[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":110},["ShallowReactive",2],{"D2e-vutMZQVKbgUdFtEAwzQvPFXCrq4yZT_hzZg1tCo":3,"article_dimension-tangent-to-an-arc-or-circle_solidworks":10,"_apollo:default":108,"_apollo:identified":109},{"mailchimpAudience":4},{"actionUrl":5,"slug":6,"locale":7,"default":8,"__typename":9},"","dimension-tangent-to-an-arc-or-circle","en","https:\u002F\u002F3ds.us3.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002Fpost?u=ed4601044e1936748c0d2aa6b&id=e5080ff9fe&f_id=002d4de2f0","MailchimpAudience",{"posts":11},{"nodes":12,"__typename":107},[13],{"id":14,"slug":6,"title":15,"uri":16,"excerpt":17,"locale":18,"featuredImage":21,"tableOfContents":29,"content":30,"date":31,"authorJobTitle":5,"author":32,"masterings":42,"globalTags":46,"products":65,"disciplines":77,"seo":96,"__typename":106},"cG9zdDo0MDk0OA==","Dimension Tangent to an Arc or Circle","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fdimension-tangent-to-an-arc-or-circle","\u003Cp>When adding sketch dimensions from one circle or arc to another, a…\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"locale":19,"__typename":20},"en_US","Locale",{"node":22,"__typename":28},{"large":23,"__typename":24,"medium_large":23,"thumbnail":25,"srcSet":26,"sizes":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F02\u002Fsolidworks.jpg.webp","MediaItem","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F02\u002Fsolidworks-150x150.jpg.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F02\u002Fsolidworks.jpg.webp 588w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F02\u002Fsolidworks-300x168.jpg.webp 300w","(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px","NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge",[],"\u003Cp>When adding sketch dimensions from one circle or arc to another, a dimension will be added between the center points by default. However, by selecting the circle and\u002For arc when adding the dimension, the properties for that dimension now have options to change where the extension lines display.\n  \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>These options can be changed at any time for dimensions that fit this criteria by editing the Dimension Properties in the Property Manager.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp> In addition, if you know the desired orientation of the dimension prior to adding it, you can ‘set’ the Arc Condition properties simply by the way you add the dimension to the sketch.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\u003Cp>Below is a dimension added by selecting the two circles and placing the text. Switching to the LEADERS Tab in the Property Manager shows how the Extension Lines can be changed. \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:post-content -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>Setting the Arc Condition on Insert \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>WHILE adding the dimension, if you hold SHIFT, you can Snap to the Minimum, Center or Maximum Arc Condition depending on what part of the circle\u002Farc you select. \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.dasisolutions.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2012\u002F12\u002FArcCondition1.jpg\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n** These images have centerlines drawn at 45 degrees off of the center to center position of the two circles for illustration purposes only.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>  – When the user holds SHIFT while adding the dimension between the two circles, if the cursor is between the ’90 degree window’, the ARC CONDITION gets set to minimum.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>  Click to capture Arc Condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.dasisolutions.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2012\u002F12\u002FArcCondition2.jpg\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n– While still holding SHIFT, if the cursor position moves outside the ’90 degree window’, the ARC CONDITION changes to CENTER.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>  Click to capture Arc Condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.dasisolutions.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2012\u002F12\u002FArcCondition3.jpg\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n– While still holding SHIFT, if the cursor is moved to the imaginary ’90 degree window’ on the far side of the circle, the ARC CONDITION changes to MAXIMUM.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>  Click to capture Arc Condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>Both methods yield the same end result. By using the ‘SHIFT’ method, the user can save a couple steps with each dimension.  \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->\u003C!-- wp:paragraph -->\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dasisolutions.com\u002Findex.php\u002Fcompany\u002Fmeet-the-team\u002F259-darin-grosser\" target=\"_blank\">Darin Grosser\u003C\u002Fa> is a SolidWorks Elite Application Engineer, Certified SolidWorks Expert and a senior member of the technical staff at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdasisolutions.com\" target=\"_blank\">DASI Solutions\u003C\u002Fa>,  a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations throughout Michigan and Indiana. He is a regular contributor to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.dasisolutions.com\u002F\" target=\"_self\">DASI Solutions Blog\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C!-- \u002Fwp:paragraph -->","2012-12-20T12:34:33",{"node":33,"__typename":41},{"nicename":34,"description":5,"slug":35,"name":36,"firstName":36,"lastName":5,"avatar":37,"__typename":40},"dasi-solutions","dasi solutions","DASI Solutions",{"url":38,"__typename":39},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fgoengineer-2-120x120-1.png.webp","Avatar","User","NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge",{"nodes":43,"edges":44,"__typename":45},[],[],"PostToTaxonomy_masteringConnection",{"nodes":47,"__typename":64},[48,54,59],{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51,"uri":52,"__typename":53},"dGVybTo5NjAx","3D CAD","3d-cad","\u002Ftags\u002F3d-cad\u002F","Taxonomy_tag",{"id":55,"name":56,"slug":57,"uri":58,"__typename":53},"dGVybTo5NjAz","SOLIDWORKS","solidworks","\u002Ftags\u002Fsolidworks\u002F",{"id":60,"name":61,"slug":62,"uri":63,"__typename":53},"dGVybTo5NTk2","Tips and Tricks","tips-tricks","\u002Ftags\u002Ftips-tricks\u002F","PostToTaxonomy_tagConnection",{"edges":66,"nodes":74,"__typename":76},[67],{"isPrimary":68,"node":69,"__typename":73},false,{"id":70,"name":56,"slug":57,"uri":71,"__typename":72},"dGVybTo1Ng==","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002F","Taxonomy_product","PostToTaxonomy_productConnectionEdge",[75],{"id":70,"name":56,"slug":57,"uri":71,"__typename":72},"PostToTaxonomy_productConnection",{"nodes":78,"edges":91,"__typename":95},[79],{"id":80,"name":50,"slug":51,"uri":81,"parentId":82,"disciplines":83,"__typename":90},"dGVybTo2MA==","\u002Fdisciplines\u002F3d-cad\u002F","dGVybTo1OA==",{"nodes":84,"__typename":89},[85],{"title":50,"uri":86,"parentId":87,"__typename":88},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fdesign-engineering\u002F3d-cad","cG9zdDozNzcz","Discipline","Taxonomy_disciplineToDisciplineConnection","Taxonomy_discipline",[92],{"isPrimary":68,"node":93,"__typename":94},{"parentId":82,"id":80,"name":50,"slug":51,"uri":81,"__typename":90},"PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnectionEdge","PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnection",{"canonical":5,"title":97,"metaDesc":5,"opengraphAuthor":5,"opengraphDescription":98,"opengraphTitle":15,"opengraphUrl":99,"opengraphSiteName":100,"opengraphPublishedTime":101,"opengraphModifiedTime":102,"twitterTitle":5,"twitterDescription":5,"readingTime":103,"metaRobotsNoindex":104,"__typename":105},"Dimension Tangent to an Arc or Circle - Blog Solidworks","When adding sketch dimensions from one circle or arc to another, a…","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fdimension-tangent-to-an-arc-or-circle\u002F","Blog Solidworks","2012-12-20T17:34:33+00:00","2026-02-12T17:18:07+00:00",2,"noindex","PostTypeSEO","Post","RootQueryToPostConnection",{},{},1776257474372]