How to Set Feet and Inches in AutoCAD?

Understanding Feet and Inches in AutoCAD

AutoCAD is a powerful drafting tool used extensively for architectural and engineering purposes. Setting feet and inches correctly is essential for ensuring accuracy in your designs.

Steps to Enter Feet and Inches in AutoCAD

To input dimensions in feet and inches, follow these steps:

1. Begin Drawing: Open AutoCAD and start a new drawing or open an existing one.
2. Set a Dimension Command: Choose the dimensioning tool from the tool palette or type DIM in the command line.
3. Input Dimensions: When prompted for the dimension, enter feet as a numerical value followed by an apostrophe (‘) for feet and the inches as a numerical value followed by a quote (“). For instance, for 5 feet 8 inches, type 5' 8".

Configuring Units to Inches in AutoCAD

To work in inches effectively, you may need to adjust the settings of your AutoCAD environment:

1. Open the Dimension Style Manager: Type DIMSTY in the command line and hit Enter.
2. Select Your Style: Choose the currently active dimension style from the list.
3. Modify Settings: Click on the Modify button.
4. Adjust Primary Units: Navigate to the Primary Units tab.
5. Unit Format: Change the Unit Format to ‘Decimal’.
6. Set Precision: Choose the desired precision for displaying inch measurements.
7. Enter Suffix: In the Suffix field, input the inch symbol (“).
8. Confirm Changes: Click OK to save the modifications.

Configuring Limits and Units in AutoCAD

Setting limits ensures that your work area is properly defined:

1. Access the Command Line: Type LIMITS and press Enter.
2. Define Lower-Left Corner: Enter coordinates for your grid’s starting point, e.g., (0,0).
3. Specify Upper-Right Corner: Enter the coordinates for the far side, e.g., (200,200).
4. Enter Height: Type Z and press Enter to set the view.

Setting Primary Units to Feet in AutoCAD

For scenarios where you need dimensions indicated in feet while working in different units:

1. Open Dimension Style Manager: As before, type DIMSTY.
2. Select the Style: Choose your active dimension style.
3. Modify the Style: Click Modify.
4. Navigate to Alternate Units: Go to the Alternate Units tab.
5. Enable Alternate Units: Check the box for “Display Alternate Units”.
6. Specify Feet Format: Input the desired format for feet and inches (e.g., 3′ 2″ for dimensions).

Writing Dimensions in Feet and Inches

There are several accepted ways to format feet and inches in written form:

1. Standard Format: Write as “3 feet 2 inches” or “3’ 2””.
2. Abbreviated Format: Use “3 ft 2 in” for a more concise option.
3. Casual Representation: Phrases like “three foot six” may also be used, especially in informal contexts.

FAQ

1. How do I convert centimeters to feet in AutoCAD?

• To convert cm to feet, use the scale command. Click on the Home tab, select Scale, and choose your objects. Input a scale factor (1 cm = 0.0328084 feet).

2. Can I display both feet and inches on the same dimension in AutoCAD?

• Yes, by using the Dimension Style Manager, enable alternate units to show both feet and inches together on your dimensions.

3. What is the default unit setup in AutoCAD?

• By default, AutoCAD often assumes inches for measurements unless otherwise specified. You can alter this in the settings under Units.