Angular holes are quite often used, for example, to lock a position or to flow fluids. How do we dimension angular holes like this one on the right in the below image shown in a section view? Primary dimensions are its angle (or inclination), depth and horizontal locations. DimXpert provides handy tools just for these.
![1](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/124-615x358.png)
First, let’s define its inclination. Invoke DimXpert Location Dimension and pick these two highlighted holes, left one as the reference and right one as the target. Notice DimXpert pops up an in-context menu that provides multiple options including Angular Dimension as indicated in the tool tip. Place the 20 degree and it’s done: plain and simple. By the way, we can also define its supplementary angle if the mouse curse moves outside of the witness lines. Try it out.
![2](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/215-615x511.png)
Next up is the depth location. Again let’s take the existing counter bore hole as a reference. The same steps above provide another option: Linear Dimension which defines the distance between the centerlines of the reference hole and target oblique hole. Place the distance and we are done here. Easy!
![3](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/314-615x497.png)
Now what about its horizontal location? To drill the angular hole, where should I place my drill on the inclined platform referencing the mid-plane of this part?
![Figure 4: Position of drill bit](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/414-615x358.png)
![Figure 5: Create a Width Feature](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/511-615x366.png)
![Figure 6: Pick two parallel faces to form the Width Feature](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/611-615x343.png)
![Figure 7: Create an Intersection Point](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/79-615x376.png)
![Figure 8: Pick the angular hole and drill platform to create this Intersection Point](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/86-615x383.png)
![Figure 9: Distance between the intersection point and mid-plane](http://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/95-615x375.png)
A nice visual is the highlighted width feature and the intersection point telling us what a dimension is defining.
Hope you find these tools helpful. To learn more about SOLIDWORKS MBD, please visit the product page.
Originally posted by Oboe Wu, in the SOLIDWORKS Tech Blog.