Dimensioning

TOPICS

Introduction
Dimensioning components
Dimensioning object’ s features

Placement of dimensions.
Dimensioning Practices.
 DEFINITION
Dimensioning is the process of specifying part’ s
information by using of figures, symbols and notes.

This information are such as:

1. Sizes and locations of features
This course
2. Number required
3. Material’s type
4. Kind of surface finish
5. Manufacturing process
6. Size and geometric tolerances
Dimensioning
Components
DIMENSIONING COMPONENTS
Extension lines
Dimension lines
(with arrowheads)

Leader lines
Dimension figures
Notes :
- local note
- general note
 EXTENSION LINES
indicate the location on the object’s features that
are dimensioned.
 DIMENSION LINES
indicate the direction and extent of a dimension, and
inscribe dimension figures.
8 mm between Dimension figures location
10 27
object line and Horizontal up
dimension line Vertical left

13
1 23
o

43
 LEADER LINES

indicate details of the feature with a local note.

10 27 10 Drill, 2 Holes
R16

13
1 23
o

43
Placement of
Dimensions
 THE BASIC CONCEPT
Dimensioning is accomplished by adding size and
location information necessary to manufacture
the object.

This information have to be

Clear
Complete
Facilitate the
- manufacturing method
- measurement method
EXAMPLE L L

Designed
part

L
S

L
S
To manufacture this part S
we need to know…
1. Width, depth and
thickness of the part.
S

2. Diameter and depth

of the hole.
“S” denotes size dimension.
3. Location of the holes.
“L” denotes location dimension.
 EXTENSION LINES
Leave a visible gap (≈ 1 mm) from a view and
start drawing an extension line.
Extend the lines beyond the (last) dimension line
≈ 2 mm.
COMMON MISTAKE
Visible gap
 EXTENSION LINES
Do not break the lines as they cross object lines.

COMMON MISTAKE
Continuous
 DIMENSION LINES
Dimension lines should not be spaced too close
to each other and to the view.

Leave a space at least

2 times of a letter height.
16

11
34
35

Leave a space at least

1 time of a letter height.
 DIMENSION FIGURES
The height of figures is suggested to be 2.5~3 mm.
Place the numbers at about 1 mm above dimension
line and between extension lines.

34 COMMON MISTAKE
11

34
11
 DIMENSION FIGURES
When there is not enough space for figure or
arrows, put it outside either of the extension lines.

Not enough space Not enough space

for figures for arrows
16.25 1
16.25 1 1

or
 LOCAL NOTES
Place the notes near to the feature which they
apply, and should be placed outside the view.
Always read horizontally.

COMMON MISTAKE
10 Drill 10 Drill

10 Drill
≈ 10mm
Too far
Dimensioning
Practices
 ANGLE
To dimension an angle use circular dimension
line having the center at the vertex of the angle.

COMMON MISTAKE
 ARC
Arcs are dimensioned by giving the radius, in the
views in which their true shapes appear.
The letter “R” is always lettered before the figures
to emphasize that this dimension is radius of an
arc.

0
20
0 20
R R
or
 ARC
The dimension figure and the arrowhead should
be inside the arc, where there is sufficient space.

Sufficient space Sufficient space Insufficient space

for both. for arrowhead only. for both.
Move figure outside Move both figure
and arrow outside
R 62.5
0
20

R 6.5
R

R 58.5
 ARC
Leader line must be radial and inclined with
an angle between 30 ~ 60 degs to the horizontal.

COMMON MISTAKE
R62.5 R62.5 R62.5
60
o

R62.5
R62.5 R62.5
30
o
 ARC
Use the foreshortened radial dimension line,
when arc’ s center locates outside the sheet or
interfere with other views.

Method 2
1

Drawing sheet
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
1. Extension lines, leader lines should not cross
dimension lines.

POOR GOOD
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
2. Extension lines should be drawn from the nearest
points to be dimensioned.

POOR GOOD
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
3. Extension lines of internal feature can cross visible
lines without leaving a gap at the intersection point.

WRONG CORRECT
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
4. Do not use object line, center line, and dimension

line as an extension lines.

POOR GOOD
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
5. Avoid dimensioning hidden lines.

POOR GOOD
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
6. Place dimensions outside the view, unless
placing them inside improve the clarity.

POOR GOOD
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
6. Place dimensions outside the view, unless
placing them inside improve the clarity.

JUST OK !!! BETTER

 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
7. Apply the dimension to the view that clearly show
the shape or features of an object.

POOR GOOD
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
8. Dimension lines should be lined up and grouped
together as much as possible.

POOR GOOD
 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
9. Do not repeat a dimension.

POOR GOOD
Thanks