How to set up dimension lines in AutoCAD. Dimensions in AutoCAD - everything you need to know

Opening an existing single script You can open an existing script using the File|Open menu item. The file open dialog box allows you to prevent changes to the selected file (Read Only mode), as well as display this file in Text or

Opening an existing WS file An existing WS file on disk is opened in the same way as a regular single script - using the File|Open menu item. For example, let's open the file PhoneBook.wsf created in Chapter 7, which contains four tasks. By default, this file opens in

Editing Dimension Text The DIMTEDIT command provides editing of dimension text and is called up by clicking on the Dimension Text Edit icon on the Dimension toolbar. Command Queries

Setting a display style You can select a display style at any time and change its settings as needed, or you can create your own style by changing face and edge settings and using shading and background. The VISUALSTYLES command loads the Visual Style Manager

Editing dimension text The DIMTEDIT command provides editing of dimension text and is called by clicking on the Dimension Text Edit icon on the Dimension toolbar. DIMTEDIT command prompts: Select dimension: – select a dimension Specify new location for dimension text or : – specify

Setting a display style You can select a display style at any time and, if necessary, change its settings, or create your own style by changing the settings of faces and edges and using shading and background. The VISUALSTYLES command loads the Visual Style Manager

This note is dedicated to dimensions in AutoCAD, dimension styles, their fine tuning, application, and small tricks. At the end you can find a link to an example with customized dimensional styles for different scales and working styles in AutoCAD (in a model, at a scale of 1:1, at a scale of 1:1000)

Preface about classic AutoCAD

To work in AutoCAD, I have the “classic style” enabled because Ribbons (huge panel at the top) in CAD systems tend to get in the way. They were inserted into AutoCAD at the request of Microsoft, and, frankly speaking, they were sewn in one place. They also do not provide any clarity or special functionality. They take up a lot of space and contain few functions; to get to the ones you need you have to constantly rush between tabs. Plus, the ribbons themselves often turn out half-empty.

That's why I work in the Classic AutoCAD space. Accordingly, for a better understanding, I advise you to include this particular style. (team _cui, in the window that opens in the [ tab Workspaces] choose Classic AutoCAD, right-click and select “ Install" And " Set as default", and the buttons below apply And OK)

About sizes in AutoCAD

So, dimensions in AutoCAD are separate objects that, compared to primitives (arc lines, etc.), have a number of properties that make them absolutely indispensable when creating drawings.

In the general case, they work quite intuitively: indicate the distance (angle) to be measured, sequentially indicating the points between which we want to obtain the size and indicate the distance from the measurement object. The remaining size parameters - text height, serifs, arrows, measurement scale, tolerances, etc. can be adjusted to taste and GOST requirements.

Let’s take a closer look at the settings. You can customize each size individually or using so-called dimensional styles. Accordingly, you can individually configure it as follows - select a size in the drawing, open its “properties” (ctrl+1, right mouse button-> “properties”) As you can see, there are many parameters.

The good news is that there aren't that many that are actually needed for most tasks. But more on that below.

So, we have configured the size using properties, but the next new size will have to be configured from scratch. Or use it from a configured object to a new one. Which is not convenient if there are more than a couple of dozen sizes.

Dimensional styles in AutoCAD

This is where dimensional styles come to our aid.

By default, the new file contains Standard and ISO-25 dimension styles. And accordingly, all new sizes receive their parameters from this style by default.

We can create our own styles for all occasions and use them.

Why all this complexity? The fact is that AutoCAD is a universal tool that is used in many industries and countries around the world. Accordingly, there are many design options and standards, not to mention the internal standards of companies or their divisions, and even the preferences of individual specialists.

By the way, the “Size” toolbar can be displayed as follows: right-click on any of the buttons on any toolbar, select “Size” from the drop-down list

Creation/editing of styles is done using the dimension style manager. To call it, you need to click on the button next to the list of dimensional styles - size with a brush. Or by team _dimstyle. In new versions of AutoCAD it can be reached through the tab

Annotations\Dimensions\[in the style drop-down list - dimension style manager]

Create a new dimension style

In order to figure it out, I suggest creating a new style, click the “New” button

To make work easier, new styles are created based on the styles of existing ones. Accordingly, set the style name “1-1” and click next.

