How To Set Dimension Units In Autocad

A technical drawing is incomplete without annotation. Notes on a drawing are of import to convey blueprint information or clarify intent which can't exist portrayed past linework solitary. Measuring distances from a scaled, printed cartoon is inaccurate. Dimensions allow verbal values to be shown on a drawing which can then be used for structure.

Dimensioning Objects

Yous tin can access the dimensioning tools from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimension panel. The required dimension tool can be chosen from the Dimension drib-down.

Linear

The Linear dimension tool measures horizontal or vertical distances. To create Linear dimensions click the points 1, and then 2 to identify the element to be dimensioned. Click point 3 to locate the dimension line. The dimension altitude will show the vertical or horizontal distance depending on whether yous move your cursor in a horizontal or vertical management when placing point iii.

Command line: To outset the Linear Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMLIN" and press [Enter].

Aligned

The Aligned dimension tool measures the length along an object.

To create an Aligned dimension click the points ane, then 2 to identify the element to be dimensioned. Click signal iii to locate the dimension line.

Command line: To outset the Aligned Dimension tool from the control line, type "DIMALI" and press [Enter].

Athwart

The Athwart dimension tool measures an bending between two objects.

To create an Angular dimension select object one, and so object 2 to identify the elements creating the angle. Click indicate three to locate the dimension line.

Command line: To start the Angular Dimension tool from the control line, blazon "DIMANG" and press [Enter].

Arc Length

The Arc Length dimension tool measures the length of an arc.

To create an Arc Length dimension, select object 1 and so click point two to identify the dimension line.

Command line: To start the Arc Length Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMARC" and press [Enter].

Radius

The Radius dimension tool measures the radius of an arc or circle.

To create a Radius dimension, select object ane then, click point 2 to locate the dimension line.

Control line: To start the Radius Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMRAD" and press [Enter].

Bore

The Diameter dimension tool measures the diameter of an arc or circle.

To create a Diameter dimension, click object 1 then, click point 2 to locate the dimension line.

Control line: To offset the Diameter Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMDIA" and press [Enter].

Jogged

The Jogged dimension tool measures the radius of an arc or circumvolve but places the leader line in an culling place (inferred indicate) to the arc or circles centre betoken. The jog indicates the dimension line doesn't point to the centre of the circle. This tool tin be used when infinite is express or the arc radius is large.

To create a Jogged dimension, click on the arc you want to dimension (betoken one). Click point 2 to identify the inferred middle point. Click point iii to locate the dimension line and text. Click point 4 to locate the jog within the dimension line.

Control line: To start the Jogged Dimension tool from the control line, type "JOG" and press [Enter].

Ordinate

Ordinate dimensions are used to locate the X or Y coordinate value of a point. Click signal i to place the point location, click betoken 2 to locate the dimension line. Ordinate dimensions are particularly useful for elevations or OS grids which use specific coordinates.

Notation: The ordinate dimension will display the X value if your 2nd point is above or below the first point. The Y value will be displayed if your second point is to the side of the first signal.

Control line: To start the Ordinate Dimension tool from the control line, type "DIMORD" and press [Enter].

Quick Dimension

The Quick Dimension tool is used for dimensioning multiple elements.

Quick Dimensions tin exist added by clicking the Quick Dimension tool from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions panel.

Command line: To start the Quick Dimension tool from the control line, type "QDIM" and press [Enter].

Select all the objects you lot wish to dimension (objects ane). You tin either select these i at a time or employ a crossing window selection to select multiple objects.

Click point 2 to locate the dimension line.

Continue

The Continue dimension tool is used to add additional dimensions to a linear, aligned Angular or Arc length dimension.

Continue only works on an existing Linear or Aligned dimension. Information technology takes the settings and height from the existing dimension chosen.

Note: The direction is based on the extension line clicked. If yous select the right side extension line it volition start to measure from the right side, if y'all select the left side extension line, information technology will measure from the left side.

Y'all can create a Continue dimension by clicking the Continue tool from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions console..

Control line: To starting time the Continue Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMCONT" and press [Enter].

A Continue dimension is created by selecting the already created Linear or Aligned dimension (1) and so by clicking the subsequent points (2, 3 and 4).

Baseline

Baseline dimensions volition mensurate the distance from a starting point to multiple other points.

Baseline merely works on an existing Linear or Aligned dimension. Information technology takes the settings and height from the existing dimension chosen.

Annotation: The management is based on the extension line y'all click. If yous select the correct extension line it will measure from the right side, if you select the left extension line, information technology volition measure out from the left side.

You can create a Baseline dimension by clicking the Baseline tool from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions panel.

