Engineering Graphics

Dimensioning for Mechanical Drawings

• Dimensions describe the size or location of features in a part

• One of the most important considerations is to avoid confusion. Do not leave

anything up to interpretation.
• Include all dimensions required to make the part. This can be called "fully
defining" the part.
• Do not include duplicate or conflicting dimensions.
• Make sure all dimensions are legible.

• All dimensions need a tolerance – nothing can be made perfect. If the tolerance is
not indicated with the dimension, the default tolerance (in the title block) applies.

• The commonly accepted industry standard for dimensioning and tolerancing for
mechanical Engineering drawings is ASME is Y14.5 - 2009 Dimensioning and
Tolerancing.
• ASME stands for The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

• Use decimal dimensions, rather than fractions, on technical drawings. One

exception is when specifying thread types. In this case, the use of fractions is
acceptable.

• For inch dimensioning, when the dimension value is less than 1, do not use a 0
before the decimal point. In other words, no leading zero.

EXAMPLE:
Correct Incorrect
.522 0.522

• For metric dimensioning, when the dimension value is less than 1, use a 0 before
the decimal point. In other words, use a leading zero.

• There is more than 1 way to dimension a part. When choosing dimensions, consider
the following:
• Function (What is the part supposed to do? What parts fit with it? Which
dimensions are most critical to the function of the part?)
• Manufacturing (How is the part made? What dimensions will be useful to the
people making the part?)
• Inspection (How will the finished part be inspected? Can the dimensions on the
drawing be inspected?)

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Engineering Graphics

Formatting Dimensions:
• Dimension line: thin solid line ending in arrowhead(s)
• Extension line: thin solid line extending from a point on the drawing that the
dimension is referring to. Centerlines are used as extension lines when locating
holes.
• Arrowheads must be the same size and style throughout the drawing. Their
length should be equal to the height of the dimension values.
• Dimensions should be outside of the object – NOT on top of it!
• Longer dimensions are placed outside shorter ones so that extension lines do not
cross dimension lines.
• Dimensions should go to visible (object) lines, not hidden lines.
• Keep the spacing uniform throughout the drawing. Use the following guidelines
for drawings in this class:
• A gap of 1/16" should be placed between the extension line and where it
would join the object
• The extension line should extend 1/8" past the arrowhead.
• The dimension line nearest the object outline should be at least 1/2" away
from the object. You may need to space the vertical dimensions further to
avoid text on top of the drawing view.
• Subsequent parallel dimensions should be at least 3/8" apart.

Common dimension symbols

n Diameter - placed before the dimension, Ex. n.25

R Radius - placed before the dimension, Ex. R.125
v Counterbore - placed before the diameter dimension, Ex. vn.375
w Countersink - placed before the diameter and angle dimension, Ex. wn.375 X 100~
x Depth - placed before the depth dimension, after diameter, Ex. n.25 x.12
THRU Abbreviation to indicate a hole goes through the part, Ex. n.25 THRU

• If there are multiple features with the same dimension, a capital "X" can be used to
indicate the number of times instead of dimensioning each feature individually.
o Only do this if it obvious which features/locations the dimension applies to.
o There is no space before the X, and one space after it.
o EXAMPLE: 4X n .25 means there are 4 instances of features with a diameter of
.25".

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Engineering Graphics

Good Dimensioning Practice:

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