Changing units in AutoCAD is an essential skill for any CAD user. Whether you need to switch from inches to millimeters or vice versa, understanding how to change units can save you time and prevent costly mistakes in your drawings. In this tutorial, we will explore the various methods of changing units in AutoCAD.
Method 1: Using the Drawing Units Dialog Box
If you prefer a graphical interface to change units, AutoCAD provides a convenient Drawing Units dialog box. To access it, go to the Application Menu (the big red A in the top left corner) and select “Drawing Utilities” > “Units” or type “UNITS” in the command line.
Once the Drawing Units dialog box appears, you can choose from a variety of unit types such as Decimal, Architectural, Engineering, Fractional, and more. Select the desired unit type that matches your project requirements.
Note: Be careful when changing units mid-project as it may affect existing dimensions and measurements. Always double-check your work after changing units.
Method 2: Using Command Line
If you prefer using commands to navigate through AutoCAD, you can change units by typing “UNITS” directly into the command line and pressing Enter. This will open the Drawing Units dialog box mentioned earlier.
Note: The command line method is especially useful when working with scripts or creating macros that require unit changes as part of a larger workflow.
Method 3: Modifying Existing Objects
In some cases, you may already have objects drawn in your drawing that are using incorrect units. Changing these objects individually can be time-consuming. Fortunately, AutoCAD provides a way to modify existing objects’ units quickly.
- Select the objects that you want to change the units for.
- Type “SCALE” into the command line and press Enter.
- In the Scale dialog box, enter the scale factor by which you want to modify the objects. For example, if you want to convert from inches to millimeters, enter 25.4 as the scale factor (since there are 25.4 millimeters in an inch).
- Press Enter to apply the scale factor and change the units of the selected objects.
Note: Scaling objects can have unintended consequences, so it’s crucial to double-check your work after modifying existing objects’ units.
Conclusion
Changing units in AutoCAD is a fundamental skill that every CAD user should master. Whether you prefer using a graphical interface or command line, AutoCAD provides multiple methods for changing units quickly and accurately. Remember always to double-check your work after making unit changes to avoid any potential errors in your drawings.
Now that you know how to change units in AutoCAD, go ahead and experiment with different unit types to find what works best for your projects!