How to Create Diametrical and Radial Dimensions in BricsCAD

Quick answer: DIMDIAMETER and DIMRADIUS annotate the diameters and radii of circles and circular arcs. Worth flagging: Octave’s own introductory sentence for this page names DIMCENTER instead of DIMRADIUS, but that’s inconsistent with the actual procedure described just below it, and with DIMCENTER‘s own listed purpose (drawing center marks, not radial dimensions), confirmed on the Dimensioning Tools Overview page elsewhere in this hub. The two commands that actually do this are DIMDIAMETER and DIMRADIUS.

Creating a Diametrical Dimension

1. Launch DIMDIAMETER. You’re prompted to select an arc or circle to dimension.
2. Select one; the diametrical dimension displays dynamically.
3. Specify a point to position the dimension.

Creating a Radial Dimension

1. Launch DIMRADIUS. You’re prompted to select an arc or circle to dimension.
2. Select one; the radial dimension displays dynamically.
3. Specify a point to position the dimension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DIMCENTER create radial dimensions? No, despite what this source’s own introductory line suggests, DIMCENTER actually draws center marks, not radial dimensions. DIMRADIUS is the command for radial dimensions.

What’s the difference between a diametrical and a radial dimension? A diametrical dimension (DIMDIAMETER) annotates the full diameter of a circle or arc; a radial dimension (DIMRADIUS) annotates just its radius.

Can I dimension an arc the same way as a full circle? Yes, both DIMDIAMETER and DIMRADIUS work on arcs and circles interchangeably.

Where do I find the command for drawing center marks or center lines instead? That’s DIMCENTER. Its own dedicated behaviour isn’t covered on this page, this source only lists it as a related command, not a topic explained here.