How to Make Broken Lines in AutoCAD?

Understanding Dashed Lines in AutoCAD

Creating dashed lines in AutoCAD is essential for differentiating between various line types in technical drawings. These lines are often used to represent hidden or non-visible edges, providing clarity and organization within a drawing.

Step 1: Open AutoCAD and Start a New Drawing

Begin by launching AutoCAD 2025 and creating a new drawing file or opening an existing one where you need to implement dashed lines. Familiarize yourself with your workspace to effectively navigate the tools you will be using.

Step 2: Access the Linetype Manager

To begin working with dashed lines:

1. Go to the ribbon at the top of the AutoCAD window.
2. Click on the Home tab to display the primary toolbar.
3. In the ribbon, locate the Linetype panel.
4. Click on Linetype to open the Linetype Manager.

Step 3: Load a Dashed Linetype

If the dashed linetype isn’t already available in your drawing, you’ll need to load it:

1. In the Linetype Manager, press the Load button.
2. A dialog box will appear, showing a list of available linetypes.
3. Scroll through this list to find a dashed linetype, such as "DASHED" or similar.
4. Select the preferred dashed line style and click OK to load it into your drawing.

Step 4: Assign the Dashed Linetype to Objects

After loading the dashed linetype, it’s time to apply it to your drawing objects:

1. Select the line or object you wish to change.
2. Right-click and choose Properties from the context menu.
3. In the Properties palette, navigate to the Linetype setting.
4. From the dropdown menu, select the dashed linetype you just loaded.
5. Click OK or simply deselect the object to see the changes reflected in your drawing.

Step 5: Adjusting the Linetype Scale

To ensure that the dashed lines appear correctly, adjusting the Linetype scale may be necessary:

1. Access the command line by pressing Command or Enter.
2. Type LTSCALE, then press Enter.
3. Input a new scale value. The default is usually 1. A scale of 0.5 will make the dashes denser, while a value of 2 will stretch them out.
4. After setting the scale, hit Enter to apply your changes.

Step 6: Verifying the Appearance on Your Drawing

To confirm that the dashed lines appear correctly:

1. Zoom in on the areas where you’ve applied the dashed lines.
2. Use the REGEN command in the command line to refresh the drawing display. This updates how objects are rendered and helps show changes.
3. Review the dashed lines to ensure they meet your expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are my dashed lines not appearing as expected?

If your dashed lines are not visible, check the Linetype scale (LTSCALE) setting. If it is set too low or too high, it might affect how the dashed lines show up. Ensure that it is set appropriately for your drawing scale.

2. How can I increase or decrease the spacing between dashes?

To adjust spacing between dashes, modify the Linetype definition if applicable, or alter the LTSCALE command as discussed in the steps above. A smaller value increases density, while a larger value decreases it.

3. What if my changes do not seem to take effect?

If modifications do not appear, check if your drawing is set to regenerate properly. Use the REGEN command to refresh the drawing. If issues persist, verify the Linetype settings again and ensure that they are applied to the correct objects or layers.