COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING

Lesson 9
Dimensioning

Engr. LINDY JANE L. ANDO

 DIMENSIONING
TERMINOLOGY
Extension lines
Extend out from the features of the
object that are being dimensioned

Dimension lines
Are drawn between extension lines
and typically terminate in arrowheads
that point to the extension lines

Leaders
Point to the features of the part and
are used in notations that describe
the feature
TYPES OF
DIMENSION

Size Dimension
Location Dimension
GUIEDLINES FOR
DIMENSION PLACEMENT

Place dimensions on the profile view of the feature.

Avoid dimensioning to hidden lines or centerlines of hidden holes.

Whenever possible, group dimensions and place them between the views of
the object.

Avoid drawing extension lines and leaders through dimension lines.

Avoid placing dimensions on the object unless it is absolutely necessary.

GUIEDLINES FOR
DIMENSION PLACEMENT
DIMENSION
STANDARDS
Recommended
Size and Spacing
of Dimension
Features
DIMENSION
STANDARDS
Text Height and
Style
Text should be legible.
Text used for Titles and for denoting Special characters should be no less than 6 mm (0.24 “).
Uppercase letters should be used unless lowercase letters are required.
Sans serif fonts are recommended.
DIMENSION
STANDARDS
Alignment of Dimension Text
Unidirectional text is the alignment Aligned text is aligned to dimension
where the text face the bottom of the lines and may face the bottom and the
sheet right side of the sheet.
DIMENSION
STANDARDS
Notating Holes and Arcs
Dimensioning SMALL HOLES AND Dimensioning LARGE HOLES AND
ARCS ARCS
DIMENSION
STANDARDS
Dimensioning Cylindrical
Shapes
Cylinders should be
dimensioned in profile (or
side) view.
DIMENSION
STANDARDS
Dimensioning Angles
An angle should be
dimensioned in its profile
view, with the dimension
value followed by the
degree symbol.

When greater accuracy for

noting angle is desired,
angles may be specified in
degrees, minutes, and
seconds.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
The AutoCAD DIMENSION TOOLBAR
contains all the commands necessary
to add dimensions to a drawings..
These commands are also located in the
DIMENSIONS PANEL of the ANNOTATE TAB of
the ribbon.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Here are some of
the dimension
commands:
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Linear Dimension
Command

-This command displays

the linear distance
between two selected
points. This is used to
dimension both vertical
and horizontal features.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Aligned Dimension
Command

-This command is used to

display the length of an
angled/inclined line.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Arc Length Command

-This command is used to

denote the length
dimension of an arc or a
polyline arc segment.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Ordinate Dimension
Command

-This command is used to

denote distances along X-
axes and Y-axes relative to
a defined origin point
(usually labeled 0,0).
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Radius Dimension
Command

-This command is used to

denote the radius of an
arc.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Jogged Dimension
Command

-This command is used to

create a jogged radius or
diameter when
dimensioning a large arc
or circle whose center is
outside the drawing area.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Angular Dimension
Command

-This command is used to

denote angle between
two features of an object..
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Quick Dimension
Command

-This command is used to

create a group of
dimensions quickly. You
can either pick features
on the object individually
with the mouse or use a
crossing window to select
an area of the object to
be dimensioned.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Baseline Dimension
Command

-This command is used to

create series of
dimensions measured
from the baseline (datum)
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Continue Dimension Command

-This command is used to create

a string of continuous
dimensions. The first dimension
in the string is placed using the
Linear dimension option. After
the CONTINUE option is
selected, subsequent
dimensions begin at the
extension line of the previously
defined dimension. This
dimensioning method is also
called chain dimensioning.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Dimension Break Command

-This command is used to

break dimension or
extension lines where they
overlap other lines.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Center Mark Command

-This command is used to

create center marks or
centerlines on circles and
arcs. The option for
centerlines or center marks
can be found in the
DIMENSION STYLES dialog
box in the SYMBOLS AND
ARROW TAB.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Inspection Command

-This command creates a

dimension inside a frame
that is used to provide
inspection information
about the feature..
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Jogged Linear Command

-This command is used to

create a jog in linear
dimension line when the
feature is not drawn in full
size.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Dimension Edit Command

-This command is used to

edit existing dimensions.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Dimension Text Edit
Command

-This command is used to

move and rotate dimension
text.
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Dimension Update
Command

-This command is used

when selecting the
individual dimensions that
will be updated by
dimension style overrides
defined in the Dimension
Style Manager
DIMENSIONING
WITH AUTOCAD
Dimension Style Command

-A dimension style is a
named set of values that
define the appearance and
format of dimensions such
as text height, precision, and
arrowhead length.
-These values are assigned
to the dimension style by
entering them in the
Dimension Style Manager.
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
 CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Use the following steps to
create a new dimension styles:

Step 1. Select the “Dimension

Styles” icon, and when the
“Dimension Style Manager”
dialog box opens, select the
“New” button.
Step 2. When the “Create New
Dimension Styles” box opens,
enter a name for the new
For this examples. “ASME Y14.5.2009” has been entered as the name of
dimension style in the “New the new style.
Style Name” window
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Use the following steps to create a new dimension styles:

