AutoCAD is a powerful software used for creating 2D and 3D designs. By default, AutoCAD uses specific units for measurements such as inches, millimeters, feet, or meters.
However, there may be instances when you need to change the default units to suit your specific project requirements. In this tutorial, we will explore how to change the default units in AutoCAD.
Step 1: Accessing the Drawing Units Dialog Box
To change the default units in AutoCAD, you need to access the Drawing Units dialog box. There are two ways to access this dialog box:
- Method 1: Type “UNITS” in the command line and press Enter.
- Method 2: Go to the Application Menu (the “A” button in the top-left corner) > Drawing Utilities > Units.
Both methods will open up the Drawing Units dialog box where you can make changes to the default units used in your drawings.
Step 2: Changing Linear Units
The first section in the Drawing Units dialog box is for changing linear units. Here’s how you can modify these settings:
- Main Drawing Unit:
The Main Drawing Unit determines the default unit used for measurements. You can choose from a variety of options such as inches, millimeters, feet, meters, and more. Select your desired unit from the dropdown menu.
- Precision:
The Precision setting determines how many decimal places are displayed for linear measurements. If you require more precise measurements, increase the number of decimal places. Conversely, if you don’t need high precision, decrease the number of decimal places.
- Scale:
The Scale setting allows you to scale objects by a specified factor. This is useful when you need to work with drawings that are scaled differently from the default unit. Enter the desired scale factor in this field.
Step 3: Changing Angular Units
The second section in the Drawing Units dialog box is for changing angular units. Here’s how you can modify these settings:
- Format:
The Format setting determines the format in which angles are displayed. You can choose from options such as degrees, radians, gradians, and more.
The Precision setting determines the number of decimal places displayed for angular measurements. Adjust this setting based on your requirements.
Step 4: Making Additional Changes
In addition to changing linear and angular units, AutoCAD also allows you to modify other unit-related settings. These include:
- Area: Specify the desired unit for area measurements.
- Volume: Determine the default unit used for volume measurements.
- Arc Length: Set the preferred unit for arc length calculations.
- Surveyor’s Units: Enable or disable Surveyor’s Units, which are commonly used in surveying and civil engineering projects.
Make any necessary changes to these settings based on your project requirements.
Step 5: Applying the Changes
Once you have made all the necessary changes to the units, click on the “OK” button in the Drawing Units dialog box to apply the changes. AutoCAD will now use your modified units as the default for all future drawings.
Changing the default units in AutoCAD allows you to work with measurements that align with your project requirements. By following these steps, you can easily customize the units used in your drawings and ensure accurate and efficient design work.