B111L| ENGINEERING DRAWINGS AND PLANS

CHAPTER 2
SKETCHING, LETTERING
AND DIMENSION PRACTICES

MODULE 5
DIMENSIONING

This module provides a discussion on the principles of dimensioning. Methods of doing and
indicating dimensions will also be presented. The arrangement of dimensions on a drawing to
clearly indicate the purpose of the design of the object will be discussed. On the last part,
violation of some of the principles of drawing will be enumerated along with some examples.

Objectives

 To provide basic knowledge on the principles of dimensioning.

 To provide knowledge on how to properly do and indicate dimension.

5.1 Introduction

Drawing of a component, in addition to providing complete shape description, must also furnish
information regarding the size description. These are provided through the distances between
surfaces, location of holes, nature of surface finish, type of material, etc. The expression of these
features on a drawing, using lines, symbols, figures and notes is called dimensioning.

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Figure 5.1 Elements of Dimensioning

(Reddy, Engineering Drawing, Second
Edition)

5.2 Principles of Dimensioning

Some of the basic principles of dimensioning are:

1. All dimensional information necessary to describe a component clearly shall be written

directly on a drawing.
2. Each feature shall be dimensioned once only on a drawing, i.e., dimension marked in one
view need not be repeated in another view.
3. Dimension should be placed on the view where the shape is best seen.

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Figure 5.2 Placing the Dimensions where the Shape

is Best Shown (Reddy, Engineering Drawing,
Second Edition)

4. As far as possible, dimension should be expressed in one unit only preferably in

millimeters, without showing the unit symbol mm.
5. As far as possible, dimension should be places outside the view.

Figure 5.3 Placing the Dimensions Outside the View

(Reddy, Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

6. Dimension should be taken from visible outlines rather that form hidden lines. (Fig 5.4)

Figure 5.4 Marking the Dimensions for the Visible

Outlines (Reddy, Engineering Drawing, Second
Edition)

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7. No gap should be left between the feature and the start of the extension line.

Figure 5.5 Marking if the Extension Lines (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

8. Crossing the center lines should be done by a long dash.

Figure 5.6 Crossing of Center Lines (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

5.2 Execution of Dimensions

1. Projection and dimension lines should be drawn as thin continuous lines. Projection lines
should extend slightly beyond the respective dimension line. Projection lines should be
drawn perpendicular to the feature being dimensioned. If the space for dimensioning is
insufficient, the arrow heads may be reversed, and the adjacent arrow heads may be
replaced by a dot (Fig. 5.7). However, they may be drawn obliquely, but parallel to each
other in special cases, such as on tapered feature (Fig. 5.8).

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Figure 5.7 Dimensioning in Narrow Spaces (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

Figure 5.8 Dimensioning a Tapered Feature (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

2. A leader line is a line referring to a feature (object, outline, dimension). Leader lines
should be inclined to the horizontal at an angle greater than 30°. Leader line should
terminate,
(a) With a dot if they end within the outline of an object ( Fig 5.9a).
(b) With an arrow head if they end on outside of the object (Fig. 5.9b)
(c) Without a dot or arrow head if they end on dimension line (Fig. 5.9c)

Figure 5.9 Termination of Leader Lines (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

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5.3 Dimension Termination and Origin Indication

Dimension lines should show distinct termination in the form of arrow heads or oblique strokes
or where applicable an origin indication (Fig. 5.10). The arrow head included angle is 15°. The
origin indication is drawn as a small open circle of approximately 3 mm in diameter. The
proportion length to depth 3:1 of arrow head is shown in Fig. 5. 11.

Figure 5.10 Termination of Dimension Lines

(Reddy, Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

Figure 5.11 Proportion of an Arrow Head (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

When a radius is dimensioned, only one arrow head with its point on the arc end of the
dimension line should be used (Fig. 5.12). The arrow head termination may be either on the
inside or outside of the feature outline, depending on the size of the feature.

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Figure 5.12 Dimensioning of Radii (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

5.4 Methods of Indicating Dimensions

1. Aligned Method

Dimensions should be placed parallel to and above their dimension lines and preferably
at the middle and clear of the line (Fig. 5.13) Dimensions may be written so that they can
be read form the bottom or from the right side of the drawing. Dimensions on oblique
should be oriented as shown in Fig. 5.14a and except where unavoidable, they shall be
places in the 30° zone. Angular dimensions are oriented as shown in Fig. 5.14b.

Figure 5.13 Aligned Method (Reddy, Engineering

Drawing, Second Edition)

Figure 5.14 Angular Dimensioning (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

2. Uni-Directional Method

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Dimensions should be indicated so that they can be read from the bottom of the drawing
only. Non-horizontal dimension lines are interrupted, preferably in the middle for insertion of the
dimension (Fig. 5.15a) Angular dimensions may be oriented as in Fig. 5.15b).

Figure 5.15 Uni-Directional Method (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)
5.5 Identification of Shapes

The following indications are used with dimensions to show applicable shape identification and
to improve drawing interpretation. The diameter and square symbols may be omitted where the
shape is clearly indicated. The applicable indication (symbol) shall precede the value for
dimension (Fig. 16 to Fig. 20)

Figure 5.16 Figure 5.17

Figure 5.18 Figure 5.19

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Figure 5.20

5.6 Arrangement of Dimensions

The arrangement of dimensions on a drawing must clearly indicate the purpose of the design of
the object. They are arranged in three ways:

1. Chain Dimensioning
Chain of single dimensioning should be used only where the possible
accumulation of tolerances does not endanger the fundamental requirement of the
component.

Figure 5.21 Chain Dimensioning (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

2. Parallel Dimensioning
In parallel dimensioning, a number of dimension lines parallel to one another and
spaced out are used. This method is used where a number of dimensions have a
common datum feature.

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Figure 5.22 Parallel Dimensioning (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

3. Combined Dimensioning

Figure 5.23 Combined Dimensioning (Reddy,

Engineering Drawing, Second Edition)

Violation of some of the principles of drawing are indicated in Fig. 5.24a. The corrected version
of the same is given in Fig. 5.24b. The violation from 1 to 16 is indicated in the figure are
explained below.

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Figure 5.24

1. Dimensions should follow the shape symbol.

2. And 3. As far as possible, features should not be used as extension lines for
dimensioning.
4. Extension lines should touch the feature.
5. Extension line should project beyond the dimension line.
6. Writing the dimension is not as per aligned method.
7. Hidden lines should need without a gap.
8. Center line representation is wrong. Dots should be replaced by small dashes.
9. Horizontal dimension line should not be broken to insert the value of dimension in both
aligned and uni-direction methods.
10. Dimension should be placed above the dimension line.
11. Radius symbol should precede the dimension.
12. Center line should cross with long dashes not short dashes.
13. Dimension should be written by symbol followed by its values and not abbreviation.
14. Note with dimensions should be written in capitals.
15. Elevation is not correct usage.
16. Plan is obsolete in graphic language.

References

Reddy, Engineering Drawing, Second Edition

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