select up to three points while holding down the Shift key.
Measurement outputs
Measure mode detects the type of measurement you need based on what you have selected. Most measurements will require up to three clicks - a start point, an end point and a click to position the measurement label.
Here is a full list of measurements that can be achieved using the measure tool.
💡 For file formats that do not have BREP data, the measurement tools that rely on BREP data will be unavailable.
Length of a straight edge
Select an edge and then click out in white space to position the measurement label.
Radius and diameter of a circle
Select the edge of the circle and then click out in white space to position the measurement label. The radius measurement is shown by default. To see diameter, click the label and select "Diameter" from the dropdown.
Distance between faces and edges
Select the first edge or face.
Select the second edge or face.
Click any other point to position the measurement label.
The default measurement will be shown based on your selection. Additional options, such as minimum and maximum distance, are available by clicking the measurement label. For circular edges, centre-to-centre will also be available.
Distance point to point
Hold down the Shift key to activate point selection.
Click the first point.
Click the second point.
Click in white space, or just release the Shift key, to position the measurement label.
Angle between faces
Select the first face.
Select the second face.
Click any other point to position the measurement label.
If an angle measurement is available, it will be shown by default.
Angle between two edges
Select the first edge.
Select the second edge.
Click any other point to position the measurement label.
If the edges intersect, the angle measurement will be shown by default. If the edges don’t intersect, minimum distance will be shown by default. Click the measurement label to expand and find the "angle between edges" measurement in the dropdown.
Angle between two points
Hold down the Shift key to activate point selection.
Click an anchor point (vertex).
Click the first measurement point.
Click the second measurement point.
As three points is the maximum number of points you can make, the label will appear on this last click.
Show coordinates
Hold down the Shift key to activate point selection.
Click a point on the model.
Click out in white space to position the measurement label.
Measurement options
Once a measurement is placed, a set of options will accompany the measurement directly on the model. Click on the measurement label to show these options.
Measurement type
If there are multiple measurement types applicable to your selection, you can toggle between them using the ruler dropdown menu.
Units
For distance measurements, you can change the unit of measurement displayed for this specific measurement.
💡 To change the default unit or number of decimal places, click the ‘Settings’ icon on the 3D toolbar and change your measurement preferences under the ‘General’ tab. For more information on the Settings menu, see 3D Viewer Settings.
Delete
Click on the trash icon to delete the measurement.
Delete and deactivation shortcut
To cancel a measurement-in-progress or delete the last measurement that you placed, press the Escape key. When there are no measurements on the model, pressing Escape deactivates the measurement tool.
Saving measurements
Measurements are saved by creating a feedback item while the measurement is active. You can navigate back to the measurement by opening the piece of feedback.
You can also view all saved measurements via the model browser, which can be found in the 3D viewer toolbar. Click on the measurements tab to see saved measurements. You can choose to show or hide the individual measurements by clicking on the eye icon beside the measurement.