Dimensioning

 BIS (SP 46:2003) defines dimension as a

numerical value expressed in appropriate
units of measurement and indicated
graphically on technical drawings with
lines, symbols and notes.
Important aspects of dimensioning

 Units of measurement:
In technical drawings we show lengths & angles.
The most convenient unit for length is millimeter
and that for angles is degree.
 Symbols:
Symbols are incorporated to indicate geometry
wherever necessary.
 Notes:
Notes are provided to give specification of a
particular feature or to give specific information
necessary during manufacturing of the object.
 Elements of Dimensioning
 A line on the drawing whose length is to
be shown is called the object line. It is
essentially the outline representing the
feature (s) of the object.
 Dimensioning is done by a set of elements
which includes extension lines, dimension
lines, leader lines, arrowheads and
dimensions.
 Extension Line
 An extension line is a short line drawn perpendicular to an
object line. These start immediately or a few millimeters
from the ends of the object-line and extend a few
millimeters beyond a dimension line.
 Extension Line
 Extension lines may be used to show an angle
due to space constraints. In such a case,
extension lines are drawn parallel to and at the
ends of the object lines.
 Dimension Line
 A dimension
line is drawn
between two
extension lines
parallel to the
object line. As a
rule, there must
be only one
dimension line
between two
extension lines.
 Dimension Line
 While
dimensioning an
angle, a curved
dimension line
is drawn by
drawing a
suitable arc
having its center
at the vertex of
the angle.
 Leader Line
 It is a line which connects a note or dimension with the
feature to which the former applies. Leader lines are
drawn at suitable angles, preferably 30°, 45° or 60° and
are never drawn horizontal or vertical.
 One end of the leader line carries an arrowhead which
connects it to the outline of the object
 Leader Line
 A dot is used instead of an arrowhead in case the leader
ends inside the object. The other end of the leader is
made horizontal. A note or dimension is placed above the
horizontal portion of the leader.
 Leaders are frequently used to indicate the diameter or
radius of a circular feature.
 Arrowheads
 It is drawn at each end of a dimension line. The
tip of the arrowhead touches the extension line.
 An arrowhead is also drawn at the end of a
leader.
 Arrowheads
 The arrowhead may be open, closed or closed & filled.
 The angle formed by the barbs of the arrowhead usually
varies from 15° to 90°
 Sometimes an oblique stroke drawn at 45° to the extension line is
used instead of an arrowhead.
 The closed & filled arrowhead is most commonly adopted. It is in the
form of an isosceles triangle having the height three times its base.
This may be used as a standard practice.
 The size of an arrowhead should be proportionate to the length of
the dimension line.
 Dimension
 It is the numeric value of length or angle expressed in a
specified unit of measurement. Dimensions are placed near the
middle and above the dimension lines or at the center of
dimension lines by breaking them .
 Dimension
 Since all the dimensions of a drawing are
expressed in the same unit, the unit is not
written after the dimensional value.
Instead, a note ALL DIMENSIONS IN MM
is written at a prominent place preferably
on the left hand side of the title block.
 The dimensional text should be the same
for all the dimensions on a drawing and
should have a suitable size.
 Systems of Dimensioning
 For placing a dimension on a drawing, one
of the two systems mentioned below is
adopted:
1. Aligned System
 In aligned system, dimensions are placed
perpendicular to the dimension-line so that
they may be read from the bottom or right-
hand side of the drawing sheet.
 Aligned System
 All horizontal and inclined dimensions can be read from the bottom
whereas vertical dimensions can be read from the right-hand side
of the drawing sheet.
 Dimensions are placed at the middle and on the top of the
dimension lines
 Unidirectional System
 In this system, dimensions are placed in
such a way as they can be read from the
bottom edge of the drawing sheet.
 All horizontal dimensions are placed at the
middle and on the top of the dimension
lines while vertical and inclined
dimensions are inserted by breaking the
dimension line in the middle.
Unidirectional System
 Rules of Dimensioning
 Between any two
dimension extension
lines, there must be
one and only one
dimension line
bearing only one
dimensional value.

