How to Change Units in AutoCAD 2018?

Understanding Units in AutoCAD

AutoCAD is a powerful design and drafting tool that allows users to create precise and detailed drawings. One of the essential aspects of working in AutoCAD is managing units correctly. This guide details the steps to modify units in AutoCAD 2018, ensuring your drawings are accurately scaled based on your project’s requirements.

Changing Units from Inches to Millimeters

To convert drawings from inches to millimeters in AutoCAD, follow these steps:

1. Access the Dimension Menu:

   • Navigate to the Dimension menu in the interface.

2. Create a New Dimension Style:

   • Click on the “Style” option within the Dimension menu.
   • In the Dimension Style Manager that appears, look for the ‘New’ button and click it.

3. Configure the New Dimension Style:

   • Name your new dimension style and select an existing style to start from.
   • Choose “Use For: All Dimensions” to apply this style universally.

4. Define Primary Units:

   • Switch to the “Primary Units” tab.
   • In the Suffix box, type “mm” to denote millimeters.
   • Adjust the Scale Factor to 25.4, which reflects the conversion rate of millimeters to inches (since there are 25.4 mm in an inch).

5. Finalize and Exit:

   • Click OK to save your settings and then close the Dimension Style Manager.

Setting Units to Meters

To change the units to meters, follow these instructions:

1. Open a New Drawing:

   • Begin by launching AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture with a new, blank drawing.

2. Initiate the Units Command:

   • Type the command UNITS into the command line and press Enter.

3. Adjusting the Units:

   • In the “Drawing Setup” dialog, locate the “Units” setting.
   • Select either “Millimeters” or “Meters” from the dropdown menu based on your requirements.

4. Save Default Settings:

   • Check the box labeled “Save as Default” at the bottom left corner to maintain these settings for future drawings.

Altering Units to Centimeters

If your project requires units in centimeters, the following steps will assist:

1. Modify Scale Settings:

   • Click on the Home tab and then the Modify panel, selecting the Scale option.

2. Select Objects:

   • At the prompt asking for objects, type “all” to select everything within your drawing.

3. Input the Base Point:

   • Enter a base point for scaling. Commonly, this would be designated as (0, 0).

4. Enter Scale Factor:

   • To change to centimeters, input the appropriate scale factor (e.g., 2.54, as 1 inch is equal to 2.54 cm).

Converting Units to Feet and Inches

To set your drawings to feet and inches, follow these steps:

1. Start a New Drawing:

   • Begin by creating a new file with AutoCAD.

2. Run the Units Command:

   • Type UNITS into the command line and press Enter.

3. Select Unit Type and Scale:

   • Choose “Decimal” for Type, and select “Feet” for the Insertion scale from the given options.

4. Inserting Drawings:

   • Use the INSERT command, or CLASSICINSERT for AutoCAD 2025 and later versions, to load any existing drawings in inches.
   • Click on the Browse button to select your desired drawing file.

Fixing Units in AutoCAD

At times, units might need adjustment. Here’s how to address this:

1. Command for Units:

   • Type Units into the command input and hit Enter.

2. Change Insertion Scale:

   • Open the drop-down menu for Insertion scale and select your desired unit.

3. Confirm Changes:

   • Click OK to save your changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I check what units are currently set in AutoCAD?

To verify the current units, execute the UNITS command. The Units dialog will display your current settings for measurement and scale.

2. Can I revert to default settings for units?

Yes, by executing the UNITS command and then choosing the default options, you can quickly revert any custom settings back to AutoCAD’s standard configurations.

3. Are there different types of units available in AutoCAD?

AutoCAD offers several types of units, including Architectural (feet & inches), Decimal, Engineering (inches), Fractional, and Scientific (10e form). Each type is suited for different kinds of projects and industries.