Scale in Viewports Set to "1", not "1:1"

Hi, back again. Its been a couple good weeks learning AutoCAD.

Our class has covered a lot since my first post here. AutoCAD is really growing on me. I've started exploring further and found some great methods to work efficiently: like how to import dimension styles from another drawing through xref/xbind/detach vs DesignCenter.

Of course I ran into a hitch after we covered plotting (the viewports scale was set to "1", not "1:1"). ...if you want to jump ahead, here's the question: How did a scale of "1" get set considering its not a valid option in the selection list? I could have sworn I set 1:1 for all my drawings... could it have changed?

The steps we were instructed to follow are:

1. create a drawing in model space (first_drawing.dwg)

2. create a page template with border, title block , etc. (A3.dwg)

3. save the template page as new name because its reused (project1.dwg)

4. cut a viewport

5. double-click in viewport

6. switch from "viewport" to "object" layer (previously created in A3.dwg)

7. xref first_drawing.dwg

8. set scale (typically 1:1, sometimes 1:10 or 1:50)

9. double-click outside viewport

10. switch to "dimenion" layer

11. set scale to "scale to fit"

12. dimension drawing

13. page setup manager

a) set page A3 (already is)

b) adjust x,y starting co-ordinates -5,-7mm to avoid unfortunate cropping from A3 page outputting on 11x17" paper (I know... its school budget vs. affordable paper stock vs. ISO metric in Canada)

c) set page to 11x17 (-5,-7mm is easier to type than -0.134563...")

d) ignore that scale changed from 1:1 to custom (its same size on output)

14. plot preview

15. plot

So, as I mentioned, the viewport scale changed (I'm assuming) in several 1:1 drawings to 1. This resulted in a drawing about 80% of the intended size. Sadly, so small I didn't pick up on the problem.

Where did this "1" come from?

Could my scale have changed from "1:1" to "1"? ...if so, how can I avoid this in the future.

(1 looks so much like 1:1 I'm obviously a little miffed about loosing the marks on drawings I worked very hard on... but this is really about improving my work in the future.)

Once again,

Thanks for the advice!

I assume you didn't lock the viewport then?

the best bit is you've just learned something from this

problem solving is a great asset to your CAD learning - anybody who does everything right first time will go to a job with no idea how to deal with a drawing messed up by somebody else :wink:

here you have learned to check and double check. Supposing that was a drawing issued to a client for shop production, and it was fabricated scaling from your drawing as it stood? your company could lose money by having to fork out for the results of the mistake made

a hot tip for constructing ANY title block is that it should have 'do not scale' or NTS somewhere on it - especially as you have little control over random photocopyings which can result in poor scaling. The only dims which should EVER be taken from a drawing are the printed ones you can read

Where are you seeing the "1" appearing?

Once you have the viewport scale set, dbl click out side of it to leave the viewport. Click on the viewport border, right click, set the viewport to lock, on. That will prevent it from changing.

I assume you didn't lock the viewport then?

I can guarantee that'll start happening. Thanks for the suggest. (Mental note: go find what can be locked down once you're satisfied!)

the best bit is you've just learned something from this

For sure. That's what it's all about.

problem solving is a great asset to your CAD learning - anybody who does everything right first time will go to a job with no idea how to deal with a drawing messed up by somebody else :wink:

Most definitely. I ran into other problems juggling the A3/11x17 problem that resulted in blank pages (drawings blown up massively). Here's what I found and e-mail to the instructor:

First the background, since A3 paper has different dimensions that 11x17 I was careful change the page size. Printers behave differently when they receive print instructions that are out-of-bounds. Unlike trays which contain known media, manual feed paper is somewhat of a surprise to the printer because it does not know length. Some printers will reject incorrect widths and eject the paper, others will attempt to scale, and (in the case of the HP 5200 LJ) just print what is inside the margins. Everyone I watched plot sent A3 jobs but the printer did cope.

 

I adjusted the -5mm,-7mm (x,y) correction to avoid the worst of the cropping, set the page scale to 1:1, and then changed to 11x17" (the x,y turns to inches which is hard to set). This way my plots were guaranteed to be safe from printer exception handling and plot preview works as advertised. This is, however, where the blank page comes into play. Changing to 11x17 changes the page scale to "custom" (output is correct). If that page scale is set to 1:1 the drawing is massively enlarged and the page appears to be blank. Mystery solved.

here you have learned to check and double check.

Yes, my bad. :-)

a hot tip for constructing ANY title block is that it should have 'do not scale' or NTS somewhere on it - especially as you have little control over random photocopyings which can result in poor scaling. The only dims which should EVER be taken from a drawing are the printed ones you can read

That's a great tip, thanks.

Thanks.

Where are you seeing the "1" appearing?

Screen shot attached: right in the Viewports scale.