As far as
practicable, all
the dimensions
should be placed
outside the
views. Inside
dimensions are
preferred only if
there are clearer
and more easily
readable.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 All dimensions in the drawing must be
shown using either aligned system or
unidirectional system. In no case should
the two systems be mixed on the same
drawing.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 The same unit of
length must be
used for all the
dimensions on the
drawing. The unit
should not be
written after each
dimensional value,
but a not
mentioning the unit
should be placed
below the drawing
 Rules of Dimensioning
 Dimension lines
should not cross
each other.
Dimension lines
should also not
cross any other
lines of the object.
However,
extension lines
may cross each
other or the
outlines of the
object
 Rules of Dimensioning
 All dimensions must be
given. As far as possible,
there should not be need
for calculation, assumption
or direct measurement for
any dimension.
 Each dimension should be
given only once. No
dimension should be
redundant. If a particular
dimension is mentioned
directly or indirectly, in one
view, it should not be
repeated in other views.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 Do not use
outline or
center line as
dimension
line. A center
line may be
extended to
serve as an
extension
line.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 When it is necessary to place a
dimension within a sectioned area,
leave a blank space for that
dimension.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 Avoid dimensioning hidden lines.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 Keep dimension lines 8-10mm. away from the
object and also from each other.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 If space between two extension lines
is too narrow to mark arrowheads and
dimensions, one of the following
ways, depending upon the availability
of space, should be adopted:
I. Draw arrowheads touching the
outsides of the extension lines and
pointing towards each other. Place
the dimension above the dimension
line-

II. Draw arrowheads as in (i) above and place the dimension at one end of the dimension line outside the
extension line.
 Rules of Dimensioning
III. Draw arrowheads
as in (i) above and
place the
dimension line at
the end of the
leader which
terminates on the
dimension line
 Rules of Dimensioning
IV. For two
consecutive
dimensions,
replace the two
intermediate
arrowheads by a
dot and place the
dimensions as in
(i) or (ii)
depending upon
the availability of
space.
 Rules of Dimensioning in Series-
Chain Dimensioning
 For dimensioning in series, we adopt anyone of the following
ways:
I. Chain Dimensioning: - All dimensions are aligned in such a way
that an arrowhead of one dimension touched tip-to-tip the
arrowhead of the adjacent dimension. The overall dimension is
placed outside the other smaller dimensions
 Rules of Dimensioning in Series-
Parallel Dimensioning
II. All dimensions are
shown from a
common reference
line. All dimensions
share a common
extension line. This
method is adopted
when dimensions
have to be
established from a
particular datum
surface.
 Rules of Dimensioning in Series-
Parallel Dimensioning
III. Combined Dimensioning:- When both
the above methods are used in the
same drawing, it is called combined
dimensioning.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 Smaller dimension
should always be
placed nearer the
view. The overall
dimension should
always be away
from the view. This
will avoid the
crossing of
dimension lines
and extension
lines.
 Rules of Dimensioning
 All notes should be written horizontally.
 Aligned system of dimensioning is recommended.
 Dimensioning of Special Features
 Dimensioning of special features like holes, cylinders,
tapers, threads, etc. are denoted by specific symbols
and abbreviations.
 The specific symbol must precede the dimensions to
represent the particular feature.
 Dimensioning of Circular features
 A circle should be
dimensioned by giving its
diameter instead of
radius.
 The dimension indicating
the diameter should
always be preceded by
symbol Ф. A leader may
be used if the space
available inside the circle
is insufficient to
accommodate the
dimensional value.
 Dimensioning of Circular features
 Circular features must be dimensioned in the view in
which they appear as circles. The holes should always
be located by their centerlines.
 If there are more than one hole of the same diameter,
each hole need not be dimensioned separately, rather
the dimension of one hole with a note will give an idea
about the dimensions of all the holes
 The note ‘4xФ20’ or ‘4 HOLES, Ф20’ means that there
are four holes each having a diameter of 20.
 Dimensioning of Circular features
 If there exists different
categories of holes,
each category having
the same diameter of
holes, then
dimensioning may be
done by using
reference letters and
notes below the view.
 Dimensioning of Circular features
 Equispaced holes or circles may be located as shown in the
diagram.
 ‘5x18(=90)’ means that there are 5+1=6 holes, centre-to-centre
distance between two consecutive holes=18 and the distance
between the first and the last hole is=90
 Break-lines may be used if there are a large number of holes on the
uniform cross-sectioned area.
 Dimensioning of Circular features
 In case of angular spacing of holes, the
angular distance between two consecutive
holes may be used to locate them
 Dimensioning of Circular features
 The arc should be dimensioned by giving its radius.
 The dimension indicating the radius must be preceded by
symbol R.
 As far as possible, the centre of the arc should be marked by a
cross.
 The dimension line should pass through the center of the arc.
 A leader may be used if the space is insufficient
 Dimensioning of Circular features
 If the radius of the arc is too large or too small
to mark its centre in the space available, the
centre-mark may be omitted.
 Dimensioning of Cylindrical
features
 Cylindrical features should be dimensioned by giving
their diameters.
 As far as possible, they must be dimensioned in the
views in which they appear as rectangles.
 A cylinder may be dimensioned as shown in the figure
on the right. Obviously, the length is measured parallel
to the axis.
 Dimensioning of Spherical Features
 Spherical features may be done by giving either the radius
or the diameter of the sphere.
 The symbols ‘SR’ or ‘SФ’ must precede the dimensional
value for radius or diameter respectively.
 What is a taper?
 A taper may be defined as a
uniform increase or decrease
in the diameter of a piece of
work measured along its
length.
 A tapered piece may be
designated by the following
symbols:
 D - large diameter

