Dimensions

Dimensions

Overall dimensions are always drawn; add chain dimensions for rows of parts, and a ruler or grid for positions.

ISO or ASME (Views ‣ Standard)

	ISO 129-1	ASME Y14.5
Dimension text	Above the line; vertical text reads from the right	Horizontal, in a break of the line
Arrowheads	Closed, 30°	Closed, 3:1
Extension lines	Start at the part	Small gap from the part

Dimensions sit 10 mm from the view, with 3.5 mm text (2.5 mm on A4 and Letter) and 3 mm arrowheads. Figures have a white background so lines never cross them.

Small dimensions: when the value does not fit between the extension lines, it moves just past them; when the arrows do not fit, they go outside, pointing in.

Chain dimensions

For rows of objects (shelves, posts, seats). Add a chain and set:

• Collection: the objects of the row;
• View: Top, Front or Side;
• Reference: the point of each object used as a station (Left Edge, Center, Right Edge, Origin);
• Combine Equal Spacing: equal intervals written once as 5 × 600 = 3000; off, every interval is dimensioned;
• Tolerance: intervals that differ by less than this percentage are merged (model imprecision);
• Positions: each station's coordinate from the world origin, under the chain;
• Architect Ticks (Style): oblique ticks instead of arrows. Ticks are also used where arrows do not fit.

The chain under the front view above reads 5 × 600.0 = 3,000.0: five equal intervals of 600 mm.

Ruler or grid

Ruler adds coordinate scales along the views; Grid adds an architect grid (A, B, C / 1, 2, 3). Set the Step (0 = automatic, about 10 intervals), the Origin object (world origin if empty) and the views (Top, Front, Side).

Ruler	Grid