Actually, from this moment we start setting up the style. It consists in changing the parameters we need to bring the size to the optimal form for our purposes. In other words, let's make it look the way we want it.

The style parameters completely replicate the size properties settings in AutoCAD, see the beginning of the article.

Lines:

Here we adjust the appearance (thickness, color, indents, extensions) of the size lines. Moreover, you can remove them completely so as not to interfere (Suppress 1st, 2nd.)

Symbols, serifs and arrows for dimensions:

Symbols and arrows, on this tab we configure the so-called serifs, their size and appearance. In general, the remaining parameters can be left at default, since they are used quite rarely.

Size text setting:

In this tab, we configure the properties of the dimension inscription, positioning, orientation, color, offset from the dimension line, etc. It also makes sense to create a separate text style for sizes (the button next to the “text style” drop-down list): Let's call it “DimensionalTextStyle”, and set the font ISOCPEUR, a ttf font, almost similar to our GOST font. Why ttf? - unlike shx (internal optimized AutoCAD fonts), it can be used in Word and Excel, and in Tekla, as well as any other Windows application, which allows you to give the project some uniformity. Let's return to dimensional styles:

Accommodation:

Placement of text— I would recommend leaving this item unchanged and adjusting it individually if necessary for individual sizes. For example, it is very convenient to enable the size option - build a leader. But when included in the style, it interferes because you have to constantly move the text with it in addition to the size.

Scale of dimensional elements -Annotative— when this option is enabled in AutoCAD, the size parameters in the model will be taken depending on the specified scale. It is set on the panel in the lower right corner:

The working scale is selected in the drop-down list. Next, the size parameters are automatically multiplied by the scale value. If the same detail is present in a different scale, we change the working value and feel free to set new dimensions. It may turn out to be a mess. It doesn’t matter - the button to the right of the scale selection can turn on or off the display of annotative dimensions of a different scale.

Why is this necessary? Creating on sheet (layout) viewports with details, plans and sections of the model, you choose the display scale. And AutoCAD displays on the viewport only those dimensions whose scale coincides with the scale of the viewport. This is convenient because it allows you to avoid wasting time creating multiple styles, depending on the display scale. And makes it easier to filter the display of dimensions in the viewport.

Global scale— essentially a multiplier of all size parameters. We set 2, and the parameters of all size elements double, set 10 - ten, and so on.

Basic units:

Here we set the format in which our measurements will be displayed. An important point, if you want your angular dimensions to show not only degrees but also minutes and seconds, then adjust the accuracy and format of the angular dimensions. If you want to use this style for a specific scale, you can set a “scale” (essentially a multiplier by which the size obtained from the model will be multiplied, draw a line of length 1, add a size, specify a scale of 1000 in the size, and accordingly the size text is displayed as 1000) .

The prefix and suffix are what will be added before or after the size. I indicated “mm” in the suffix and all dimensions will be 1000mm.

Alternative units:

Enabling this option will allow you to display another option of the same size in brackets. In general, it makes more sense to enable this option for individual sizes rather than per style.

Tolerances:

Accordingly, if you need to specify tolerances, you can configure this parameter for your style here. Or in the properties of individual sizes individually.

As a short afterword, let's talk about working styles in AutoCAD and their impact on dimensional styles.

Personally, I can distinguish three main styles of working in AutoCAD:

1. “Drawer” or “everything in the model” style.

This is the most common so-called incorrect style, typical for those who are just starting to work in AutoCAD, or those who have worked on paper for too long, and accordingly, working with a model and sheet does not bring anything but problems to such people. Therefore, a sheet is drawn in the model, and drawings are already created in this sheet, and plans, components and parts are made on the appropriate scale. Which is quite pointless, time-consuming and involves a lot of empty calculations.

But if you adhere to this particular school, then you will need dimensional styles for each scale. They will differ only in one parameter - Basic units — scale. You will need styles like M1:1, M1:100, in the first scale units will be equal to one, in the second one hundred. And so on.