d – small diameter
 l – length of tapered part
 2α – full taper angle
 α – angle of taper or half taper
angle
The amount of taper in a work-
piece is usually specified by
the ratio of the difference in
diameters at the ends to its
length and is termed as
conicity, K,
K = (D-d)/ l
 Dimensioning of Conical and Tapered
features
 Conical features are dimensioned in any of
following ways:
1. By giving the two diametric dimensions and the
perpendicular distance between them. (Fig a)
 Dimensioning of Conical and Tapered
features
2. By giving one of the diameters, distance between the end faces (i.e.
length of the taper) and taper using the conical taper symbol
(Fig. b)
The taper should be calculated by taking the ratio of the difference
between the diameters of the end faces and the length of the taper.
 Dimensioning of Conical and Tapered
features
3. By giving one of the diameters, length of the
taper and the taper angle. (Fig. c)
 Dimensioning of Conical and Tapered
features
 Flat tapered features are dimensioned in either of following two
ways:
1. By giving the height of one side, distance between flat ends and the
taper using the symbol. (Fig a).
The taper is calculated by taking the ratio of the difference between
the heights of the two flat ends and the length of the taper

5
 Dimensioning of Conical and Tapered
features
2. By giving the height of one side, length of the
taper and the slope of the tapered face.(Fig. b)
 Dimensioning of Square features
 Square features (e.g., a rod of square cross-
section) are dimensioned by using the symbol □
or SQ as shown in the diagram.
 Dimensioning of Square features
 If the true shape of the square is not seen in the view,
then cross-lines (X) are used to indicate the square
cross-section.
 Dimensioning of Chamfered
features
 Chamfering is the beveling the extreme end of the
work-piece. It is done to remove the burrs, to protect
the ends of the work-piece from being damaged and
to have a better appearance.
 External Chamfers are dimensioned in any of the
three ways shown in the diagram.
 Dimensioning of Chamfered
features
 Internal Chamfers are dimensioned in any of
the three ways shown in the diagram.
 Dimensioning of Countersunk
 Countersunk is dimensioned in any of the three ways
shown in the diagram.
 The third diagram shows how a countersunk feature is
dimensioned by using a note in which it appears as
circles.
Dimensioning of Screw Threads
 External threads are dimensioned by giving the
threaded length and the nominal diameter
preceded by symbol ‘M’.
Dimensioning of Screw Threads
 Internal threads are dimensioned by giving the threaded length,
depth of the drilled hole before threading and the nominal diameter
preceded by symbol ‘M’.
 Use of Notes
 Notes are used to give specifications of particular
features or some specific information.
 A note may be a general sentience applied to entire or
some part of the drawing, or a note may be a specific
sentence applied to a particular feature.
 General notes are written at a prominent place on the
drawing sheet.
 The height of the letters is kept between 4mm. To 8
mm., preferably 6 mm.
 Underlining is avoided.
 When notes are connected by leaders to the feature
they imply, height of letters are kept between 3 mm. to 4
mm.
 Use of Notes
1. Circular hole-
Fig. shows a hole of diameter 16, drilled to
the depth of 25 mm.
 Use of Notes
2. Countersinking is the
operation of making a
cone-shaped
enlargement of the
end of the hole to
provide a recess for a
flat head screw or a
countersunk rivet fitted
into it.
 Use of Notes
 Fig. shows a
countersunk
of root-
diameter 10,
top diameter
17 and
included
angle 90º.
 Use of Notes
3. Spot facing-
It is an operation of
smoothing and
squaring the surface
around a hole for the
seat for a nut or the
head of a screw.
 Use of Notes
3. Spot face -
Fig. shows a spot face of diameter 22 on a
hole of diameter 10.
 Use of Notes
4. Counter boring-
It is the operation of
enlarging the end of a
hole cylindrically. The
enlarged hole forms a
square shoulder with the
original hole. This is
necessary in some
cases to accommodate
the heads of bolts, studs
and pins.
 Use of Notes
4. Counter bore -
Fig. shows a counter bore of root-diameter
10, top diameter 20 and depth 10.
 Use of Notes
5. Keyway – A keyway is a slot cut across a surface to restrict any
relative motion between the surfaces thereby facilitating the
transmission of power, e.g., fly-wheel and axle.
Fig. shows a keyway.
 Use of Notes
6. Saw cut -
Fig. shows a saw cut of width .
 Use of Notes
7. Repeated features -
Fig. shows five slots, each of width 16 and depth 6.