6 Easy Steps: Make Metrics Your Default in Onshape

Onshape Default Metric
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Onshape is a cloud-based 3D CAD platform that allows users to create, edit, and share 3D models online. Onshape is known for its ease of use, collaboration features, and powerful modeling tools. One of the things that makes Onshape so easy to use is its intuitive user interface. However, some users may find that the default unit system in Onshape is not their preferred unit system. Fortunately, it is easy to change the default unit system in Onshape to metric.

The metric system is a system of measurement based on multiples of ten. The metric system is used in most countries around the world, including the United States. The metric system is often preferred by engineers and scientists because it is easy to understand and use. Additionally, many of the tools and materials used in engineering and science are designed using the metric system.

If you prefer to use the metric system in Onshape, you can easily change the default unit system. To change the default unit system in Onshape, click on the “Settings” icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Then, click on the “Units” tab. In the “Units” tab, you can select the default unit system for length, mass, and time. You can also choose to display angles in degrees or radians.

Navigating to Units and Measurements

To adjust the default units and measurements in Onshape, follow these steps:

Click on the “Settings” icon in the top-right corner of the Onshape window.
Select “Units and Measurements” from the menu.
Under the “Units” tab, select “Metric” from the dropdown menu.
Click “Save” to apply the changes.

Additional Notes:

Here are some additional details about the “Units and Measurements” settings in Onshape:

The “Units” tab allows you to specify the default units for length, mass, and temperature.
The “Measurements” tab allows you to specify the format for displaying measurements, such as the number of decimal places.
You can also create custom units and measurements in Onshape.

Units of Measurements:

The following table lists the available units of measurement in Onshape:

Unit	Abbreviation
Meter	m
Kilogram	kg
Second	s
Ampere	A
Kelvin	K
Mole	mol
Candela	cd

Selecting the Metric System

To set the metric system as the default in Onshape, follow these steps:

Click on the “Settings” icon in the top-right corner of the Onshape window.
Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
In the “Preferences” dialog box, select the “Units” tab.
Under the “Default Units” section, select “Metric” from the drop-down menu.
Click on the “OK” button to save your changes.

Changing the Default Units for a Specific Document

If you want to change the default units for a specific document, you can do so by following these steps:

Open the document in Onshape.
Click on the “Document” tab in the top-left corner of the Onshape window.
Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
In the “Properties” dialog box, select the “Units” tab.
Under the “Default Units” section, select the desired units from the drop-down menu.
Click on the “OK” button to save your changes.

Additional Notes

When you set the metric system as the default, all new documents will be created in metric units. However, you can still create documents in imperial units by selecting “Imperial” from the “Units” drop-down menu when creating a new document.

You can also switch between metric and imperial units at any time by using the “Units” drop-down menu in the top-right corner of the Onshape window.

| Unit | Symbol |
|—|—|
| Millimeter | mm |
| Centimeter | cm |
| Meter | m |
| Kilometer | km |
| Gram | g |
| Kilogram | kg |
| Newton | N |
| Pascal | Pa |
| Joule | J |
| Watt | W |

Understanding the Impact of Default Units

Onshape, a cloud-based 3D CAD platform, offers the flexibility to work in both metric and imperial units. Setting the default unit system ensures consistency and accuracy throughout your design process. Understanding the impact of default units is crucial for seamless collaboration and preventing costly errors.

Metric units (millimeters, centimeters, meters, kilograms, etc.) are widely accepted in scientific, engineering, and international communities.

Benefits of Using Metric Units

Standardized and globally recognized
Decimal-based system for easy conversion
Reduced risk of measurement errors
Improved compatibility with international collaborators

Considerations When Changing Default Units

Changing the default units in Onshape requires careful attention. Here are some key points to consider:

Existing Documents: All existing documents will be automatically converted to the new default units. Ensure that you have backups or make necessary adjustments before changing default units.
Collaboration: If you collaborate with others using Onshape, ensure that everyone is aware of the default unit change to avoid confusion or miscommunication.
Third-Party Integrations: Check if any third-party integrations or plugins used with Onshape are compatible with the new default units.
Measurement Accuracy: Pay attention to the precision and accuracy of measurements when switching from imperial to metric or vice versa. Millimeters (mm) are the smallest metric unit commonly used in precise design.
Units Display: Onshape provides options to display units in various formats, such as decimal, fractional, or architectural. Choose the format most suitable for your workflow.

Unit System	Base Units	Commonly Used Units
Metric	Meter (m), Kilogram (kg), Second (s)	Millimeter (mm), Centimeter (cm), Kilogram (kg), Liter (L)
Imperial	Foot (ft), Pound (lb), Second (s)	Inch (in), Mile (mi), Ounce (oz), Gallon (gal)

Collaborating with Metric Teams

When collaborating with teams that use the metric system, it’s essential to adjust your Onshape settings to match their units. Here’s how to set metric as the default in Onshape:

1. Open Onshape

Go to the Onshape website and log in to your account.

2. Click on “My Settings”

On the top right corner of the screen, click on the profile icon and select “My Settings” from the drop-down menu.

3. Go to “Units” Tab

In the left sidebar, select the “Units” tab.

4. Set Default Units

Under “Default Units,” select “Metric” from the drop-down menu.

5. Set Units for Specific Documents

If you only want to change the units for a specific document, open that document and click on the “Units” button in the toolbar.

6. Convert Existing Documents

To convert an existing document to metric units, click on the “File” menu and select “Convert Units.” Choose “Metric” as the target unit and click “Convert.”

7. Collaborate Seamlessly

After setting metric as the default, you can collaborate with metric teams without unit conversion issues.

8. Managing Imperial and Metric Teams Effectively

To ensure smooth collaboration between teams using different unit systems:

Imperial Teams	Metric Teams
Create new documents using imperial units for imperial-specific models.	Create new documents using metric units for metric-specific models.
Set Units for specific imperial-related documents to imperial units.	Set Units for specific metric-related documents to metric units.
Use Onshape’s unit converter tool to convert units as needed.	Use Onshape’s unit converter tool to convert units as needed.

This approach ensures unit consistency within teams and avoids potential errors during collaboration.

Onshape: How to Set Metric as Default

Onshape is a cloud-based CAD software that allows users to design, simulate, and collaborate on 3D models. By default, Onshape uses the imperial system of measurement (inches, feet, etc.). However, users can change the default units to metric (millimeters, meters, etc.) by following these steps:

Click on the “File” menu and select “Preferences”.
In the “Preferences” dialog box, select the “Units” tab.
Under “Default Units”, select “Metric”.
Click on the “OK” button to save your changes.

Once you have changed the default units, all new documents will be created in metric units. You can also change the units of existing documents by selecting the “Units” drop-down menu in the toolbar.