Annotation

In technical drawings, an annotation refers to textual or graphical information added to the drawing to provide additional details, explanations, or specifications.

Dimensions

Ribbon : Draw | Dimension

Default Menu : Dimension

Palette : Sketch | Dimension

Dimensions are inserted to annotate a sketch.

Dimensions, by default, are associative. Any changes made to the dimensioned sketch will automatically be updated in the associated dimension.

Standard Orthogonal (Linear, Horizontal and Vertical) Dimensions require a snap mode on the insertion points to ensure accuracy; Radial and Diametric Dimensions require no snaps.

Dimension features are generally standardized upon and saved in a template to ensure consistency and are almost always required to be drawn on a specifically designated layer.

The Selection Info Palette can be used to modify any dimension feature such as arrows, text size etc, but the dimension will become disassociated from the object if the dimension text information is changed.

The Edit tool is used to modify the control points of dimension lines, extension lines, text position etc

Dimension Settings

Right click onto any Dimension tool

Dimension settings are formatted by right clicking onto any Dimension tool and applying settings similar to those listed below.

From the Format page, select the preferred size and appearance for the Arrowheads and Text.

The Text Position should be set the Centered and the Vertical placement should be set to Above.

The Text Gap is the distance between the base of the dimension text and the dimension line.

From the Advanced Format page, create the preferred distance for the Extension. This is the distance the extension line will extend beyond the dimension line.

The Offset distance is the distance between the drawing object and the extension line.

From the Units/Tolerance page, select the preferred measurement system in the Format field.

Set the required units of precision from the Precision field. This will dictate how many places are given after the decimal point.

Make sure the field for Trailing Zeros is unchecked. This will prevent dimensions such as ‘ 15.000 ‘ being displayed.

Special symbols such as diameter, degree and plus/minus are applied to a dimension in the Units/Tolerance page.

Dimension units can be defined at drawing level using Dimension units | Format By Drawing.

Standard dimension settings

Dimension tools

Ribbon : Draw | Dimension

Default Menu : Dimension

Palette : Sketch | Dimension

Dimensions are inserted in order to annotate a sketch.

Dimensions, by default, are associative. Any changes made to the dimensioned sketch will automatically be updated in the associated dimension.

Standard Orthogonal (Linear, Horizontal and Vertical) Dimensions require a snap mode on the insertion points to ensure accuracy; Radial and Diametric Dimensions require no snaps.

Dimension features are generally standardized upon and saved in a template to ensure consistency and are almost always required to be drawn on a specifically designated layer.

The Selection Info Palette can be used to modify any dimension feature such as arrows, text size etc, but the dimension will become disassociated from the object if the dimension text information is changed.

The Edit tool is used to modify the control points of dimension lines, extension lines, text position etc

Dimension Settings

Right click onto Dimension tool

Dimension settings are formatted by right clicking onto any Dimension tool and applying settings similar to those listed below.

From the Format page, select the preferred size and appearance for the Arrowheads and Text.

The Text Position should be set the Centered and the Vertical placement should be set to Above.

The Text Gap is the distance between the base of the dimension text and the dimension line.

From the Advanced Format page, create the preferred distance for the Extension. This is the distance the extension line will extend beyond the dimension line.

The Offset distance is the distance between the drawing object and the extension line.

From the Units/Tolerance page, select the preferred measurement system in the Format field.

Set the required units of precision from the Precision field. This will dictate how many places are given after the decimal point.

Make sure the field for Trailing Zeros is unchecked. This will prevent dimensions such as ‘ 15.000 ‘ being displayed.

Special symbols such as diameter, degree and plus/minus are applied to a dimension in the Units/Tolerance page.

Dimension units can be defined at drawing level using Dimension units | Format By Drawing.

Standard dimension settings

inputting DimensionS

Ribbon | Draw Dimension

Default | Dimension

Dimensions are inserted to annotate an object.Dimensions are, by default, associative. This means they will automatically update when their associated objects are modified.Standard Orthogonal, Parallel and Rotated Dimensions require a snap mode, usually vertex, intersection or center when targeting the insertion points to ensure accuracy.Radial, Diameter, Quick and Smart Dimensions require no snap modes.Dimension settings can be pre formatted by right clicking onto any dimension tool prior to starting the dimensioning task.Standard dimension settings can be stored in a template for future standardization.Some common dimension tools are discussed and demonstrated below.Dimension text which is modified by removing the angled brackets loses its associativity to the object.

