Typed distance differs from measured distance

[Anonymous]

I am trying to draw a line 1.5" from a point. I snap to the point and then typ 1.5 to set the start point of the line. I then measure the distance from the line to the point and I get 1 7/16" or 1 9/16". This disturbs me because I don't know if I can trust the dimensions that I type. I'm tired of zooming in on lines that ought to be colinear but are apart by a fraction of an inch.

[Anonymous]

check your units precision

[h_s_walker · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Forums

Are you using ortho mode or are you judging an angle by eye?

You can also use the FROM snap.

Start the line command Hold down shift and then right click and choose FROM then choose the ENDPOINT of your line now type

@1.5,0 which will start a line 1.5 to the right of your endpoint
Or you can use @1.5<45 which will start a line 1.5 away from your endpoint at an angle of 45 degrees

[JDMather]

Attach example file here.

With experience - you should always be able to trust the work you have done (without having to double check, and of course, if  you do double check it should ckech out as expected.).

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that's useful. Still don't get why I would be off by 1/16" when snapping to the point and typing the distance while the polar guide is active. I was useing polar tracking not ortho mode for the record.

[JDMather]

It should not be different.

You are doing something wrong.

Attach your example file here

and

create a Screencast recording of your steps.

I use Direct Distance Entry with Polar tracking all the time - without the extra work described.

[Anonymous]

You know what I think the initial snap was probably off because of the snaps I have turned on and the various geometry already in the drawing. When I created a new file the direct entry worked as expected. I'm not going to send the file I'm working on it has intellectual property but I think the problem was specific to the lines and snaps I was working with. I was probably zoomed out too far to see the discrepancy. I guess my general request to the developers of AutoCAD is to make the snaps more restrictive and not allow slight misses like what I experienced.

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:
You know what I think the initial snap ....

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Snap?

I haven't uses snaps (not to be confused with Osnaps) since my second CAD class back in '87 of the last century.

[Anonymous]

It was an Osnap - snap mode was turned off

[Anonymous]

I am drawing a line on angles but the type distance is different from draw distance. for example i gave value of 5' at angle 20 deg but the measured length is 5'.3", so on every line has different length while i gave the same length with different angles.

[pendean]

How are you actually drawing a 5' line at 20 degrees (explain in detail the process) then explain how you are "measuring" the length afterwards exactly?

[Anonymous]

I draw a line with distance 10' at 0 deg and measured with quick properties and this line has the same 10' dimension. After that I draw a line from midpoint of 10' line having dimensions 5' at 20 deg but that line's quick property shows the length of 5'3". same after that i draw a line from the midpoint of first line (10') having dimensions length 5' at 40 Deg but quick property shows 6'. 

[pendean]

Post that portion of your DWG file, let's all have a look: works fine here based on your descriptions alone.

[Anonymous]

I have attached herewith the AutoCAD file and also attached the screenshot of my file.