How To Print Line Thickness In AutoCAD?

Understanding Line Thickness in AutoCAD

Line thickness in AutoCAD plays a crucial role in distinguishing various elements of a drawing. It affects the visibility and aesthetics of your design when printed, ensuring that different line weights convey the appropriate information. This guide will detail how to print line thickness effectively in AutoCAD, taking into account various settings and configurations that influence output.

Adjusting Line Thickness in Your Drawing

To begin, it is essential to ensure your lines have the desired thickness within the drawing before printing:

1. **Select the Line**: Click on the line that you wish to adjust. This action activates the properties associated with that line.
2. **Open Properties Palette**: Right-click the selected line and choose “Properties.” The Properties Palette will appear on the side.
3. **Change Line Thickness**: Under the “Line” category, locate the “Lineweight” option. Click on this field and select your desired thickness from the dropdown menu. Options typically range from extremely thin to thick lines.
4. **Apply Changes**: Once you have selected the appropriate line thickness, click anywhere outside the Properties Palette to save your changes.

Setting Up Your Plot Style Table

For printing line thickness correctly, you need to configure the Plot Style Table:

1. **Access the Plot Dialog**: Use the command line and type “PLOT” to open the Plot dialog box.
2. **Choose Plot Style Table**: Look for the “Plot style” dropdown menu. Select the appropriate plot style table (CTB or STB) you want to use for your drawing.
3. **Edit Plot Style Table**: Click on the “Edit” button next to the selected Plot Style Table. This opens the Plot Style Table Editor.
4. **Select Appropriate Plot Style**: Locate and choose the plot style corresponding to your previously assigned line thickness.
5. **Configure Lineweight**: In the properties for your selected plot style, find the Lineweight option. Choose the lineweight that matches the setting in your drawing. Click “Save and Close” once finished.

Printing Your Drawing with Correct Line Thickness

After ensuring the lines are correctly set, the next step involves printing with the desired thickness:

1. **Initiate Printing**: Again, use the command “PLOT” to bring up the plot dialog.
2. **Select Printer/Plotter**: Choose the printer or plotter you will use for printing your drawing.
3. **Check Plot Scale and Settings**: Ensure that the scaling settings are appropriate for your drawing. Adjust the scale to suit your requirements, typically 1:1 for accurate output.
4. **Preview Print**: Before finalizing, use the “Preview” option to check how the line thickness will appear on paper. Verify that all lineweights are rendered as expected.
5. **Print**: Satisfied with the preview, click the ‘OK’ button to proceed and print your drawing.

Common Issues with Line Thickness in AutoCAD

If the printed result does not reflect the expected line thickness, consider the following common issues:

• **Mismatch in Plot Style**: Ensure that the object lineweights in the drawing correspond correctly to those set in the plot style table.
• **Scale Lineweights**: Check if the “Scale lineweights” option is enabled in the plot dialog, which could affect how lines are printed in relation to the scale of the drawing.
• **Plot Lineweight Settings**: Verify that the global width of polylines or specific lines is not set to 0, which would result in unseen or overly thin lines when printed.

FAQ

What is the default line thickness in AutoCAD?

The default line thickness in AutoCAD is governed by the LWDEFAULT system variable, which defaults to 0.01 inches or 0.25 mm. Adjusting this can affect how lines are displayed and printed.

How can I preview my line thickness before printing?

Use the “Preview” option in the plot dialog box. This allows you to see how your drawing, including line thickness, will appear when printed.

Why are my lines not printing with the correct weight?

Lines may not print correctly if the plot style settings do not match the drawing lineweights or if the “Scale lineweights” option is unchecked in the plot settings.