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Free AutoCAD surface texture symbols (DWG): Ra, Rz, lay, allowance

Surface texture symbols: 175 ready-made AutoCAD blocks (DWG), free to download and use in your own projects, as a ZIP or one symbol at a time.

175 surface texture symbols as ready-to-use AutoCAD blocks for mechanical drawings: the basic symbol, the symbols for removal of material required and not permitted, complete symbols and the all-around circle; Ra and Rz roughness values in three forms each; Ramax, Rzmax, Rq, Rt, Rp, Rv, Rc, RSm, Rk, Rpk, Rvk and waviness and primary profile parameters; upper and lower limits, transmission bands and motif examples; the seven direction of lay marks; 30 manufacturing methods and coatings from turned to anodized; machining allowance; leaders with arrow or dot; and the simplified indication for the majority of surfaces.

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Using AutoCAD 2017 or an earlier version? Download the 2010 format

Free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. The ZIP holds one plain DWG file in AutoCAD 2018 format and a README; no add-in needed. Provided as is, without warranty.

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Attributes for parts lists

The visible attributes are the text of the symbol itself, in the positions of the standard: REQ_A and REQ_B (the requirement under the line, for example Ra 1.6 or U Rz 6.3 / L Rz 1.6), METHOD (above the line, for example milled) and ALLOWANCE (to the left, in millimetres). Invisible attributes: SURFACE, INSPECTION and REMARKS.

Export the blocks of a drawing to Excel with BlockSync to list the surface requirements by part, check them against the drawing and write corrections back in one run, with preview and backup.

How to use the library

  1. Unzip the file and open the DWG. Copy the symbols you need into your plan, or drag the blocks in from DesignCenter (ADCENTER).
  2. The symbols are drawn at the plotted size in millimetres with text 3.5 mm high (symbol height 5 mm, overall height 10.5 mm, arms at 60 degrees). Insert them at the scale of your drawing, the same way as dimensions and tolerance frames.
  3. The insertion point is the tip of the symbol, the point that touches the surface: snap it to the outline or to the extension line. Rotate or mirror the block so that the text reads from the bottom or from the right of the sheet. The horizontal line is drawn for the sample text; pull it longer with its grip when your text is longer.
  4. Every parameter is available in three forms: any manufacturing process (plain V), material removal required (V with a bar) and removal not permitted (V with a circle). Pick the form your drawing needs, then type the value; the sample values follow the usual series (Ra 0.025 to 50, Rz 1 to 160 micrometres).

About the conventions

The graphical symbols, their proportions and the positions a to e follow the indications of ISO 1302 (the 2002 edition), which are also the basis of national standards such as GB/T 131. ISO 21920-1 has taken over from ISO 1302 and keeps the same family of symbols, so check the parameter names against the edition your drawing refers to. Drawings made to ASME Y14.36 arrange the symbol differently; this library follows the ISO arrangement.

The blocks are our own drawings after the proportions of the standard, not copies, and the library is not certified. The values, methods and allowances are samples: the requirement on your drawing is the text you enter.

Frequently asked questions

Which standard do the symbols follow?
They follow ISO 1302 (2002 edition): basic, expanded and complete symbols, positions a to e, lay marks, the all-around circle and the simplified indications. National standards that adopt it, such as GB/T 131, use the same arrangement.
How do I change the roughness value or add a second line?
Double-click the block and edit REQ_A. For two requirements (for example an upper and a lower limit) use the blocks in the limits group, or type the second line into REQ_B. If the text is longer than the sample, stretch the horizontal line with its grip.
Can I use the symbols in commercial projects?
Yes. They are free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. They are provided as is, without warranty.
Are the old roughness grade numbers (N1 to N12) included?
No. ISO 1302 no longer uses them. If a drawing of yours still states a grade, enter it in REQ_A (for example N7) and choose the form of the symbol that matches; the numerical Ra value is the safer statement.
Can I change a symbol or add attributes?
Yes. Open the DWG, edit a block with BEDIT to change it or add attributes, and save. To update drawings that already contain the block, run ATTSYNC or replace the block. Make a backup first: attribute values can be lost if ATTSYNC is used carelessly.
Where do I find a ready-made set of these symbols for AutoCAD?
AutoCAD itself ships only a small set of sample blocks, so a full symbol set has to come from a library. Download the ZIP on this page and open the DWG: every symbol is a block. Insert one with INSERT (Blocks palette, Libraries tab, then pick the DWG) or drag it from DesignCenter (ADCENTER). You can also download a single symbol on its own.

Count the symbols and build a parts list

Because ratings and part numbers are attributes, the symbols of a whole project can be counted and listed without opening the drawings. Export the blocks to Excel, total them with a pivot table and write corrections back in one run, with preview and backup.

See how to count blocks with BlockSync