Command line: To start the Baseline Dimension tool from the command line, type "DIMBASE" and press [Enter].

A Baseline dimension is created past selecting the already created Linear or Aligned dimension (1) then by clicking the subsequent points (2, three and 4).

Multileader

The Multileader dimension tool creates arrows and text pointing to objects.

To create Multileaders click the Ribbon Comment tab > Leaders console > Multileader push.

Command line: To start the Multi Leader tool from the command line, type "MLD" and printing [Enter].

Click bespeak 1 to locate the start of your Multileader. Click betoken 2 to locate the end of your Multileader. 3 enter the text yous wish to display.

To add additional Leaders to your Multileader click the Add together Leader push button from the Ribbon Comment tab > Leaders panel.

Click an existing Multileader (1) to identify what you lot want to add a Leader to. Click point ii to identify the location of the arrow of the additional Leader line.

Associative Dimensions

When placing dimensions, past default, they are created Associative. An Associative Dimension will automatically adjust if the geometry it dimensions is modified.

Dimension associativity is controlled from the AutoCAD Options. To bear witness the AutoCAD options, right click the command line and cull options.

The options dialog box will testify. The dimension associativity feature can be plant on the User Preferences tab by ticking and un-ticking the Make new dimensions associative tickbox.

When this option is ticked (the default setting), Dimensions will be associated to objects. If the object is modified, the dimension volition adjust to lucifer. This is the preferred method of dimensioning because information technology keeps the correct dimension value when geometry is edited.

If unticked, the dimension is not associated to any objects. If the geometry is later on adjusted, the dimension will remain in its original location and will need to be modified manually.

Dimension Styles

The advent of private dimensions tin be altered using the backdrop palette simply using styles will ensure consistency.

To view the Dimension Style Managing director dialog box, click the Dimension Fashion button from the Ribbon Annotate tab > Dimensions panel.

Command line: To open up the Dimension Style Manager from the control line, type "DDIM" and press [Enter].

The bachelor styles volition exist listed in the Styles section of the Dimension Way Manager dialog box.

Sub-styles will bear witness linked to a Way. Sub-styles are used where unlike properties for a specific dimension tool are required eastward.g. a different arrow caput for Leaders than the other dimensions in the parent Fashion.

Creating Dimension Styles

New dimension styles are created by clicking the New button. The Create New Dimension Fashion dialog box will evidence allowing y'all to enter a New Way Name for your dimension style. You have to choose an existing dimension fashion as a starting signal.

Once the new style has been created, the New Dimension Style dialog volition show with all the properties of the starting dimension mode.

The tabs across the height of the dialog box command the different aspects of the dimensions.

The dimension below shows which tab is used to change each office of the dimension.

Lines

The Lines tab controls the appearance of the dimension and extension lines.

The paradigm shows the extension lines and dimension lines

Color controls the colour of the Dimension lines or Extension lines

Linetype controls the linetype of the Dimension lines. There are two linetype options in the Extension lines section: Linetype ext line ane and Linetype ext line ii, where the 1 is the start extension line placed.

Lineweight controls the lineweight of the Dimension lines or Extension lines.

Baseline Spacing is the space betwixt the text and the dimension line.

Supress Dim Line / Ext Line allows y'all to remove the dimension or extension lines so they are not shown. This can be useful when placing dimension or extension lines over other geometry such as grid lines and then the dimension doesn't obscure the dimension line.

Extend beyond dim lines is the distance the Extension lines extend above and past the Dimension lines

Offset from origin is the distance from the object beingness dimensioned to the start of the Extension lines.

Stock-still length extension lines is the length of dimension lines can exist fixed to help keep the appearance of dimensions tidy. To alter the dimension line length, on the Lines tab, tick the Fixed length extension lines option and enter a length for your dimension lines in the Length box. Each new dimension will now have extension lines fixed to the length you specified in the Length box.

Symbols and Arrows

The Symbols and Arrows tab controls the arrow heads at the terminate of the Dimension lines and Eye marks.

Arrowheads controls the arrow head type and size of the arrowheads on the end of dimension lines.

Middle marks controls the appearance when mark eye points of circles and arcs. It is quite oftentimes important to use middle marks to set up out a curved element.

Dimension Suspension is the size of the break mark when using Jogged dimensions.

Arc Length Symbol controls the location of the arc length dimension symbol. In the instance, the symbol is shown Proceeding dimension text.

Radius jog dimension controls the jog angle on Jogged dimensions.

Linear jog dimension controls the jog elevation gene as a ratio of the text size for jogged dimensions.

Text

The text tab controls the appearance of text. This shouldn't be confused with the Principal and Secondary Units tabs which control the value of the text.

