QCad User Reference Manual

## Dimensions

This chapter is about constructing dimensions. Figure 40 shows the notation that is used when referring to dimension parts.

Figure 40: Notation for dimensions.

Options Toolbar:

The dimensioning tools may show individual option toolbars, but also share one common toolbar. It allows you to enter a text label for the dimension:

This text label can be any text. When left empty, the label is generated automatically and contains the measured distance of the dimension. To add additional signs or letters to a measured dimension, you can use the combination `<>` to insert the automatically generated label anywhere in the text you entered.

Examples:

Chosen label in the toolbar: | Example for the generated label:
`a` | `a`
`<>` | `20`
`<> H7` | `20 H7`
`ø<>` | `ø20`

### Aligned Dimension

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

Dimension - Aligned

Hotkey:

da

Command:

?

Description:

Creates aligned dimensions. Aligned dimensions usually measure the length of an existing line (Figure 41). The dimension line is always parallel to the line between the two extension line endpoints.

Figure 41: Sample for an aligned dimension.

Procedure:

1. Set the first extention line endpoint with the mouse or enter a co-ordinate in the command line.
2. Set the second extension line endpoint.
3. Set the position of the dimension line.

### Linear Dimensions

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

Dimension - Linear

Hotkey:

dr

Command:

?

Options Toolbar:

Description:

Creates linear dimensions. Linear dimensions are usually used to measure vertical or horizontal distances but can also measure distances with any other angle. Figure 42 shows a horizontal version of a linear dimension.

Figure 42: Example of a horizontal, linear dimension.

Procedure:

1. Enter the angle of the dimension in the options toolbar or click the vertical or horizontal button to set the angle to 0 or 90.
2. Set the first extention line endpoint with the mouse or enter a co-ordinate in the command line.
3. Set the second extension line endpoint.
4. Set the position of the dimension line.

### Horizontal / Vertical Dimensions

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

Dimension - Horizontal

Dimension - Vertical

Hotkey:

dh, dv

Command:

?

Description:

This tool behaves essentially like the one described above (Linear Dimension). The only difference is that you cannot enter an angle.

### Radial Dimensions

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

Dimension - Radial

Command:

?

Description:

Creates radial dimensions for circle or arc entities (Figure 43).

Figure 43: Example of a radial dimension.

Procedure:

1. Choose a circle or arc entity.
2. Set the position of the radial dimension line using the mouse or by entering a co-ordinate or an angle in the command line.

### Diametric Dimensions

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

Dimension - Diametric

Command:

?

Description:

Creates diametric dimensions for circle or arc entities (Figure 44).

Figure 44: Example of a diametric dimension.

Procedure:

1. Choose a circle or arc entity.
2. Set the position of the diametric dimension line using the mouse or by entering a co-ordinate or an angle in the command line.

### Angular Dimensions

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

Dimension - Angular

Command:

?

Description:

Creates angular dimensions between two reference lines. (Figure 45).

Figure 45: Example of an angular dimension.

Procedure:

1. Choose the first line entity.
2. Choose the second line entity.
3. Set the position of the angular dimension line using the mouse or by entering a co-ordinate in the command line.

### Leader

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

Dimension - Leader

Hotkey:

dl

Command:

?

Description:

Leaders are arrows that usually point from a text entity to an other entity (Figure 46). In the figure the text entity "N7" is connected to a surface with a leader.

Figure 46: Example of a leader.

Procedure:

1. Set the location where the leader points to or enter a co-ordinate in the command line.
2. Set the location of the next edge of the leader line.
3. Set the other edges of the leader line and press Return to finish.