Hello,

Continuing the dimension style settings series of articles, today I will try to answer the question “, how can we write alternative dimension values for others who have a different unit system than yours?” if you are sharing your projects.

Fig.1 You can also have AutoCAD to write the alternative measurement under the main dimension.

As you know, AutoCAD automatically measures the distance between the two points you have chosen and writes it while you are making the drawing, unless you specify anything else. Now you will see one of the benefits, as I had mentioned in my article Understanding scale concept and units in Autocad,  of preparing the drawing one to one, not according to a scale.

Let’s say you are managing one project with a Japanese originated company and they are using engineering units but you are using metric units. So, both sides may have difficulty in reading the units. You can resolve this by making a small adjustment in the dimension style settings. Let’s go to “Alternate Units” tab in the dimension style settings.

Fig. 2 When you choose the option that is marked with red, other settings will open.

First of all, we should start by marking “Display alternate units” option. By marking this option, we have both opened the alternative settings and activated the settings. Now, let’s have a look at these settings.

Unit Format: In this drop down menu, there are the default unit settings. It is used to change the variable as architectural, scientific, engineering settings. Let’s choose engineering for Japanese.

Precision: Here, you can determine how much precision you want for the format you have chosen.

Multiplier for all units: We can roughly say that it is the ratio of your unit to the alternative unit, i.e. if 25.4mm = 1”, then your multiplier will be 0.03937. As I have told you, the default formats in the drop down menu I have mentioned above works. However, for a special unit (for example fathom :) ) you will have to specify the multiplier.

Round distances to: Similarly as I mentioned in my previous articles, you can of course specify a rounding value. However, according to the unit system you have chosen, the rounding values may be a little different.

Prefix/Suffix: It is same as they are in the units. Whatever you write here, will come in front or after the alternative dimension.

Zero Suppression: It is possible not to write the 0 feet or 0 inch values that are remaining at the end of the decimal part of the alternative unit system.

Fig. 3 Where shall we put the alternative dimension?

We can set the location where the alternative dimension will be placed by “Placement” option. I always prefer to put it below. You can have this by marking the “Below the primary value” option.

Bu yazinin Turkce’sini okumak icin basiniz…

Similar Posts

• Dimension Style Settings 7: Another tolerance dimensioning.
• Dimension Style Settings 5: Units
• Starting a drawing in AutoCAD-2: Units
• Dimensioning IV
• Scaling in Autocad drawings and layouts.

Rate this article:

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Total: 4389
This week: 51
Today: 3
Last read: 6 July 2008, 13:35

Autocad, Dimensioning