scaling with autocad 2004

[Roy97]

I am a self taught cad designer, and I am having trouble working out how to set up a decimal drawing so that when I plot it, it will be scaled 1:20 (1mm=20mm) I always end up printing it out a number of times and measuring the print with a ruler. How do i set up the page so that on plot i just click the 1:20 scaling and thats it.

[JBullseye74]

Hi Roy97 and welcome to the forum...
There is a search option at the top of the page... but to help you along the way maybe this thread will help you..

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6786&highlight=printing+paperspace

[fuccaro]

I wrote this many times: never ever draw at scale in AutoCAD. Draw it at full size (scale 1:1) and set up the desired scale when plotting.

[daveyboyd]

Ageed, the whole point of AutoCAD is the ease of transition after drafting the original in 1:1 scale. Weather you want an A1 plot or an A3 plot, if you draw in model space at 1:1 you can easily select the scale you want using viewports in paper space. Here are some common scales that you can type in to command line:

Type: z (zoom)

then:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-3/980185/12.jpg

depnding on which scale you want. Make sure you double click the viewport and its unlocked.

Hope this help.

[Ako]

In case you are not sure of using layouts here is something to help (I hope).

Draw your title block in a layout and make sure it is the correct size to fit your paper. To find out the maximum size you can make your title block click on the plot icon, select the printer from the plot device tab, then click on the plot settings tab, select the correct paper size then note down the printable area. This is the size you make your title block. Once you have drawn your title block you insert a viewport from the view\viewports menu (on a separate layer). As soon as you have drawn your viewport it will automatically zoom extents. You can then click on the paper/model button below and zoom to a scale using zoom xp (x being the scale factor) from within the viewport or just double click on the viewport itself and use the properties box to set your scale. After all this just turn off the layer the viewport is on and print your title block at 1:1.

Dave

[herschelle]

thanx guys. some great tips there.
gonna try it now ;)