Text appearance controls the style of text used, the color and the peak. (For more details on Text and Text Styles, see module 06-Text)

Text Placement controls the location of the text in relation to the Dimension line.

Vertical

Note: The JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) placement isn't shown but is the same as the Above choice.

Horizontal

View direction Controls whether the text is read from left to right or correct to left.

Text Alignment controls the rotation of the text: whether information technology is rotated to the view orientation, whether it aligns with the dimension being created, or whether it follows ISO standard (which maintains all text horizontally).

Fit

The fit options control how the text in a dimension reacts when infinite is limited and the overall scale of the text.

Fit options controls how the text and arrows relocate effectually the extension line if there isn't enough infinite. When dimensioning smaller objects, AutoCAD will relocate the text, arrows or both depending on the selected option.

Text Placement controls where the text is located when it is reposition by the Fit options.

Scale for dimension features controls dimension scale in one of ii means: the manual method and the annotative method.

Manual method

On the Fit tab of the Alter Dimension dialog box, enter the scale of your drawing e.g. if your drawing volition exist scaled 1:100, enter a value of "100" in the Use overall scale of box. This will scale the dimension attributes such as text and arrows by 100.

Annotative Method

On the Fit tab of the Modify Dimension dialog box, tick the Annotative pick to utilize the file'south Annotation Scale to scale your dimensions.

Annotation Scale

Annotative Dimension Styles are based on the Annotation Scale. Select your Annotation Scale every bit required from the Drafting Settings at the bottom of your application window.

If the Add Scales button is active, annotative objects will change size when the Annotation Scale drop-down value is changed. The selected Annotation Calibration will be assigned to the annotation.

When Annotation Visibility is activated the annotation will re-size to display at the current Annotation Calibration, if that calibration is assigned to the object. If the select Annotation Calibration has not been assigned, the annotation volition remain at its current size. For example, if an annotative dimension is only assigned to 1:50 and the Notation Scale is changed to 1:100, the dimension volition remain at 1:fifty.

When an annotative object is selected, the different scales the annotative object uses are displayed. In the diagram below, an annotative dimension is selected. Its text appears at 1:20 and 1:100 scales.

Primary Units

These are the units used by the dimensions.

Linear Dimensions is the unit of measurement format of distance dimensions. You tin can apply prefixes and suffixes to indicate the unit of measurement format existence used. For example, if you are dimensioning in millimetres, you would enter a Suffix of "mm".

Measurement scale is the scale that the dimension length will be multiplied by to give the final dimension value. When dimensioning an object fatigued in metres in millimetres, entering a Scale factor of "one thousand" volition give the correct consequence. i.e. if the object if 5m long, using a Dimension Manner with a Scale factor of 1000 volition result in a "5000" (5 x 1000) dimension value.

Cypher Suppression removes leading and trailing zeros. If a measured value was 100.00, ticking the Abaft option would give a dimension of 100.

Athwart Dimensions controls the unit format of angles.

Alternate Units

You can display ii different unit values on your dimensions, such as metres and feet, by ticking the Display alternate units option from the Alternate Units tab.

Set a scale factor from the original units. E.m. If you drew in mm and want to convert to inches, enter a scale factor of "0.03937" (this is 1 / 25.4, the scale factor to catechumen from mm to inches) in the Multiplier for alt units box.

Note: When using Alternate Units, it is recommended to add a suffix (e.g. in, mm) to aid clarify which units are being used.

The Placement department controls the location of the Alternating Unit in comparison to the original units.

Moving Dimension Text

To move dimension text select the dimension to be modified to show the dimension'southward Grips. Click the heart Grip over the text. Move the text to the required location.

The dimension line volition also movement to maintain the alignment between the text and the dimension line.

Editing Dimension Text

The value of the dimension text can be modified as required.

Annotation: Information technology is not recommended to change the value. If yous require a different value, the geometry should exist amended. Editing dimension text should only be used to add together suffixes, prefixes and if dimensioning "Not to scale" drawings.

To modify the text, select the dimension to be modified. Right-click and choose Backdrop to show the Properties palette. From the Text Override field enter a new value to be displayed.

In the epitome below, note the deviation between the Measurement (100), the actual dimension value, and the Text override (120 NTS). The dimension is actually 100 long, only has been edited to read "120 NTS".

Using the <> symbols will brandish the dimension value.

For example, to alter a dimension from "500" to "Width = 500", enter the value:

"Width = <>"

To change the dimension value back to the default of just the value, delete any Text override value.

Source: https://evolve-consultancy.com/product/dimensions-in-autocad/