2. One-to-one style

This is the most common style. All plans, components and parts are made in the model, on a scale of 1 to 1, and the layout of the drawing and selection of scales is carried out on a “sheet” (layout) using view windows. At first glance, it seems that this is quite difficult, but this approach makes it very easy to transfer components and parts from project to project, and do not “drawing” but modeling in model space. This allows you to significantly increase the accuracy of the final documentation and avoid a number of ridiculous mistakes.

The peculiarity of dimensional styles in this approach is that when displaying the same element on a sheet at different scales, the size parameters (text height, indents, arrow size, etc.) must change, while the scale of units remains unchanged and equal unit.

3: “1 in 1000” style, this style is typical for surveyors and planners. Those. For one conventional unit of the model, unlike the “1 to 1” style, we take not a millimeter, but a meter. Dimensional styles, similar to the second style, change their dimensions while maintaining the same scale of units. Therefore, on a scale of units, instead of 1, we take 1000.

Another advantage of this approach is that if you work with plans, you can enter much fewer zeros. For example, you need to construct a segment one meter long: set the point, direction and length -1. If you work on a scale of 1 to 1, you will have to enter 1000.

As a result, for simple input there are four keystrokes versus one.

As an example, for greater clarity, I made a file with dimensional styles for the main scales, for all three options for working in AutoCAD.

FAQ on sizes in AutoCAD:

Add your text to AutoCAD size

Add angle brackets to the text field, as a result your text will be displayed along with the current size value.

How to remove decimal places from AutoCAD dimensions

In the size or size style properties, set the precision to no decimal places.

Add minutes and seconds in AutoCAD angular size

Or in dimensional style in the section - Basic units\ Unit format: Select the appropriate format from the drop-down list and adjust the accuracy.

Or in the properties of a specific size (ctrl+1) - basic units, unit format(angle forman):

AutoCAD 2014/2013. Working with dimension chains

After selecting the handles of a rotated or parallel dimension that are on the dimension line:
-press ctrl, there is a dimensional chain
- ctrl again, enter the base size
- ctrl again, the arrow rotates.
Both the chain size and the base size will be the same style as our size with handles, no matter what the current size style is.
It is also convenient in that when carrying out similar operations with a parallel dimension, a dimension chain is formed from rotated dimensions with an appropriate rotation angle, and thus the dimension line will not rotate due to the points from which the dimension is taken out.

Also, for size chains, I advise you to study the work of the command

Editing Dimension Text

team _ddedit— will allow you to edit text of any size as regular multi-line text.

In the text properties, you can display your own text instead of the current size. If you want to leave the size value along with your text, you can write <>.

How to delete a dimension style in AutoCAD

To remove unused dimension styles, block descriptions, layers, fonts, etc. in AutoCAD, use the command _purge it calls up a dialog box for clearing “garbage” which one way or another appears when working with a drawing (by the way, if you have a couple of lines in the drawing and the file weighs several megabytes - _purge will help bring the form and content into harmony, throwing out everything that is stored in the drawing but not used)

Accordingly, if you do not have a single dimension in the drawing with a dimension style to be deleted, then it will be defined as “garbage” and will appear in the list for cleaning in the dialog accessible by command _purge.

How to copy a dimension style from one drawing to another.

The easiest way is to copy the size:

• open a drawing with customized styles
• create or select the sizes of the desired styles

You can adjust dimensions in AutoCAD according to GOST, according to text height, and also create your own dimensional style using the command Format/Dimensional Styles . To create a new dimension style, in the Style Manager dialog box, click New. Also in this window you can set the name of the newly created style. Fig 1.

The Symbol Manager has many top tabs. These are Lines, Arrows and symbols, Text, Basic units. Using these tabs you can customize the dimension style.

In the Style Manager dialog box, you can configure the Lines the following parameters:

1) Set the step in basic dimensions

2) Extension beyond dimension lines – the amount of extension of extension lines beyond the dimension line

3) Indent from the object - indents of extension lines from the object

On the tab Arrows and symbols you can make the following settings:

1) Arrows You can set the design of the arrows, namely left, heel and extension lines

) 2) Arrow size – you can specify the size of the arrow

3) Arc length symbol – sets the position of the arc above or below the text

The text tab, where you can customize the text.

