Dimensioning An Overview

A dimensioned drawing should provide all the information necessary for a finished
product or part to be manufactured. An example dimension is shown below.
Dimensions are always drawn using continuous thin lines. Two projection lines
indicate where the dimension starts and finishes. Projection lines do not touch the
object and are drawn perpendicular to the element you are dimensioning.
In general units can be omitted from dimensions if a statement of the units is
included on your drawing.

Dimension lines:
Dimension line is a thin continuous line. It is terminated by arrow heads touching the out lines,
extension lines or center lines.

Extension line:
An extension line is also a thin continuous line drawn in extension of an outline. It extends by
about 3mm beyond the dimension line.

Arrow Head:
An arrowhead is placed at each end of the dimension line. Its pointed end touches an outline,
extension line or a centre line. The length of the arrowhead should be about 3 times its
maximum width. It is drawn free hand with two strokes made in the direction of its pointed
end.

Leader:
A leader or a pointer is a thin continuous line connecting a note or a dimension figure with
feature to which it applies.

DIMENSIONING SYSTEMS

(1) Uni-directional System

Procedure: UNIDIRECTIONAL METHOD OF DIMENSIONING

Step-1 Draw an example drawing as given into the above figure. Drawing should be drawn as per the
given dimensions.
Step-2 In the unidirectional dimension system, all dimensions (or numerals) are lettered horizontally and
are read from the bottom of the drawing. In Unidirectional Method of Dimensioning the dimension line
should be cut at center and dimensions should be placed in the middle of dimension lines as shown in
the figure.
Step-3 At the ends of dimension lines filled arrow heads should be placed.

(2) Aligned System

Procedure: ALIGNED METHOD OF DIMENSIONING

Step-1 Draw an example drawing as given into the above figure. Drawing should be drawn as per the
given dimensions.
Step-2 In Aligned system you place the dimensions ( or numerals) above the dimension lines so that they
can be read from bottom or right edge of your sheet. In Aligned Method of Dimensioning the dimension
line should be continuous and dimensions should be placed in the middle of dimension lines as shown in
the figure.
Step-3 At the ends of dimension lines filled arrow heads should be placed.

TYPES OF DIMENSIONING
Parallel Dimensioning
Parallel dimensioning consists of several dimensions originating from one projection line

Superimposed Running Dimensions

Superimposed running dimensioning simplifies parallel dimensions in order to reduce the space used on
a drawing. The common origin for the dimension lines is indicated by a small circle at the intersection of
the first dimension and the projection line. In general all other dimension lines are broken.
The dimension note can appear above the dimension line or in-line with the projection line

Chain Dimensioning
Chain dimensions are used when the distance between features is more important than the size of the
part as whole.

Combined Dimensions
A combined dimension uses both chain and parallel dimensioning.

Dimensioning Small Features

When dimensioning small features, placing the dimension arrow between projection lines may create a
drawing which is difficult to read. In order to clarify dimensions on small features any of the above
methods can be used.
Dimensioning circles

All dimensions of circles are proceeded by this symbol; . There are several conventions used for
dimensioning circles:
(a) Shows two common methods of dimensioning a circle. One method dimensions the circle between
two lines projected from two diametrically opposite points. The second method dimensions the circle
internally.
(b) is used when the circle is too small for the dimension to be easily read if it was placed inside the
circle. A leader line is used to display the dimension.
(c) the final method is to dimension the circle from outside the circle using an arrow which points
directly towards the centre of the circle.
The first method using projection lines is the least used method. But the choice is up to you as to which
you use.
Dimensioning Radii
All radial dimensions are proceeded by the capital R. All dimension arrows and lines should be
drawn perpendicular to the radius so that the line passes through the centre of the arc. All dimensions
should only have one arrowhead which should point to the line being dimensioned. There are two
methods for dimensioning radii.

(a) shows a radius dimensioned with the centre of the radius located on the drawing.
(b) shows how to dimension radii which do not need their centres locating.

General Rules for Dimensioning

Dimensioning should be done so completely that further calculation or assumption of any

dimension or direct measurement from drawing is not necessary.

Every dimension must be given but none should be given more than once.

The dimension should be placed on the view where its use is shown more clearly.

Dimensions should be placed outside the views.

Mutual crossing of dimension lines and dimensioning between hidden lines should be avoided.

Dimension line should not cross any other drawing of the line.

An outline or a centre line should never be used as a dimension line. A centre line may be extended
to serve as an extension line.

Aligned system of dimensioning is recommended.

Dimension lines should be drawn at least 8 mm away from the outlines and from each other.

Representative Fraction (R.F.)

Representative fraction is defined as the ratio of the length of an element of the object in the
drawing to the corresponding actual length of the corresponding element of the object itself.

Example 1
If 1 cm length of drawing represents 5m length of the object than in engineering scale it is
written as 1cmcm=5m and in graphical scale it is denoted by

Example 2
If a 5cm long line in the drawing represents 3 km length of a road then in engineering
scale it is written as 1cm=600m and in graphical scale it is denoted as

If a gear with a 15cm diameter in the drawing represents an actual gear of 6mm diameter in
graphical scale, it is expressed by

Scale 1:1 represents full size scale

Scale 1:x represents reducing scale
Scale x:1 represents enlarging scale.