Basic CAD Tutorial: Dimensioning Your Drawings

Introduction

Dimensioning is a critical part of CAD drawings, providing precise measurements and details that are essential for fabrication and construction. This tutorial will guide you through the process of adding dimensions to your drawings in General CADD, AutoCAD, and NanoCad.

General CADD Instructions

Adding Dimensions:

1. Open General CADD and load your drawing.
2. Go to the Dimensions menu and select the type of dimension you want to add (e.g., Linear, Angular).
3. Click on the two points you want to dimension. For linear dimensions, these are typically the start and end points of a line.
4. Move the cursor to place the dimension line and click to set it in place.
5. Adjust the position and appearance of the dimension if necessary using the Properties panel.

Editing Dimensions:

1. Select the dimension you want to edit.
2. Use the Properties panel to change the dimension style, text size, and other settings.
3. Adjust the placement of the dimension line by clicking and dragging it to the desired location.

AutoCAD Instructions

Adding Dimensions:

1. Open AutoCAD and load your drawing.
2. Type DIM in the command line and press Enter.
3. Select the type of dimension you want to add from the options (e.g., Linear, Angular, Radius).
4. Click on the two points you want to dimension. For linear dimensions, these are typically the start and end points of a line.
5. Move the cursor to place the dimension line and click to set it in place.
6. Press Enter to finish the command.

Editing Dimensions:

1. Select the dimension you want to edit.
2. Right-click and choose Properties from the context menu.
3. Use the Properties panel to change the dimension style, text size, and other settings.
4. Adjust the placement of the dimension line by clicking and dragging it to the desired location.

NanoCad Instructions

Adding Dimensions:

1. Open NanoCad and load your drawing.
2. Go to the Dimension menu and select the type of dimension you want to add (e.g., Linear, Angular).
3. Click on the two points you want to dimension. For linear dimensions, these are typically the start and end points of a line.
4. Move the cursor to place the dimension line and click to set it in place.
5. Adjust the position and appearance of the dimension if necessary using the Properties panel.

Editing Dimensions:

1. Select the dimension you want to edit.
2. Use the Properties panel to change the dimension style, text size, and other settings.
3. Adjust the placement of the dimension line by clicking and dragging it to the desired location.

Conclusion

Adding dimensions to your CAD drawings is essential for providing precise measurements and instructions. By following these instructions for General CADD, AutoCAD, and NanoCad, you can ensure your drawings are accurate and easy to understand.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance!