Dimensioning

Chapter 9

Understanding Dimensioning

• Drawings for products must be dimensioned so that production personnel all over the world can make mating parts that will fit properly when assembled or when used to replace parts

Aspects of Good Dimensioning

• Dimensions are given in the form of distances, angles, and notes regardless of the dimensioning units being used

• The ability to create good dimensions requires:– Technique of dimensioning– Placement of dimensions– Choice of dimensions

Tolerance

• When a finished part is measured it may vary slightly from the exact dimension specified

• Tolerance is the total amount that the feature on the actual part is allowed to vary from what is specified by the dimension

Lines Used in Dimensioning

• Dimension line – a thin, dark, solid line terminated by arrowheads, indicating the direction and extent of a dimension

Lines Used in Dimensioning

• Extension line – a thin, dark, solid line that extends from a point on the drawing to which a dimension refers

Lines Used in Dimensioning

• Centerline – a thin, dark line alternating long and short dashes commonly used in locating holes and other symmetrical features

Using Dimension and Extension Lines

• Shorter dimension lines are nearest the object outline

• Dimension lines should not cross extension lines

• A dimension line should never coincide with or extend any line of the drawing

• Avoid crossing dimension lines when possible

Using Dimension and Extension Lines

Using Dimension and Extension Lines

Using Dimension and Extension Lines

• Dimensions should be lined up and grouped together as much as possible

Using Dimension and Extension Lines

• When extension lines or center lines cross visible object lines, gaps should not be left in the lines

Arrowheads

• Arrowheads indicate the extent of dimensions• They should be uniform in size and style

throughout the drawing

Leaders• A leader is a thin solid line directing attention

to a note or dimension and starting with an arrowhead or dot

• Leaders should be at an angle of 30-60˚

Drawing Scale and Dimensioning

• Drawings are usually made to a scale which is indicated in the title block

• A heavy straight line should be drawn under any single dimension value that is not to scale– If an entire drawing is not prepared to a standard,

note NONE in the scale area of the title block

Direction of Dimension Values and Notes

• All dimension values and notes are lettered horizontally and should read from the bottom of the sheet– The exception is when dimensioning from a

baseline as in coordinate dimensioning

Direction of Dimension Values and Notes

Direction of Dimension Values and Notes

Dimension Units

• Dimension values are shown using the metric system or decimal inch values

• It is standard practice to omit millimeter designations and inch marks on drawings and note the units in the title block except when there is a possibility of misunderstanding

Dimension Units

• Either meters or feet and inches and fractional inches are used in architectural and structural work – In U.S. structural and architectural drafting, all

dimensions of 1 foot or over are usually expressed in feet and inches

Millimeter Values

• The millimeter is the commonly used unit for most metric engineering drawings– One-place millimeter decimals are used when

tolerance limits permit– Two or more-place millimeter decimals are used

when higher tolerances are required

Decimal Inch Values

• Two-place decimals are typical when tolerance limits permit– In two-place decimals, the second place

preferably should be an even digit so that when the dimension is divided by 2 the results will still be a two-place decimal

Rules for Dimension Values

• Where the metric dimension is a whole number, do not show a decimal point or a zero

• Where the metric dimension is less than 1mm, a zero precedes the decimal point

• Where the decimal-inch dimension is used, a zero is not used before the decimal point of values less than 1

Rounding Values

• If the number following the rounding position is a 5, round to an even number

• If the number following the rounding position is less then 5, make no change

• If the number following the rounding position is more than 5, round up

Dual Dimensioning

• Dual dimensioning is used to show metric and decimal inch dimensions on the same drawing

Dimension Symbols

Placing Dimensions

• Never letter a dimension value over any line on the drawing

• In a group of parallel dimension lines, the dimension values should be staggered

• Do not crowd dimension figures into limited spaces making them illegible

Placing Dimensions

• Place dimensions between views when possible, but only attached to a single view

• Dimensions should not be placed on a view unless doing so promotes the clarity of the drawing

Placing Dimensions

• When a dimension must be placed in a hatched area or on the view, leave an opening in the hatching or a break in the lines for the dimension value

Placing Dimensions

• Avoid dimensioning to hidden lines• Do not attach dimensions to visible lines

where the meaning is not clear• Notes for holes are usually placed where you

see the circular shape of the hole– An external cylindrical shape is dimensioned

where it appears rectangular

Placing Dimensions

• Give dimensions where the contours of the object are defined

Superfluous Dimensions

• All necessary dimensions must be shown but avoid giving unnecessary dimensions

• Do not repeat dimensions on the same view or on different views, or give the same information two different ways

Superfluous Dimensions

Dimensioning Angles

• You should dimension angles by specifying the angle in degrees and a linear dimension

Dimensioning Arcs

• A circular arc is dimensioned in the view where you see its true shape by giving the value for its radius preceded by the abbreviation R

Fillets and Rounds

• Individual fillets and rounds are dimensioned like other arcs– If there are only a few and they are obviously the

same size, giving one typical radius is preferred– Fillets radii can also be given in a general note

Size Dimensions: Prisms

Size Dimensions: Cylinders

Size Dimensions: Holes

Dimensioning Various Shapes

Dimensioning Curves

Dimensioning Curved Surfaces

Dimensioning Rounded-end Shapes

Dimensioning Threads

Dimensioning Tapers

Dimensioning Chamfers

Shaft Centers

Dimensioning Keyways

Dimensioning Knurls

Finish Marks

• A finish mark is used to indicate that a surface is to be machined

Surface Roughness

Location Dimensions

Location Dimensions

Location Dimensions

Location Dimensions

Mating Dimensions

Tabular Dimensions

Coordinate Dimensioning

• Basic coordinate dimensioning practices are generally compatible with the data requirements for automated production

• A set of three mutually perpendicular datum or reference planes is usually required for coordinate dimensioning

Coordinate Dimensioning

Coordinate Dimensioning

Machine, Pattern, and Forging Dimensions

Sheet-Metal Bends

• In sheet-metal dimensioning, allowance must be made for bends

Notes

• It is usually necessary to supplement the direct dimensions with notes

• Notes should be worded to allow only one interpretation

• Notes should be lettered horizontally

Standards

• Dimensions should be given to make use of readily available materials, tools, parts, and gages

• The dimensions for many commonly used machine elements are standardized and can be obtained from standard manuals or catalogs