Dimensions consist of various elements.
(1) Dimension value
(2) Dimension lines
(3) Dimension line terminations
(4) Dimension help lines.
The line thickness and color of dimension lines and dimension help lines are defined by the layer used. The standard dimensioning layer EPLAN107 ("Graphic.Dimensions") specifies a line thickness of 0.25 mm and the color "blue". Use a different layer to define any desired line thickness and / or color for the dimension lines. However, the color of the dimension values is defined within the dimension (Format tab of the properties dialog).
Dimension value
The dimension value is typically drawn centered on the dimension line with a font size of 3.5 mm, but this is dependent on the dimension type. You can move the dimension value retroactively as you wish. The dimension value can be retroactively changed in order to dimension unscaled lengths.
You can also specify a prefix and a suffix, for example "Diameter 10 mm". The number of decimal places can also be specified. Zeros are not shown.
Units can be set up differently for every dimension. If a standard unit is "mm", for example, it may still make sense to assign other units of measure for other dimensions.
Dimension line termination
Dimension line terminations are typically displayed by dimension arrows but there are also other identifiers available. For space reasons, one or more dimension line terminations may be omitted.
Only dimension arrows are allowed for dimensions on arcs.
Dimension arrows can be separately activated and deactivated for the left and right side.
Dimension line
Dimension lines are entered as narrow edges of the object outside of the component and are drawn between the two dimension help lines.
If a dimension is specified, the subsequent dimensions (continued dimension or baseline dimension) are aligned according to this dimension chain.
The dimension value is displayed through the dimension line and can be read from below and from the right (depending on the location of the labeling field).
The dimension lines have a thickness of 0.25 mm.
Dimension help lines
Dimension help lines are parallel to one another, usually perpendicular to the dimension line, and extend 2 mm beyond the dimension line. Dimension help lines have a thickness of 0.25 mm.
In some special cases dimension help lines can be hidden.
See also