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Direct Dimensions measure size and separation between features in a feature set. They are not GD&T controls. Flatness and Cylindricity describe form. Position, Perpendicularity, Parallelism, and Angularity describe location and orientation in a datum frame. Runout measures wobble about a datum axis. Distance, Angle, and Diameter describe a number between features, with a tolerance band around that number. Tolerance is optional. When you add it, it is Bilateral (± one value, or separate Upper (+) and Lower (−) values such as +0/−0.1) or Limit (a minimum and a maximum). Leader and label placement can be changed after the measurement exists. The number does not change. The shared steps for every check are in How every check works. The tools are in Dimensioning Mode once a feature set exists. Features authored by hand are measured the same way as extracted ones. A distance or an angle between two planes does not require the volume to be rotated onto a drawing. Rotate an ROI when you need the part’s own axes before you pick the features.

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Distance

The Distance Tool measures between two extracted or authored features. The supported feature pairs and methods today are:
  • Plane to Plane — Center to Center, Max Perpendicular, Min Perpendicular, Mid Perpendicular
  • Plane to Cylinder — Center to Center, Centroid
  • Cylinder to Cylinder — Center to Center, Centroid
Using the Distance Tool to measure the maximum perpendicular distance between two planes

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Workflow

1

Select the Distance Tool

Choose Distance from the Toolbar in Dimensioning Mode.
2

Pick two features

Click the first feature in the Viewport, then click the second. Eligible features highlight on hover so you know which surfaces are available.
3

Set properties, then tolerance

Properties unlock once both features are picked. Choose a method from the dropdown. The methods depend on the feature pair. Tolerance is optional: add it with +, then choose Bilateral or Limit.
4

Submit

Submit to compute the dimension. The result is added to the scene with a leader line and a tolerance-aware color code.
The supported method matrix is actively being extended. Reach out to Lumafield to share dimensional requirements that aren’t yet covered.

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Angle

The Angle Tool measures the angle between two features. Supported pairs:
  • Plane to Plane
  • Plane to Cylinder
  • Cylinder to Cylinder
Using the Angle Tool to measure the angle between two planes

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Workflow

1

Select the Angle Tool

Choose Angle from the Toolbar.
2

Pick two features

Select the two features whose included angle you want to evaluate.
3

Set properties and submit

Properties unlock once both features are picked. Add a tolerance with + if you want a pass or fail color, then submit. The angle appears in the dimension label.

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Diameter

The Diameter Tool measures the diameter of any extracted or authored cylinder. This is the simplest of the Direct Dimensions Tools — point and select.
Using the Diameter Tool to measure the diameter of a cylindrical feature

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Workflow

1

Select the Diameter Tool

Choose Diameter from the Toolbar.
2

Pick a cylinder

Click an extracted or authored cylindrical feature.
3

Set properties and submit

Properties unlock once the cylinder is picked. Add a tolerance with + if you want a pass or fail color, then submit.

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Tolerance and pass/fail color coding

Every Direct Dimension can take a tolerance. Add the Tolerance group with + and remove it with −. Choose Bilateral or Limit. Bilateral takes one ± value, or Upper (+) and Lower (−). Limit takes Min and Max. When a tolerance is set:
  • The dimension label is green when the measurement is within tolerance.
  • The dimension label is red when the measurement is out of tolerance.
Tolerance values can be modified after the measurement is completed — open the dimension in the Attributes Panel to update the value or method, and the color coding updates immediately. This makes it easy to iterate on tolerances without re-running the workflow.

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Adjusting leaders and labels

Once a Direct Dimension is created, use the leader and label controls in the Attributes Panel to adjust orientation and offset. This keeps complex scenes with many dimensions easy to read and helps when preparing Bookmarks, Renders, and Animations in Reporting Mode.