Taking measurements

As shown in Figure 2.2, dimensions are an important component of the design process when we are working to design products that need to fit together in the real world. Before you dive into creating a design, it is best to obtain all the dimensions to incorporate into your models. Rulers and calipers are key tools to have on hand to obtain these measurements.

Imagine that you are making a box or case that must fit something, such as a phone. We would need to know its width, length, and height, as well as the placement of features such as buttons or ports. Using a tool such as digital calipers, as shown in Figure 2.3, makes finding these measurements a bit easier and more accurate.

Figure 2.3: Measuring the button location on the side of a phone using digital calipers

You can also utilize your sketches or drawings to organize all these measurements effectively, as shown in Figure 2.2 earlier.

However, you may often find that key...