Dimensioning

Hi. I'm new to AutoCAD LT. I was wondering if there is a way to force the dimension of a line or circle or anything.

For example: If I draw a line and dimension it, it will dimension it to 2.973 let's say, but if I want to change the dimension or the line to 3.300, how would I do that? I tried to investigate online and in the help menu, but i'm probably not trying in the correct information.

Also, after you create a 2D drawing, is there a way to make it a 3D model or extrude the model?

Thank you for your help!!!

Q1. AutoCAD 2012 - parametric dimensions.

Q2. Yes, AutoCAD (not LT) or one of the next-generation Autodesk products (like Inventor or Revit).

Students can get next-generation Autodesk products for free from http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity

Q1: Yes. Select the dimension you want to change. Go to your PROPERTIES menu. Scroll down under the heading "TEXT," there's a box called TEXT OVERRIDE. Whatever you put in there will show up in the dimension. In this case, enter "3.300"". Or, just make the circle the right size to begin with.

Q2: Yes. Though JD is correct... you won't be able to do it in LT. But the EXTRUDE command, well... it extrudes things!

JD thinks everyone who isn't a student has money to blow on Inventor.

Are your dimensions associative? Yes? Then stretch your line the difference between the original length (2.9730) and the intended new length (3.3000), which happens to be 0.3270 and when you are done the new dimension will be displayed.

Tools > Options > User Preferences. Checkoff the box where it says Make New Dimensions Associative.

There are cheaper alternatives to Inventor or full AutoCAD that can handle 3D if that's were you want to go next. And these programs read and write to the DWG file format too.

This somewhat answers my question. Definitely answers it for extruding. I'm using AutoCAD LT 2000. I remember in AutoCAD if I drew a line and then input a value, then the line would become that length. Is there something similar to that in LT or is LT just like drawing on a piece of paper, you can make the dimensions whatever length you want.

I was asking because I want to make a part look uniform, instead of trying to guess, I thought I would be able to input exact values and then duplicate the part from a drawing.

Thank you!

The best way to modify dimension text is type in the command bar "ED" for edit. You can click any dimension (or text item) and edit it's contents. Also good to know, if you remove the original dimension text, inputting "" will bring back the original dimension. This command works all the way back to at least 2006 to the present versions (2012). Don't know anything about 3D. Good luck lol.

Note, that overriding a text dimension will not change the item you are dimensioning. In your example, dimensioning a line of 2.293 (or whatevre) and then changing that dimension to 3.300 would not change the length of that line, it would only change the text of the dimension.

This somewhat answers my question. Definitely answers it for extruding. I'm using AutoCAD LT 2000. I remember in AutoCAD if I drew a line and then input a value, then the line would become that length. Is there something similar to that in LT or is LT just like drawing on a piece of paper, you can make the dimensions whatever length you want.

 

I was asking because I want to make a part look uniform, instead of trying to guess, I thought I would be able to input exact values and then duplicate the part from a drawing.

 

Thank you!

Yes, LT will draw your line to a specified length just like regular AutoCAD. Basicly the only important things that are missing from LT are 3D and running Lisp code. There are some missing commands but you probably won't notice unless you've been using a full version for a while.

As far as changing or overriding dimensions without making your object fit the dimension, please DO NOT make a habit of this. If you work in an industry where your drawings are used for patterns, they will be worse than useless. Even in a business like Architecture where the drawings are almost never at a scale that can be successfully measured on the paper, changing dimensions with the properties override is routinely frowned upon.

...As far as changing or overriding dimensions without making your object fit the dimension, please DO NOT make a habit of this. If you work in an industry where your drawings are used for patterns, they will be worse than useless. Even in a business like Architecture where the drawings are almost never at a scale that can be successfully measured on the paper, changing dimensions with the properties override is routinely frowned upon.

This cannot be stated enough times!

Yes, LT will draw your line to a specified length just like regular AutoCAD. Basicly the only important things that are missing from LT are 3D and running Lisp code. There are some missing commands but you probably won't notice unless you've been using a full version for a while.

 

As far as changing or overriding dimensions without making your object fit the dimension, please DO NOT make a habit of this. If you work in an industry where your drawings are used for patterns, they will be worse than useless. Even in a business like Architecture where the drawings are almost never at a scale that can be successfully measured on the paper, changing dimensions with the properties override is routinely frowned upon.

You may prefer to frown, I use violent kicking and screaming.

You may prefer to frown, I use violent kicking and screaming.

Hahahahaha! Me too!!!! Only because cursing out whoever supplied the drawing is generally less tolerable than frowning and/or kicking and screaming!

I use a baseball bat

Thank you.

I kid about the baseball bat of coarse but I have had to let two people go for that very practice.

I kid about the baseball bat of coarse but I have had to let two people go for that very practice.

I vote for baseball bat to kneecap over firing anyday.

I vote for baseball bat to kneecap over firing anyday.

they had been forewarned that the practice could not be tolerated, I still don't know why they descided to continue it .....

they had been forewarned that the practice could not be tolerated, I still don't know why they descided to continue it .....

Not to be a jerk, but I'd guess it's cause they were lazy. The age old question: Do you want it done or do you want it done right? I want it done right!

Not to be a jerk, but I'd guess it's cause they were lazy. The age old question: Do you want it done or do you want it done right? I want it done right!

I suspect one of lazyness and the other of outright dessention.

Guessing or approximating a distance is not recommended for precision drawing.

You do know that you can use direct distance entry at the command line in AutoCAD don't you?