How to Change Line Thickness in AutoCAD 2018?

Understanding Line Thickness in AutoCAD 2018

Adjusting line thickness in AutoCAD is essential for achieving the desired aesthetic and clarity in architectural and engineering drawings. This guide outlines detailed steps to change line thickness in AutoCAD 2018 effectively.

Accessing the Properties Palette

To modify line thickness, begin by selecting the specific objects you want to edit. This might include lines, polylines, text, or any other drawable entities.

1. Select the Object: Click on the items whose thickness needs adjustment. Multiple selections can be made by holding the Shift key or using a selection window.
2. Open Properties: Right-click on the selected object(s) and choose "Properties" from the context menu. This opens the Properties palette, where various attributes of the selected objects can be accessed.

Adjusting Line Thickness

Once the Properties palette is visible:

1. Locate Thickness Setting: In the Properties palette, scroll to find the "Thickness" field.
2. Set the Value: Enter the desired thickness value in the thickness field. You can specify any measurement unit that AutoCAD recognizes (inches, millimeters, etc.), making it adaptable to your drawing’s requirements. After entering the value, the selected objects will visually update to reflect the specified thickness.

Changing Default Line Thickness

If you wish to set a default line thickness for newly created objects:

1. Access Layer Properties: Click on the "Home" tab, navigate to the "Layers" panel, and select "Layer Properties."
2. Modify Layer Thickness: In the Layer Properties Manager, find the "Lineweight" column. Click on the line weight you would like to change and select your desired thickness from the drop-down menu.
3. Confirm Changes: Click ‘OK’ or ‘Apply’ to save your new default settings. From this point, any new objects created on this layer will inherit the specified thickness.

Editing Polylines for Thickness

If you need to edit the thickness of polylines specifically:

1. Select Edit Polyline Tool: Go to the "Modify" panel on the Home tab and click on "Edit Polyline."
2. Choose Your Polyline: Click to select the polyline you want to adjust.
3. Edit Vertex: Type ‘E’ to enter the Edit Vertex mode, where you can modify specific points of the polyline.
4. Adjust Width: Enter ‘W’ to specify the width. Provide the starting and ending widths as needed.

Reducing Line Thickness

To reduce the thickness of a line or polyline:

1. Open Layer Properties Panel: From the Home tab, access the "Layer Properties" under the Layers panel.
2. Modify Lineweight: Under the Lineweight column, click on the current line weight assigned to the layer and choose a lighter option from the dialog box.
3. Apply and Close: Once you’ve made your selection, apply the change so it reflects across all corresponding objects on that layer.

Changing Thickness for Text

Adjusting the thickness of text can also enhance the readability of your drawings:

1. Use Quick Select Command: Enter the QSELECT command in the command line.
2. Select Text Objects: Choose either "MText" or "Text" as the object type.
3. Modify Z Position: Select "Position Z" in the properties and set it to zero to address any thickness criteria, ensuring consistent text appearance.

FAQ

1. Can I change the thickness of multiple lines at once?
Yes, by selecting multiple objects before accessing the Properties palette, you can adjust the thickness for all selected lines simultaneously.

2. What if my line thickness changes are not visible in my drawing?
Make sure that "Display Lineweight" is enabled in the application. This feature can typically be found in the options menu under the "Display" settings.

3. How can I ensure the thickness of my lines prints correctly?
Check the plot settings and ensure that the lineweight settings are configured to display line thickness as intended. Preview your print layout before finalizing the print.