Why diagonal construction lines?

[Vagulus]

I have noticed that users often draw a diagonal construction line across a feature and specify a midpoint on it like so:

 

What is this for? What is the advantage?

[Dadgad]

It is used to quickly determine the center of the face.

In Autocad you can do the same thing with the MTP or M2P command modifier (or by accessing the Shift Hold right click O snap menu),

when in the middle of another command, like MOVE.

In Autocad of late, the last 2 or 3 years, there are 3D Snaps, and my favorite of those is

the CENTER OF FACE snap, as I have never really had any problem using the 2D snaps

when working in 3D.

 

I would be quite surprised if Inventor doesn't offer the Center of Face option, in one way or another.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Dadgad

[JD Mather]

That is old school - nobody does that anymore - because Inventor does it for you now.

 

 

 

See the old school tip #19 from 8 yrs ago here

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2006/MA13-3%20Mather.pdf

[Vagulus]

Thanks folks