How do you set model space scale?

[Jlock126]

Can you set a scale factor in model space?
I am working on an existing drawing where everything including the border is in model space.

I'm using autocad 2010.

Thanks

[BIGAL]

you can scale the dwg back to real size but you will probably have to reset all your text size or change to annotative may work. Modify your dim style to reflct new measurements and reset dimscale then update.

We do this sometimes for mm v's m it can be painfull.

[Coosbaylumber]

Usually it is the plotter or printer that determines the scale ratio. If yopu have one plugged in to your then is evident. Other wise for not you should be working in units. The units then get translated into feet, inches, or MM via the plotter.

To INSERT or XREF an unknown drawing in to another, then you need to determine how big an item is, and then adjust to set your new scale ratio.


Wm.

[Jlock126]

is there a command that will tell you what scale the model space is in or is it always 1:1?

[Pablo Ferral]

Geometry in modelspace 'should' allways be drawn at 1:1. Before the introduction of paper space, the title block would then be scaled up to fit. Do you have an old drawing, or has the drawing been exported from another program, such as Inventor?

The easiest way to check the scale is to find a dimension annotation and use the 'Measure' command to check it.

[ReMark]

The drawing you have was prepared using the "old school" method (manual drafting on a drafting board) where objects, including the title block and border, were drawn to scale (ex. - 1/4"=1' or 1"=40', etc.). To verify this is simple. Just do a "list" on some text. If a drawing was done at a scale of 1/4"=1' and you normally use 1/8th" high lettering then the list command would return a height of 6". We know that in reality we would never have a drawing with 6" high text on it. How is this handled then at plot time? Easy. We tell AutoCAD to plot it at 1"=1/4" and AutoCAD displays this: 0.25 inches = 12 units. AutoCAD will scale the drawing to fit the paper size.

The method I mentioned was used extensively in early releases of AutoCAD until the introduction of paper space which then led to layouts.

Today the one piece of advice most every new AutoCAD user will hear is to draw, in model space, at FULL size. If an object is 6" long draw it that way. Same thing goes if the object is 120' or 3 miles long. AutoCAD doesn't care. Then we switch to a layout, create a viewport and apply a scale to the viewport. Much easier now don't you think?

[Coosbaylumber]

The method I mentioned was used extensively in early releases of AutoCAD until the introduction of paper space which then led to layouts.

I think that Paper Space was introduced in the late 1980's. Prior to that release, we had to alter the plot size in order to obtain correct text height.



Today the one piece of advice most every new AutoCAD user will hear is to draw, in model space, at FULL size.

Heartily agreed.





If an object is 6" long draw it that way. Same thing goes if the object is 120' or 3 miles long. AutoCAD doesn't care. Then we switch to a layout, create a viewport and apply a scale to the viewport. Much easier now don't you think?

Way back when, there was a weekend radio program broadcast out of Los Angeles via radio. The Call-in person said NOT to buy certain computers, if the intended use was Autocad. But, since few of the listeners whre using such, don't worry then. There was a software fix to make Acad users obtain more accuracy, especially those that operated on the California Coordinate system, for numbers there were purposely held in the millions. What to do then, buy or not?

See above notes

Wm.

[rkent]

You can set the Annotative Scale with the drop down list at the bottom of the screen.

You can determine the plot scale based on how large the drawing border is in MS. A border that measures 36X24 when plotted would be scaled up by a scale factor of 48 for a 1/4"=1'-0" plot scale. (There are 48 1/4" in a foot, or 12"/ 0.25").

[Glen Smith]

You can use the CHSPACE command to push things through the window from model space to paper space and back. AutoCAD automagically scales them for you based on the scale of the viewport.

Glen

[Jlock126]

This forum is just the best. You all settled an agrument with a co-worker who refuses to move forward with the new releases of autocad. ReMark hit the nail on the head! AND I learned a few things. Thanks again!