Dimensioning

Dimensioning
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Overview:
Graphical entities on engineering drawings describe shape and position. Dimensions and notes
describe size and necessary manufacturing processes if the engineering drawing is to be a
complete instruction for the shop technician.
Dimensions describe the size and location of features of an object. The correct placement of
dimensions is strictly prescribed by an extensive list of drawing conventions.
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Size Description
In addition to a complete shape description of an object, a drawing of the design must also give a
complete size description, that is, it must be dimensioned.
A drawing submitted to production should show the object in its completed condition (shape
description) and should contain all necessary information to bring it to that final state.
Only those dimensions needed to produce and inspect the part against the design specifications
should be given, not the dimensions use to make the drawing.
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Lines used in dimensioning:
Dimension line: A dimension line is a thin, dark line terminated by arrowheads and indicates the
extent of the dimension (figure a).
Extension line: An extension line is a thin, dark line that extends from a point on the drawing to
which a dimension refers (figure a).
A 1/16” gap is left where the extension line would join the object outline and extends 1/8” past the
outermost dimension line (figure a).
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Center Line: A center line is a thin, dark line composed of alternate long and short dashes and is
used to represent axes of symmetry and to denote centers.
Center lines are commonly used as extension lines (figure c).
When a center line crosses over an object line, it crosses the object line without a gap (figure c).
Spacing of dimension lines should be uniform throughout the drawing. The dimension line nearest
the object should be spaced at least 3/8” away from the object (figure b).
All other dimension lines should be spaced at least 1/4” apart (figure b)
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Placement of dimension and extension lines:
The correct placement of dimension lines and extension lines are shown in figure (a). The
shorter dimensions are placed nearest the object.
Dimension lines should never cross an extension line (figure b).
It is acceptable to cross extension lines with other extension lines but the extension lines should
never be shortened (figure c).
A dimension line should never coincide with or form a continuation of any other line of the drawing
(figure d).
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Dimensions should be lined
up and grouped together as
much as possible.
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When extension lines and center lines cross visible
object lines gaps should not be left in the lines.
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Leaders:
A leader is a thin, dark, solid line that leads from a note of dimension and terminates in an
arrowhead.
Arrowheads should always terminate on a line or edge of a hole.
A leader to a circle should be radial and appear to pass through the center.
Leaders should cross as few lines a possible and should never cross each other.
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Dimension Figures:
In a group of parallel dimension lines, the numerals should be
staggered (figure a) and not stacked up one above the other (figure b).
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Direction of dimension figures:
There are two systems of reading direction for dimension figures, the unidirectional system and
the aligned system.
Unidirectional system: the dimension figures are lettered horizontally on the sheet and are read
from the bottom of the drawing (figure a)
Aligned system: the dimension figures are aligned with the dimension lines and are read from the
bottom of the drawing or the right side (figure b).
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Dimensioning Angles:
Angles are dimensioned by giving the angle in degrees and a linear dimension (figure a) or by
dimensioning the two legs of a right triangle (figure b).
In all cases whether in the unidirectional system or in the aligned system the dimension figures
for angles are lettered horizontally (figures c, d, e, f).
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Dimensioning Arcs:
A circular arc is always dimensioned in the view in which its true shape is shown.
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Contour Dimensioning:
Dimensions should be given where the shapes show true size and true shape.
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Dimensioning Prisms:
The height and width
dimension of a prism should
be given in the front view and
the depth dimension given in
the top or right-side view.
Horizontal and vertical
dimensions should be kept in
line.
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Dimensioning Cylinders:
The general method of
dimensioning a cylinder is
to give its length and
diameter in the rectangular
view.
Note: A leader can be used
to dimension the circular
view.
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The diameter symbol () should be given before all diameter dimensions.
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Dimensioning Holes:
Holes are dimensioned using leader lines pointing to the hole and shown where the hole appears
circular.
Dimensions and notes should always be lettered horizontally of the drawing.
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Locating Holes:
Location dimensions for
holes are given in the
circular view of the holes
where the holes appear
true size and true shape.
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Locating holes about a center:
Holes equally spaced about a common center may be dimensioned by giving the diameter of the
circle of centers (figure a).
Unequally spaced holes are located by dimensioning the bolt circle diameter plus angular
measurements (figure b).
Where greater accuracy is required, coordinate dimensions should be given (figure c).
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Dimensioning rounded-end
shapes:
The method for dimensioning
rounded-end shapes depends of
the degree of accuracy required.
Shown are examples of
dimensioning rounded-end
shapes.
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Superfluous Dimensions:
All necessary dimensions must be
shown on a drawing.
Avoid giving unnecessary or
superfluous dimensions.
Dimensions should not be repeated
or the same dimension given in two
different ways.
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Notes:
Local notes that apply to specific
operations only are connected by a
leader to the point at which such
operations are performed.
The leader should be attached to the
front of the first word of a note or after
the last word.
Notes are always lettered horizontally
on the drawing sheet.
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Notes:
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Dimensioning Chamfers:
A chamfer is a beveled or
sloping edge.
A chamfer is dimensioned by
giving the length of the offset
and the angle (figure a).
A chamfer can also be
dimensioning using a leader
line (figure b).
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Dimensioning Keyways:
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Dimensioning knurls:
A knurl is a roughened surface to provide a better
handgrip or to be used for a press fit between two
parts.
A knurl is dimensioned by specifying the pitch of the
knurl, the type of knurling, and the length of the knurled
area.
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Mr. Ference’s rules for dimensioning:
1. Use all uppercase letters.
2. Spacing for all dimension lines should be uniform and consistent.
3. Never cross a dimension line.
4. Place dimensions where the feature shows both true size and true shape.