CAD tip # 12421:

Question CAD
% platform category

Wrong units in an imported DXF file.

When handing over CAD data between special CAD/CAM application you may face the problem of improper interpretation of measuring units - the software application e.g. expects mm but the DXF contents is read in inches or vice versa.

If you cannot influence units setting of the transferred (exported, imported) DXF file in the source or target CAD application, you may help yourself with a simple manual change in the DXF text file (does not apply to binary DXF files).

Open your DXF file in a text editor (e.g. Notepad, not Word!) and search for the line referencing the INSUNITS variable - i.e. the string $INSUNITS. This setting defines the units type. The most typical values - the value of 1 represents inches (in), the value of 4 represents millimeters (mm). By overwriting this value and by saving the edited version of your DXF file you can change units used for interpreting the contents of the imported DXF file.

Inches (imperial units):

$INSUNITS
70
1
9

Millimeters (metric units):

$INSUNITS
70
4
9

ACADInv.Fusion360

* CAD

12.11.2019 28344×

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AutoCAD

Inventor

Fusion 360

Product Design Collection

applies to: AutoCAD · Inv.Fusion360 ·

See also:
Tip 14075:	Overview of CAD formats supported in Inventor 2025 (import/export/AnyCAD).
Tip 13938:	ModDXF - utility for bulk modification/display of internal DXF properties in DWG entities.
Tip 13800:	Visually compare 3D geometry in CAD and BIM files.
Tip 13541:	Using Twinmotion from Revit to visualize other types of 3D scenes.
Tip 13274:	How to switch the DWG TrueView viewer to the classic user interface, without ribbon?

Selected tip: Convert 3D PDF files back to CAD models.

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