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Use this sample drawing or create a similar sketch in the workspace.

Quick Dimensions

Dimensions | Quick

Multiple entities in the same plane can be selected for dimensioning. The dimension line is placed after all the entities have been selected.

Specific dimension types can be selected and a selection rectangle can be placed around multiple objects to dimension, shown below.

Selecting multiple objects to dimension

Orthogonal Dimensions

Dimensions | Orthogonal

Orthogonal Dimensions are used to create point-to-point dimensions where specific input is required, for example, between 2 parallel points.

In the illustration, right, Orthogonal Dimensions have been inserted using the points indicated by the pointers.

Orthogonal Dimensions require a snap mode, in this case, the vertex, to ensure positional accuracy of the insertion points.

Orthogonal Dimensions can also be used to dimension the diameter of a cylindrical object.

Using the vertex snap to dimension intermediate points

Parallel Dimension

Dimension | Parallel

A Parallel Dimension is applied between 2 aligned points in a parallel plane, shown below left. The Entity Dimension option can be used to select a single item. In the example below right, the Parallel Dimension tool was used to dimension between the 2 end points of the arc.

Using the Parallel Dimension tool

Continuous Dimensions

Dimension | Continuous

Continuous Dimensions are applied by first inserting a ‘reference’ dimension, shown in the left illustration below.

Continuous Dimensions can then by inserted by selecting the ‘reference’ dimension, shown by the pointer below, then indicating the successive points to be dimensioned, shown far right.

It is recommended that an appropriate snap mode, in this case vertex, be used to indicate the successive points to be dimensioned.

Using Continuous dimensioning

 

Baseline Dimensions

Dimension | Baseline

Baseline Dimensions are used to dimension objects from a defined edge.

Baseline Dimensions are applied by first inserting a ‘reference’ dimension, shown below right.

Baseline Dimensions can then by inserted by selecting the ‘reference’ dimension, shown below right, then indicating the successive points to be dimensioned.

It is recommended that an appropriate snap mode, in this case vertex, be used to indicate the successive points to be dimensioned.

The gap between the dimension lines is applied in the Advanced Format > Baseline Increment field of the dimension settings. Dimension settings are applied by right clicking onto the appropriate dimension tool.

Using Baseline dimensioning

Angular Dimensions

Dimension | Angular

The Angular Dimension tool dimensions an angled line by selecting the associated line, then the angled line to dimension, shown by points 1 and 2, shown below.

It can also be used to dimension the angle of the parallel points of an arc, shown below.

The degree (º) symbol is automatically inserted when using the Angular Dimension tool and no snap modes are required.

The Angular Dimension is an associative dimension; its value is updated when the associated object is modified.

Radius Dimensions

Dimension | Radius

Radius Dimensions are used to dimension radial objects such as arcs.

The Radius Dimension is an associative dimension; its value is updated when the associated object is modified.

The text of the dimension can either be seated in an aligned position to the dimension line, shown below, or horizontally. To seat the dimension text horizontally, check the Force Text Horizontal option in the Format page of Dimension Settings.

Radius dimension with aligned text

A radius dimension with a longer leader, shown below, can be used by right clicking after selecting the Radius Dimension tool and selecting the Large Radius option.

Radius dimension with long leader

Diameter Dimensions

Dimension | Diameter

Diameter Dimensions are used to dimension circular objects such as circles.

The Diameter Dimension is an associative dimension; its value is updated when the associated object is modified.

The text of the dimension can either be seated in an aligned position to the dimension line, shown below, or horizontally. To seat the dimension text horizontally, check the Force Text Horizontal option in the Format page of Dimension Settings.

Diameter dimension with aligned text

Diameter Dimension shown in a linear dimension

Dimension | Diameter

Diameter dimensions can be represented by an orthogonal dimension, shown below.

Insert an orthogonal dimension, then use (function) F7 to select the most recently drawn object. Right click and from the Properties sheet, select the Special Symbol option from the Units/Tolerance page.

Diameter shown orthographically using special symbol (diameter)

Modifying Dimensions

Modifying the dimensional features (physical properties such as color, layer etc) and the geometric measurement info can be done using the Selection Info Palette or the Properties Sheet.

The position of the dimension can be done using Edit tool. This allows each node of the dimension, including the position of the text to be adjusted.

Dimensional text can be modified using the Selection Info Palette or the Properties Sheet, however, dimension text which is modified by removing the angled brackets loses its associativity to the object.

