Issue: Diameter dimension only shows a line connecting circle center to its side instead of a line crossing the entire circle

[death_in_next_door]

Hello everyone,

I have started using Auto CAD for the first time ever today. I am trying to draw something. I am trying to create a diameter dimension for a circle. However, instead of creating a line that crosses the entire circle to signify diameter, my AutoCAD only creates half a line. This can be confusing for the person who will make my design as they might think that the radius of the circle is for example 3 instead of the diameter being 3. I have attached a screenshot. If you can advise how to fix this I would appreciate it.

[j.palmeL29YX · Accepted solution]

I'd do it this way: 

Instead of the NEA and PER osnap ypu also can use two opposite QUA snap points. 

[parkr4st]

Dimension     Diameter is preceded by the diameter symbol so know it is a diameter

Dimradius    Radius preceded by R so we know it is a radius

Dimalign is agreeable to me but it is not a flexible for being moved around IMHO.

[death_in_next_door]

Thank you for your response and for taking the time to record and upload a video for me. This is a great way to get around the issue. Just out of curiosity though, is this issue happening cause I am doing something wrong, cause of a bug in the app, or is it by design?
Also, what is qua snap point(what does qua stand for)?

[death_in_next_door]

Thank you for your reply. You're right, the symbols do show the difference between dimeter and radius. However, I am afraid the person who will make the design using the CNC machine might not pay enough attention and miss the symbol.
I can also just write the radius instead of the diameter as another solution in addition to what j.palme mentioned.
Nevertheless, I feel like this is a bug, because the app is drawing a node on the left side of the dimension but it is not drawing an arrow to it. What do you think? should I maybe report this as a bug?

[j.palmeL29YX]

Another possibility: You can use the DIMDIA command, if you use a dimstyle with DIMATFIT not 3. You should use a value of 0 or 1 or 2. Try which is the best for you. 

QUA snaps the Quadrant point(s) of circles and arcs (the most left/right/top/bottom point of the curve). 

I personally prefer the first shown method for dimensioning diameters, because here 
in Germany the diameter dimension usually look as shown: 

That can not be done with a diameter command.

HTH

[j.palmeL29YX]

FYI: 

If you have access to AutoCAD Mechanical - there is an improved command for dimensioning of circles implemented. 

The plain AutoCAD can not do this with the standard settings. It is not a bug (and IMO not worth to report to Autodesk), it is designed as it is. (And with an appropriate dimension style you get what you asked for). 

[death_in_next_door]

thank you very much

[RSomppi]

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@death_in_next_door wrote:
I feel like this is a bug, What do you think? should I maybe report this as a bug?

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No.

[death_in_next_door]

Thank you everyone for your answers. I opted for j.palmeL29YX's solution and used an aligned dim instead of a dimeter dim. I don't know how to close the topic, if there are any moderators around I would appreciate it if they could close it instead.

[RSomppi]

Closing a thread is not a thing in theis forum. You can, however, mark a post or posts as solutions.