How 3D Measuring Works in Altium

Altium Designer uses a 3D engine to render PCBs and components in three dimensions based on their physical properties and dimensions defined in the library. When 3D measuring is enabled, you can use the mouse to click on points, edges, surfaces to measure between them.

Measurements are displayed dynamically as you move the mouse. You can measure:

• Point to point distance
• Perpendicular distance from a point to an edge
• Perpendicular distance from a point to a surface
• Angle between two edges
• Radius of curved surfaces
• And more

The measurement results appear overlaid on the 3D view and in the Properties panel. You can also generate a measurement report listing out all the measurements made.

Enabling 3D Measuring

To use 3D measuring, you first need to enable it in the View Configuration panel:

1. Switch to 3D Layout View mode
2. Open the View Configuration panel
3. Under 3D Layout Mode, check the box for 3D Measure Primitives
4. Click OK to apply the settings

Now when you move the mouse over objects in 3D view, measurement info will appear. You can click to set the start and end points of a measurement.

Measuring Distance Between Two Points

Measuring point to point distance is the most basic 3D measurement. Simply click on the start point, then move the mouse and click on the end point. The linear distance will be displayed.

For example, to measure the distance between two pads:

1. Orbit and zoom the 3D view to clearly see the pads
2. Click the center of the first pad to set the start point
3. Move the mouse to the second pad and click to set the end point
4. The point to point distance appears on screen and in the Properties panel

Measuring Perpendicular Distance

In addition to linear distance, you can measure the perpendicular or shortest distance from a point to the nearest edge or surface.

To measure perpendicular distance from a point to an edge:

1. Click the point to set the start
2. Move the mouse over the target edge until it highlights
3. Click to measure the perpendicular distance between the point and edge

Measuring to a surface works the same way, except you move the mouse to highlight the target surface before clicking.

Perpendicular distance measurements are useful for checking clearances. For example, measuring from the edge of a component body to the edge of the board.

Measuring Angles

You can measure the angle between any two edges using 3D measuring. This is helpful for checking alignment and orientation of components.

To measure an angle:

1. Click a point on the first edge to set the start
2. Move the mouse along the first edge and click to set the direction
3. Move the mouse to the second edge and click to measure the angle

The angle measurement will be displayed in degrees. An aligned 90 degree angle will show as 90°, while an acute angle might show 45°.

Using Measurement Guides

Measurement guides are temporary reference lines you can create while using 3D measuring. They make it easier to align and snap measurements to specific points and axes.

To create a measurement guide:

1. While measuring, move the mouse over a point, edge, or surface
2. Press and hold Shift to create a guide line or plane
3. Continue measuring, using the guide to line up points
4. Press Shift again to remove the guide

Guides can be flat planes or angled to match a face. For example, you can create a guide plane aligned to the surface of a chip to measure height from board to top of the component.

Checking Measurements in Properties

All measurements you create are listed in the Properties panel in addition to the overlays in the 3D view. The Properties panel provides more details and allows you to manage the measurements.

In the Properties panel, you can:

• See the numerical measurement values
• Click a measurement to highlight it in the 3D view
• Right-click a measurement to rename or delete it
• Export the list of measurements to a file

Generating a Measurement Report

You can export your 3D measurements to a report file to share or document them outside of Altium. The measurement report lists all the measurements in a table with details like type, value, and between which objects.

To generate a measurement report:

1. Make sure you have one or more 3D measurements
2. Go to Reports -> Measurement Report
3. Select which measurements to include and configure settings
4. Click Generate to create the report file

The report is saved as a text file with tab-separated values that can be opened in a spreadsheet editor. You can also use Altium’s custom report templates to generate more nicely formatted HTML or PDF reports with 3D screenshots.

Example: Measuring Connector Mating

One practical use of 3D measuring is to check if mating connectors and components will fit together properly. You can measure the key dimensions to ensure correct alignment and full engagement.

For example, here are the steps to measure a board-to-wire connector:

1. Measure the distance between the PCB locator peg and mating surface of the socket
2. Measure the height of the plug body from its mating surface to the back
3. Check that the peg-to-surface distance matches the plug body height
4. Measure any side-to-side offsets between the socket and plug when mated
5. Verify the connectors are aligned and allow full engagement

By checking these critical dimensions, you can find any potential issues with the connector placement or choice before manufacturing the PCB.

3D Measuring Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips to help you make the most of 3D measuring in Altium:

• Orbit and zoom the 3D view to line up measurements more precisely
• Press Shift to create temporary guide lines and planes aligned to geometry
• Name important measurements so they are easier to find later
• Use the Properties panel to view and manage measurements
• Generate a report to document and share measurements outside Altium
• Combine 3D measurements with collision detection for a thorough check of fit and clearance

With practice, 3D measuring will become a quick and valuable way to verify your PCB designs. Taking a few moments to check key dimensions can save hours of debugging failed prototypes.

3D Measuring FAQ

Q: What types of measurements can you make with 3D measuring?
A: 3D measuring supports linear distance, perpendicular distance to edges and surfaces, angles between edges, radius of curved surfaces, and more.

Q: How do you enable 3D measuring in Altium?
A: Enable 3D measuring in the View Configuration panel. Under 3D Layout Mode settings, check the box for 3D Measure Primitives and click OK.

Q: Can you save 3D measurements?
A: Yes, 3D measurements are saved in the PCB file. You can view the list of measurements in the Properties panel. You can also generate a measurements report file.

Q: How do you measure the angle between two edges?
A: To measure an angle, click a start point on the first edge, then click along the edge to set its direction. Finally, click on the second edge to measure the angle between them.

Q: What are measurement guides and how do you use them?
A: Measurement guides are temporary reference geometry you can create by holding Shift while measuring. Guides make it easier to line up points to measure. Press Shift again to remove the guide.

I hope this article provides a comprehensive guide to using 3D measuring in Altium Designer to check your PCB designs. Let me know if you have any other questions!