Add dimensions to any and all objects in your drawing.
Transcript
00:03
In AutoCAD, dimensioning is the process of adding measurement annotations to a drawing.
00:08
Dimensions indicate the size of the objects in the drawing
00:12
and often include the units of measurement,
00:15
so it is important that they are both accurate and legible.
00:18
You can create dimensions for a variety of object types in many orientations.
00:24
The basic types of dimensions are: Linear Radial (including radius, diameter, and jogged)
00:32
Angular
00:34
Ordinate
00:35
Arc Length
00:36
Linear dimensions can be horizontal, vertical, aligned, rotated, baseline, or continued.
00:43
They are sometimes referred to as chained dimensions.
00:47
You can also create baseline or continued angular dimensions.
00:52
Although adding dimensions to a drawing can be time-consuming,
00:56
the DIM command helps speed the process,
00:59
because it automatically recognizes objects and defaults for the appropriate dimension type.
01:04
By hovering the cursor over objects, lines, or points,
01:09
you can place linear, angular, radial, diameter, baseline, and continued dimensions.
01:14
You can also use command options to place arc length and ordinate dimensions,
01:19
add center marks or centerlines, adjust dimension text, align dimensions,
01:25
change the spacing between dimensions,
01:28
and control the layer on which dimensions are created.
01:31
From the ribbon, Home tab, Annotation panel, click Dimension.
01:36
You are prompted to select objects or specify the first extension line origin,
01:41
and you can see that there are also a number of options.
01:45
In most situations, you do not need to choose an option.
01:49
For example, in this drawing, when you hover the cursor over the horizontal line at the top of the object,
01:55
you see a preview of a linear dimension
01:58
and you are prompted to select the line to specify the extension line origin.
02:02
Click to select the line, and then click to place the dimension.
02:06
The command remains active so that you can dimension another object.
02:11
When you move the cursor over the angled line at the bottom right,
02:14
you see a preview of an angular dimension aligned with that line.
02:19
Click to select the line, and then click to place the dimension.
02:24
The command is still active.
02:25
Hover the cursor over the circle, click to select it, and then click to place a diameter dimension.
02:32
Now, hover the cursor over the arc in the upper-right corner.
02:36
The arc is identified, and AutoCAD correctly assumes that you want to place a radius dimension.
02:43
Click to select the arc, and then click to place the dimension.
02:47
When you are finished creating dimensions, press ENTER to end the command.
02:52
In most situations, the DIM command enables you to create multiple dimensions with minimal input.
02:59
This results in instant groups of appropriately spaced ordinate, parallel, or symmetrical dimensions
03:05
that appear on the appropriate specified layer.
03:08
Using the Dimension Style Manager, there are more than 70 settings you can use
03:13
to control nearly every aspect of the appearance of dimensions.
03:17
From here, you can also save collections of settings as dimension styles for reuse.
03:22
Or, you can save your dimension styles your drawing templates
03:26
so that they are available each time you start a new drawing.
03:30
In most situations, when you add a dimension, it is created using the current dimension style
03:37
and placed on the current layer or on a layer that you specify.
03:41
But, when you create a baseline or continued dimension, by default,
03:45
the new dimension inherits both the layer and dimension style of the dimension that is being continued or used as a baseline.
03:53
Dimensions have several distinct elements, including the dimension line,
03:58
extension lines, arrowheads, and the dimension text.
04:02
Dimension text is a text string that usually indicates the measured value.
04:06
The text can also include prefixes, suffixes, and tolerances.
04:11
A dimension line indicates the direction and extent of a dimension.
04:16
For angular dimensions, the dimension line is an arc.
04:21
Arrowheads are displayed at each end of the dimension line.
04:25
You can specify a variety of arrowhead sizes and shapes from those that come with AutoCAD,
04:31
or you can create your own custom arrowheads.
04:34
Extension lines, also called projection lines or witness lines,
04:38
extend from the feature to the dimension line.
04:41
Typically, when you create a dimension, AutoCAD automatically creates extension lines,
04:46
and leaves a gap between the object and the extension lines.
04:50
When you use object snap to place dimensions, by default,
04:54
existing extension lines are ignored so that you do not inadvertently snap to an extension line while attempting to pick nearby geometry.
05:03
To control this object snap behavior for extension lines,
05:08
right-click and choose Options… to open the Options dialog.
05:11
Click the Drafting tab, and in the Object Snap Options group box,
05:16
enable Ignore dimension extension lines.
05:19
Click Cancel to close the Options dialog.
05:23
You can also create a center mark, which is a small cross that marks the center of a circle or arc;
05:30
or a centerline, a pair of broken lines that mark the center of an arc or circle.
05:35
Center marks and centerlines can be created automatically when adding a diameter or radius dimension.
05:42
On the ribbon, Home tab, Annotation panel, you can find some commonly used tools for adding dimensions.
05:49
You can find these same tools on the Annotate ribbon, in the Dimensions panel,
05:53
as well as many additional dimensioning tools.
