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Manual / Dimension & Annotation

DIMORDINATE - Ordinate Dimension

Ordinate dimension - show the X or Y coordinate of a point relative to a datum.

What it does

DIMORDINATE shows the X or Y coordinate of a point (for example, the centre of a hole) relative to the origin. It is often used on plates with many holes.

Where to find it

  • Ribbon: Draw › Annotation › Leader ▾ › Ordinate or Annotate › Leaders › Ordinate
  • Command line: DIMORDINATE (alias DOR)

Steps

  1. If needed, move the origin to the corner of the part with UCS ORIGIN x,y.
  2. Type DOR and press Enter.
  3. Click the point you want to dimension.
  4. Drag down or up, then click to show the X value. Drag left or right, then click to show the Y value.
  5. Repeat the command (press Enter) for the next point.

Ordinate X 20, X 120, X 220 and Y 120
Ordinate X 20, X 120, X 220 and Y 120

Try it: Push-button panel insert

A 220 x 80 insert plate for a control desk with five Ø22.5 holes for 22 mm push-buttons. Ordinate dimensions give every hole centre straight from the zero corner, which is how a CNC operator wants to read it.

  1. On Annotate › Dim Defaults, set Dim H 5 and Arrow 3 so the numbers suit a part this size.
  2. REC 0,0 → 220 Tab 80.
  3. First hole: C 30,40 radius 11.25. Select it and type ARRAYRECT 5 40 0 for holes at X 30, 70, 110, 150 and 190.
  4. DOR, click the corner 0,0, drag down and click: X 0.00. Press Enter to repeat the command and do the same on the centre of each hole.
  5. DOR on the centre of the last hole, drag to the right and click: Y 40.00. Do the same on the corner 220,0: Y 0.00.

Push-button insert with ordinate dimensions X 0 to X 190 and Y 0, Y 40
Push-button insert with ordinate dimensions X 0 to X 190 and Y 0, Y 40

Challenge: Add two Ø5 fixing holes at 10,10 and 210,70 and give them X and Y ordinates as well.

See also