Step 3. Locate the “Start With” window. AutoCAD uses the settings of the style shown in this
window as a template for creating the new styles.
Step 4. Select the “Continue” button, and when the “New Dimension Style” dialog box opens
select from among the ,Lines, Symbols and arrows, Text, Fit, Primary Units, Alternate Units,
and Tolerances tabs and enter values for dimension features (these will be discuss in detail in
the next slides). When you have completed making these settings, click “OK”, and the
“Dimension Style Manager” dialog box will reappear.
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Use the following steps to create a
new dimension styles:

Step 5. Set the new dimension style

current by selecting the “ASME
Y14.5.2009” style from the “Styles”
pane of the “Dimension Style
Manager” dialog box and clock the
“Set Current” button. Pick the
“Close” button to close the dialog
box. When dimensions are added to
the drawing, their settings will
reflect the new dimension style.
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Detailed discussion of Step 4.

Creating a New Dimension Style section refers to selecting from among the “Lines”,
“Symbols and Arrows”, “Text”, “Primary Units”, and “Tolerances” tabs of the “New
Dimension Style” dialog box to enter the values for the dimension features of the new
dimension style.

LINES TAB
The Lines tab control settings, such as the distance an extension line is offset from the
object or extends past an arrowhead. This tab also controls the space between baseline
dimension
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

LINES TAB
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Detailed discussion of Step 4.

SYMBOLS AND ARROWS TAB

The Symbols and Arrows tab controls the size and type of arrowheads, including
architectural tick marks, and the style of center marks used to dimension circles and arcs.
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

SYMBOLS
AND
ARROWS
TAB
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Detailed discussion of Step 4.

TEXT TAB
The Text tab controls the text style, height, placement, and alignment of dimension text.
The text style is based on the text properties defined in the “Text Style” dialog box.

Note: Text height for dimensions should not measure

less than 0.12” (3mm) to comply with ASME standards
for text height
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

SYMBOLS
AND
ARROWS
TAB
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Detailed discussion of Step 4.

FIT TAB
The Fit tab controls the placement of text and the orientation of arrows on dimensions.
Different combinations of settings from this tab can be used to force text between arrows
or to force arrow outside.

Note: Study the examples in the next two slides to see how different
combinations result in different leader arrow placement and format
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

FIT TAB
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

FIT TAB
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Detailed discussion of Step 4.

PRIMARY UNITS TAB

The Primary Units Tab controls the format of units (decimal, architecture, engineering, etc.)
and the precision (the number of decimal places or fractional round-off) of dimensions. By
checking the “Leading” box in the “Zero suppression” pane, the leading zero on decimal
dimensions less than 1.0 unit size will be suppressed.

The setting in the “Scale Factor” window located in the “Measurement Scale” pane
determines the numeric scale factor of the dimension display. For example, if you add
dimensions to a (model space) view that has been scaled to half size (0.5X), the dimensions
will be displayed at half their full-scale value. By setting the “Scale factor” to 2 in the Primary
Units tab, the numeric value for the dimensions will be multiplied by a factor of two and the
view’s full-size dimensions will be displayed.
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

PRIMARY
UNITS TAB
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Detailed discussion of Step 4.

ALTERNATE UNITS TAB

This tab allows dual dimensions to be shown side by side on the drawing: for example,
decimal units shown alongside metric units. The alternate unit will be placed inside
brackets.
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

ALTERNATE
UNITS TAB
CREATING A NEW
DIMENSION STYLE
Detailed discussion of Step 4.

TOLERANCES TAB
This tab allows tolerances to be incorporated into dimension text. Tolerances may be
shown as LIMITS by applying the settings in figures ( shown in the next slide), or as
SYMMETRICAL (plus/minus) dimensions by applying the settings (shown in the next 2nd
slide).
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

TOLERANCES
TAB
CREATING A
NEW
DIMENSION
STYLE

TOLERANCES
TAB
OVERRIDING A
DIMENSION SETTING
Sometimes it is necessary to have a different setting apply only to few dimensions. In a
case like this, a dimension style override can be performed.

To override a dimension style, open the “Dimension Style Manager” dialog box and select
the “Override” button. Next, select the appropriate tab(s) and assign the new settings(s),
click “OK” and then “Close” to exit the “Dimension Style Manager”
Updating a Dimension

Select the “Dimension Update” icon located on the “Dimensions” panel of the “Annotate”
tab, and select the dimension(s) and press “Enter”.
OVERRIDING A
DIMENSION
SETTING

Updating a
Dimension
ADDING A LEADER
TO A DRAWING
A “Leader” is an annotation created by drawing a line (or spline) with an arrowhead at
one end and text at the other end. The figure in the next slide shows a leader created for a
drawing including the three components of a leader: The arrowhead (which can be
assigned a symbol other than an arrowhead), the leader line, and the landing line.

Leaders are placed in drawings using either the “Quick Leader” OR “Multileader”
command.
ADDING A LEADER
TO A DRAWING

Quick leader
Command
ADDING A LEADER
TO A DRAWING

Multi Leader
Command
ADDING A LEADER
TO A DRAWING

Multi Leader
Command