Automated dimensional drawing generating apparatus

A dimensioning apparatus for generating a dimensional drawing from a model includes an element database with predetermined element names. A plurality of model elements can be associated with corresponding element names. The apparatus also includes a model sectioning tool operable to section the model to thereby generate at least a portion of the model elements. The apparatus further includes a dimensioning tool with a plurality of predetermined dimension names and a plurality of dimensioning algorithms associated with corresponding dimension names. At least two of the model elements are utilized by each of the dimensioning algorithms to thereby automatically detect dimension values of the model. The dimensioning tool is further operable to associate the detected dimension values with corresponding ones of the dimension names. In addition, the dimensioning apparatus includes a plotting tool operable to output the dimensional drawing showing the dimension values of the model detected by the dimensioning tool.