Use this sample drawing or create a similar sketch in the editor.

 

Positional

The Select tool is used to adjust the dimension line upwards or downwards for a horizontal dimension, or to the left or right for a vertical dimension.

The Edit Tool is used to modify the position of any dimension feature, including the text position.

In the example below, the node attached to the text has been used to relocate text position between the extension lines, instead of offset to the right.

Edit tool used to move dimension text

Positional on Insertion

Local Menu | Move Text

The Orthogonal, Parallel and Rotated dimension tools allow the dimension text to be seated in a specified position within the dimension line.

Select the Orthogonal, Parallel or Rotated dimension tool then right click in the editor. Select Move Text from the local menu. This allows the position of the text to be specified.

Arrow show original position of text, new position selected on insertion

Text

The text of the dimension can be modified, however this will remove its associativity to the object.

The Selection Info Palette or the Properties Sheet is used to modify the text of a dimension.

In the illustration, below, the Selection Info Palette is used to modify the dimension text, shown by the pointer.

The Selection Info Palette is also used to change any physical property of the dimension, including its layer, color etc.

Using the Selection Info Palette to change dimension text

 

Features

All dimension features and settings can be adjusted using the Selection Info Palette or the Properties Sheet.

In the example below, the radius dimension text has been changed from an aligned position to horizontal by selecting the Force Text Horizontal option in the Format settings.

Dimension text changed from aligned to horizontal position using Selection Info Palette

Creating a New Dimension Style

Using the Style Manager Palette

Tools | Palettes | Style Manager Palette

The Style Manager Palette is used to create standard formats for objects with multiple settings, such as dimensions, text, wall styles etc.

Take Note

When updating parameters using the Styles Manager palette, all objects containing that style in the editor will be updated.

In the example below, a new dimension style is created.

 

Create New Dimension Style

To create a new standard of dimension setting, open the Style Manager Palette from the Tools > Palettes menu and click onto the type of object to which a new style should be applied, in this case, Dimension Styles > Standard shown as point 1 below.

Select Create New Style, shown by point 2 below, input a suitable name for the new style, shown below, then apply the dimension format using the preferred settings shown by point 3 below.

Newly created styles can be immediately applied to existing associated objects by selecting Apply Style Changes, shown below.

Setting a new style, then applying the style settings

Using a Formatted Dimension Style

Formatted styles can be used when first inputting the objects to which the style has been applied by right clicking onto the tool, such as the Dimension tool, such as the Orthogonal Dimension, then selecting the preferred style in the appropriate drop down menu, similar to the illustration, below.

Starting a new dimension using a pre-formatted style

 

Leader Arrows

Ribbon : Draw | Dimension | Leader

Default : Dimension | Leader

Leader arrows are used to annotate a feature that requires a dimensional arrow, but descriptive text.

Leader arrows can be produced as line segments or as curves. To produce a curved leader arrow, check the Draw as Spline option in the Advanced features to the Leader Arrow settings.

In the illustration below, a leader arrow has been produced using a 2 segmented line with an angle of the text definition line set to 180º and the length of the text definition line set to 5.

At least two points are required; one to define the point of the arrow and the second to define the start of the text definition line, shown by the arrow below.

Automatic Callouts

Automatic Callouts is available in the Dimension menu to automatically add callouts (leader dimensions) to the drawing in just a few clicks. These callouts can be arranged in circular formation or along a polyline. After callouts are generated, a BOM table is created with callout details.

Draw > Dimension > Automatic Callouts > Select Dimension tool

Tolerances

Dimensional tolerances are used to indicate the allowable upper and lower deviation, such as actual, maximum etc from the basic dimensional size.

Tolerance values can be appended to the dimension or be displayed appended as limits, shown below.

Tolerances appended as Limits.

Tolerance values can be preset by right clicking onto the dimension tool and applying the appropriate conditions or can be input later by selecting the dimension in the graphics editor and changing the conditions using the right click > Properties | Units/Tolerance.

Tolerances shown as appended.

Surface Roughness

Draw | Surface Roughness

Surface texture is the regularity or irregularity of the surface of an object and can be used to specify a production method, treatment or coating to produce a specific surface texture.

Surface texture without removing material.

Surface texture by removing material.

 

Modifying Tolerance Symbols

To modify the properties of an existing tolerance symbol, select the symbol, right click and select Properties. From the Other page, select, Surface Roughness | Go to Page.