00:03
In AutoCAD, dimensioning is the process of adding measurement annotations to a drawing.
00:08
Dimensions indicate the size of the objects in the drawing
00:12
and often include the units of measurement,
00:15
so it is important that they are both accurate and legible.
00:18
You can create dimensions for a variety of object types in many orientations.
00:24
The basic types of dimensions are: Linear Radial (including radius, diameter, and jogged)
00:32
Angular
00:34
Ordinate
00:35
Arc Length
00:36
Linear dimensions can be horizontal, vertical, aligned, rotated, baseline, or continued.
00:43
They are sometimes referred to as chained dimensions.
00:47
You can also create baseline or continued angular dimensions.
00:52
Although adding dimensions to a drawing can be time-consuming,
00:56
the DIM command helps speed the process,
00:59
because it automatically recognizes objects and defaults for the appropriate dimension type.
01:04
By hovering the cursor over objects, lines, or points,
01:09
you can place linear, angular, radial, diameter, baseline, and continued dimensions.
01:14
You can also use command options to place arc length and ordinate dimensions,
01:19
add center marks or centerlines, adjust dimension text, align dimensions,
01:25
change the spacing between dimensions,
01:28
and control the layer on which dimensions are created.
01:31
From the ribbon, Home tab, Annotation panel, click Dimension.
01:36
You are prompted to select objects or specify the first extension line origin,
01:41
and you can see that there are also a number of options.
01:45
In most situations, you do not need to choose an option.
01:49
For example, in this drawing, when you hover the cursor over the horizontal line at the top of the object,
01:55
you see a preview of a linear dimension
01:58
and you are prompted to select the line to specify the extension line origin.
02:02
Click to select the line, and then click to place the dimension.
02:06
The command remains active so that you can dimension another object.
02:11
When you move the cursor over the angled line at the bottom right,
02:14
you see a preview of an angular dimension aligned with that line.
02:19
Click to select the line, and then click to place the dimension.
02:24
The command is still active.
02:25
Hover the cursor over the circle, click to select it, and then click to place a diameter dimension.
02:32
Now, hover the cursor over the arc in the upper-right corner.
02:36
The arc is identified, and AutoCAD correctly assumes that you want to place a radius dimension.
02:43
Click to select the arc, and then click to place the dimension.
02:47
When you are finished creating dimensions, press ENTER to end the command.
02:52
In most situations, the DIM command enables you to create multiple dimensions with minimal input.
02:59
This results in instant groups of appropriately spaced ordinate, parallel, or symmetrical dimensions
03:05
that appear on the appropriate specified layer.
03:08
Using the Dimension Style Manager, there are more than 70 settings you can use
03:13
to control nearly every aspect of the appearance of dimensions.
03:17
From here, you can also save collections of settings as dimension styles for reuse.
03:22
Or, you can save your dimension styles your drawing templates
03:26
so that they are available each time you start a new drawing.
03:30
In most situations, when you add a dimension, it is created using the current dimension style
03:37
and placed on the current layer or on a layer that you specify.
03:41
But, when you create a baseline or continued dimension, by default,
03:45
the new dimension inherits both the layer and dimension style of the dimension that is being continued or used as a baseline.
03:53
Dimensions have several distinct elements, including the dimension line,
03:58
extension lines, arrowheads, and the dimension text.
04:02
Dimension text is a text string that usually indicates the measured value.
04:06
The text can also include prefixes, suffixes, and tolerances.
04:11
A dimension line indicates the direction and extent of a dimension.
04:16
For angular dimensions, the dimension line is an arc.
04:21
Arrowheads are displayed at each end of the dimension line.
04:25
You can specify a variety of arrowhead sizes and shapes from those that come with AutoCAD,
04:31
or you can create your own custom arrowheads.
04:34
Extension lines, also called projection lines or witness lines,
04:38
extend from the feature to the dimension line.
04:41
Typically, when you create a dimension, AutoCAD automatically creates extension lines,
04:46
and leaves a gap between the object and the extension lines.
04:50
When you use object snap to place dimensions, by default,
04:54
existing extension lines are ignored so that you do not inadvertently snap to an extension line while attempting to pick nearby geometry.
05:03
To control this object snap behavior for extension lines,
05:08
right-click and choose Options… to open the Options dialog.
05:11
Click the Drafting tab, and in the Object Snap Options group box,
05:16
enable Ignore dimension extension lines.
05:19
Click Cancel to close the Options dialog.
05:23
You can also create a center mark, which is a small cross that marks the center of a circle or arc;
05:30
or a centerline, a pair of broken lines that mark the center of an arc or circle.
05:35
Center marks and centerlines can be created automatically when adding a diameter or radius dimension.
05:42
On the ribbon, Home tab, Annotation panel, you can find some commonly used tools for adding dimensions.
05:49
You can find these same tools on the Annotate ribbon, in the Dimensions panel,
05:53
as well as many additional dimensioning tools.