1) Text style in which you can choose a font and set the indentation between characters

2) Text height – you can set the text height

4) Text alignment – ​​you can set text alignment horizontally and vertically

5) Text orientation – you can set the position of the text along the dimension line, horizontally

On the tab Accommodation You can set Placement Options, Text Alignment, Scale of Dimensional Elements, Fitting of Elements.

1) Placement options – when text and arrows cannot be placed between leader lines (do not fit), you can specify what will be placed first behind the leader lines

2) Suppress arrows if they do not fit between extension lines - you need to check the box if, and do not check anything if not.

3) Text alignment, you can set the position of a dimension line or a leader if you move text in the drawing.

4) Global scale, you can set the global scale

5) Fitting elements, you can set the position of elements

Tab Basic units You can specify the dimensional accuracy. Specify a prefix, for example, if you want the size numbers to be preceded by a letter, for example B10, and not just the value 10. This is necessary when you need to indicate what size or what size. Also in this tab you can specify the separator between the integer and fractional parts (period or comma). You can specify the scale of measurements (depending on the scale of the drawing). You can specify the dimension and accuracy of angular dimensions (in degrees or degrees minutes seconds).

Well, in the tabs Alternative Units and Tolerances , alternative units and tolerances can be specified.

Dimensions- an important detail in the drawing. Therefore, I decided to write this article about what dimensions are in AutoCAD, how to set and change dimensions.

A dimension in AutoCAD is a complex object that is treated as a single entity. It consists of extension lines, a dimension line with arrows (or tick marks), and a dimension value.

All sizes are fundamentally divided into two groups: linear and angular. Linear dimensions characterize such parameters as length, width, thickness, height, diameter, radius. Angular size characterizes the magnitude of the angle.

Rules for applying dimensions.

These rules in our country are regulated by GOST 2.307-68. So you can go there for the rules for applying sizes. I advise you to adhere to these rules, even if you are not a professional designer or engineer.

Now I will just focus on how to put certain dimensions on drawings in AutoCAD.

On “Annotations” tab on “Size” panel click on button “Linear dimension”. As you probably already know, AutoCAD has special commands for calling tools. In our case this is the command “RZMLINEAR”. Try entering the first letters of the command into the command line, for example, "RZML". The command will be added to the command line itself. Now press “Enter”.

A corresponding prompt will appear on the command line: “Start of first extension line or<выбрать объект>:". Click LMB to select the first dimension point on the object, then the second.

After this, the command line displays the prompt: “Dimension line position or [MText/Text/Angle/Horizontal/Vertical/Rotated]:”. Those. Now you need to indicate the location of the dimension line. According to GOST, this value is 10mm.

Simply moving the cursor approximately to the place where the size should be located, enter the value 10 from the keyboard. You will see how this value is displayed in the number field. Now don't forget to press “Enter”.

For faster work, you can not specify size points, but specify the part of the object that you want to measure.

To do this, in response to the first request, indicate the beginning of the first extension line, simply press “Enter”. You will use the “Select object” option.

Now you need to specify the object for which you need to size. For example, I'll indicate an interior wall. And now, moving the cursor away from the object, a linear dimension follows it. Here the position of the dimension line is arbitrary. Therefore, click LMB anywhere.

Always pay attention to the prompts that appear on the command line. After all, almost every command in AutoCAD has its own options.

Options that can be used when applying dimensions.

After placing the second point of the dimension - this is the beginning of the second extension line, a number of options appear on the command line - MText, Text, Angle, Horizontal, Vertical, Rotated.

Let's look at the sizing options available when using these options.

"MText". This option opens an editor that allows you to edit dimension text.

Here you can change the size value itself. Or add symbols “+-”, “~”, etc. to the value.

"Text". This option allows you to edit dimension text on the command line (without calling the editor). The resulting size value is displayed in angle brackets.

Enter a new numeric value at the command line. You can also change the text in the number field. After entering the value, specify the position of the dimension line.

"Corner". Allows you to change the rotation angle of dimension text.