Plotting scales

I have a drawing done in imperial units and I want to plot it using both imperial scales and metric scales. ie 1:96 and 1:100 etc Is this legitimate or should I just use imperial scales with imperial unit drawings, and metric scales with metric unit drawings?

It could be done but it just begs the question...WHY?

You probably like to play touch football with an armadillo and baseball with a grenade. LOL

I know you are a very clever boy but as before you have not answered the question. Oh, by the way I already know it could be done, but I asked if it was legitimate. You know, acceptable or maybe good practice. LOL.

I don't work with Imperial units at all (thank the whatsitsname) but if you have drawn something in imperial units and the plot it at a metric scale - wouldn't that just be wrong? As in, you can't measure on the plan? And if you can't measure on the plan, I am not sure why you would want to do it?

Just off the top of my head, I would say that it would be as you put it, bad practice - but if someone can explain what it could be used for, I am no stranger to changing my mind.

Let me try to explain why I asked the question. Because of the nature drawings I had to do them using Imperial Units. However, the customer base is split between those familiar with both imperial and metric systems while others are only familiar with metric. The drawings themselves do not show or require any dimensions to be displayed and in fact would be more of a hindrance than help. The only thing that is required is the scale of the drawing. I do not really want to produce two separate drawings in each of imperial and metric unless I have to. If I can use metric scales with a drawing developed using imperial units then it would be a solution. I can simply copy the drawing and on one state the imperial scale and on the other state the metric scale and plot accordingly. If measurements were required to be taken from the drawing this would be done using the appropriate scale rule.

So, the question is does AutoCAD care if I use metric scales to plot a drawing with imperial units, or will it simply plot the drawing accurately regardless of the scale?

Aha, well that kinda makes sense. I would still say that you should know from the start wheter to use Imperical or Metric and pick a template to suit.

But I can see the use for being able to show a drawing in both. However, I have no idea how that would be done.... think you'll have to do it the empiric way - trial and error

Dimension the drawing using Alternate units and let the client(s) decide how they want to print it. Why? Because as everyone should know by now it is BAD practice to scale a drawing!

... it is BAD practice to scale a drawing!

Agree with you ofcourse, but in this case I think the OP is asking for a way to always draw the same way (imperical/metric) and then in the end choose how to output the drawing to either imperical or metric - without scaling the drawing.

By "scaling" the drawing I was referring to physically putting a scale to a drawing to "measure" a distance. I should have made that clearer. Thanks.

I have already put a physical scale to the drawing in both imperial and metric. The customer only gets a plotted copy of the drawings. Alternate units do NOT answer the question, but are useful in other circumstances. The question was whether I could plot in metric scales when the drawing is in imperial units. Does AutoCAD maintain accuracy if I do this?

Sure you can do it. Yes, AutoCAD has the accuracy.

Right now Thomas E. French, Charles J. Vierck and Henry Cecil Spencer are all turning over in their collective graves.

In this case I would put two scale reference lines in the drawing modelspace; on in metric and one in imperial. Then whatever the plot scale is at you can put a ruler against the scale line and work out by how much you need to scale measured dimensions.

By scale line I mean a line of known length marked off at regular intervals, eg. inches, feet or yards for imperial; mm, cm, or M for metric.

For further clarity there is a metric scale reference line on the drawing that I attached here- http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44875&highlight=imperial

I dont know about Thomas E. French, Charles J. Vierck and Henry Cecil Spencer or what they do in thier graves but I am sure they need to know about ALTERNATE UNITS.

Nukecad - I have actually already put the scale you mentioned on the drawing. However, if the drawing when plotted was in fact inaccurate then it would not really be a good thing for the customer. I understand your point but its not really what I am looking for.

Good drawing/engineering practices didn't die when CAD was born or did they?

Just because we can do something doesn't make it right nor does it make it acceptable.

I think that one trouble here is that there are not equal scales in Imperial and Metric. For example 1/4" = 1' scale in Imperial is really 1 to 48. The metric equivalent is 1 to 50.

So one drawing could not be used with both Imperial and Metric scale rulers, unless you were using larger scales such as 1 to 500 or greater (for mapping).

I think what you are trying to do would not be considered proper technique nor would it be construed as good, acceptable practices because it adds an unnecessary level of confusion where there should be none. No one should have to guess what your intent was in doing this; it should be crystal clear.

However, as I said, and others confirmed, it can be done. The acceptable level of accuracy is up to you. Good luck in your endeavor.

I think that one trouble here is that there are not equal scales in Imperial and Metric. For example 1/4" = 1' scale in Imperial is really 1 to 48. The metric equivalent is 1 to 50.

 

So one drawing could not be used with both Imperial and Metric scale rulers, unless you were using larger scales such as 1 to 500 or greater (for mapping).

I deal in thin plywood, and as long as vendors interchange the termonology, there will be confusion. You know and I know they are not exactly the same, but does the consumer know? After all, he was told.....

Wm.

Eldon – Yes I tend to agree. Actually I posted another thread concerning the same problem and asking about converting the drawing between units. This actually has now been answered by a forum member and solves both questions. I can now convert the drawing to metric units and use the metric scales, and also have an imperial unit drawing and use imperial scales. This is the solution I was looking for and makes best sense. I can do what I wanted to do and get best service and accuracy for the customer.