Changing dimension units in SolidWorks is a fundamental skill that every user should be familiar with. Whether you need to convert your dimensions from inches to millimeters or vice versa, SolidWorks provides a straightforward method to accomplish this task. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of changing dimension units in SolidWorks.
Step 1: Opening the Document
Before we begin, make sure you have your SolidWorks document open and ready for editing. If you don’t have a document open, go ahead and open one now.
Step 2: Accessing the Document Properties
To change the dimension units in SolidWorks, we need to access the document properties. To do this, go to the File menu at the top-left corner of the screen and select Properties. This will open the Document Properties dialog box.
Step 3: Selecting Units
In the Document Properties dialog box, navigate to the Units tab. Here, you will find various options for changing different unit settings in SolidWorks.
To change the dimension units specifically, locate the Drafting Standard section within the Units tab. Click on the drop-down menu next to Drafting Standard, and select your desired standard from the list. For example, if you want to switch from inches to millimeters, select Metric ISO.
Note:
- If you cannot find your desired drafting standard in the list, click on Edit List... This will allow you to customize the available drafting standards or create your own.
- By changing the drafting standard, you are not only modifying the dimension units but also other settings such as decimal places, tolerances, and more.
Step 4: Applying Changes
Once you have selected your desired drafting standard, click on OK to apply the changes. SolidWorks will prompt you with a message confirming that the changes may affect existing dimensions in your document. Click on Yes to proceed.
Step 5: Verifying Dimension Units
To verify that the dimension units have been successfully changed, you can create a new dimension or select an existing one. The dimension value displayed should now reflect the new unit system you have selected.
Congratulations! You have successfully changed the dimension units in SolidWorks. Remember that this change will apply to all dimensions within your document unless explicitly modified individually.
Tips:
- If you need to change dimensions for a specific feature or sketch entity without affecting the rest of the document, you can override the dimension unit by right-clicking on the dimension and selecting Override Unit.
- To switch back to your original dimension units, simply repeat these steps and select your preferred drafting standard from the list.
Now that you know how to change dimension units in SolidWorks, take advantage of this feature to adapt your designs to different measurement systems effortlessly!