Add dimensions to reinforcement

You can manually add dimension lines and dimension marks to reinforcing bar groups.

Each reinforcing bar group may have dimension marks without tags, tagged dimension marks, distributed dimension lines, or variants of these styles. The dimensions are created based on dimension properties defined in the Rebar dimension mark properties dialog box. The command for creating the rebar dimension marks is available in GA drawings and cast unit drawings.

You may want to add reinforcement dimension marks or tagged dimension marks especially in concrete cast unit drawings, where there is only one reinforced cast unit visible.
The dimension lines or distribution lines show the distribution of the rebars in the group, and typically draw dashed lines from the dimension lines to the rebars when you drag the dimension outside the rebar group. You may want to use distribution lines especially in GA reinforcement drawings, because they may contain a lot of parts with rebar groups, and you often need to show only one rebar from the group and drag the dimension line to a proper place to see everything clearly.
When adding dimensions, start by using predefined dimension settings defined in your own environment, and modify these settings for individual dimensions, if necessary.

The Default environment contains the following rebar dimension settings files to be loaded in the Rebar dimension mark properties dialog box:

rebar_dimension_line for creating distribution lines
rebar_dimension_mark for creating dimension marks
rebar_tagged_dimension_mark for creating tagged dimension marks

For more information about typical settings, see section "Typical dimension mark, tagged dimension mark, and dimension line settings" below.

In addition to the rebar dimensioning methods described below, you can also dimension rebars by using the Rebar group dimensioning application, see Dimension rebars with Rebar group dimensioning application.

Add dimensions to rebar groups

To add dimension marks, tagged dimension marks or dimension lines to rebar groups:

First open the dimension properties by pressing down Shift and clicking the Rebar command on the Dimensioning ribbon tab.
Load one of the predefined rebar dimension settings, or go through the properties on the various tabs in the Rebar dimension mark properties dialog box, and see if you want to modify something.
Click Apply.
Select a reinforcement in the drawing.
If you had selected fixed (default) as the Placing option in rebar dimension properties, you will be asked to pick a position.

The rebar dimension is created. You can continue picking more reinforcing bar groups, or stop creating rebar dimension by pressing Esc on the keyboard.

Tip:
You can also add rebar dimension marks with the Add mark > Dimension mark command on the context menu, or with the Add rebar dimension mark command in Quick Launch. You can also create a keyboard shortcut for the command.

Below is an example of dimension marks:

Below is an example of tagged dimension marks:

Below is an example of dimension lines:

Below is an example of the dimension line when it has been dragged outside the reinforcing bar group:

Below is an example, where only one rebar of the group is visible, and the dimension line has been dragged outside the group.

You can change the representation of the current rebar dimension after creating it by double-clicking the rebar dimension in an open drawing, and modifying the dimension properties as required. For example, you may want to add more tags, change dimension mark content, or select how to align tags in curved dimensions.

Note that you cannot change the following properties when you have a drawing open and you are editing a rebar dimension mark:

Dimension to

Part edge

Tapered dimension type

Curved dimension type

Placing rebar dimensions

During manual dimension creation the Placing setting is considered as follows:

If you have selected more than one rebar object, the Dimension mark command ignores the fixed option and automatically places the rebar dimension mark for each selected rebar object.
If you have selected only one rebar object, and Placing is set to fixed, you will be prompted to pick a position for the dimension.
If you have selected only one rebar object, and Placing is set to free, the dimension will be placed automatically.
With the Rebar command on the ribbon, you can create rebar dimension marks without selecting a rebar object first. In this case, you will be prompted to pick a rebar object:
- If Placing is set to fixed, you will be prompted to pick a position for the dimension, and if Placing is set to free, the dimension will be placed automatically.
- After the dimension has been placed either manually or automatically, you will be prompted to pick another rebar object.

Typical dimension mark, tagged dimension mark, and dimension line settings

`rebar_dimension_mark.rdim`

Dimension to: All rebars

Subgrouping: Yes

Extension line to visible rebar: No

Combine equal dimensions: 3*60=180

Minimum number to combine: 1

Set Prefix in Dimension mark content.

Set Visibility of numeric value to Hidden in Dimension mark content.

`rebar_tagged_dimension_mark.rdim`

Dimension to: All rebars

Subgrouping: Yes

Extension line to visible rebar: No

Combine equal dimensions: 3*60=180

Minimum number to combine: 1

Set the appropriate tag contents.

`rebar_dimension_line.rdim`

Dimension to: Start and end rebars

Subgrouping: No

Extension line to visible rebar: Yes

Combine equal dimensions: Off

Create dimension marks to all rebars

You can add dimension marks to all rebars at one go with the Create dimension marks to all rebars application. This application creates any type of rebar dimension mark.

Open a drawing with rebars.
To open rebar dimension properties, select Drawing > Properties > Rebar dimension mark on the ribbon.
Adjust the properties if necessary and click Apply.
Click the Applications & components button in the side pane to open the Applications & components catalog.
Search for the Create dimension marks to all rebars application, and double-click the application.

Rebar dimension marks are created for all rebars according to the defined rebar dimension mark properties.

Examples of rebar dimensions

Below is a tapered skewed part, and the dimension line follows the shape of the edge that is closest to where you pick. The dimensions have skewed representation.
Below is a tapered curved part, and the dimensions have curved representation.
Below is an example of curved orthogonal dimensions of a tapered curved rebar group with a dimension tag:
You can also add middle tags in rebar dimensions. Here dual dimensions have been applied:
Curved dimension tags can be aligned by selecting one of the options in the Curved Dimension Tag Type list in the Dimension Properties dialog box:

In the example below, only one rebar is visible, and rebar tags are aligned vertically :

In the example below, the dimension tag follows the dimension curve :
Below is an example of curved orthogonal dimensions of a radial reinforcing bar group.