Scale does not match unit!

[OPB]

Sorry, I feel really stupid that I can't figure this out. I've been working on a DWG file that I exported from Vectorworks in Metric. The default unit for my version of AutoCAD is inches which I changed before importing the file. I finished working on it, and was ready to create the layouts, when I noticed that in 1:1, 12mm plotted as 12 inches. I tried scaling the drawing by 25.4, but then the units aren't the same. Anyone see where I'm going wrong?

[OPB]

Awesome, the dimension style scale was the problem. I changed that scale to 25.4 and then had to scale the entire drawing by 1/25.4, or 0.039370078. I can't see why there isn't a more straightforward way to fix this. It seems this would be a common problem with Americans communicating with the rest of the world.:wink:

[Dana W]

Awesome, the dimension style scale was the problem. I changed that scale to 25.4 and then had to scale the entire drawing by 1/25.4, or 0.039370078. I can't see why there isn't a more straightforward way to fix this. It seems this would be a common problem with Americans communicating with the rest of the world.:wink:

 

You must have seen my post before I deleted it. I thought I might have been leading you astray since I wasn't sure when you had changed your drawing units, so I deleted and tried to figure it out in my AutoCAD. Glad I was at least part right.

 

It leads to problems when importing or inserting drawings for sure. I wonder when AutoCAD is going to have a "Convert" option so we can automatically convert inserted drawings to other systems of measurement.

 

The way it is now, you have to remember when to change units and what the conversion factor is to scale up or down.

 

:lol:Seems us rednecks been doin jus fine with inches. You do know that inches are bigger, right?

 

You could also use alternate units in the dimension style. Just leave the drawing at its original format, and mod the dimension style to show Architectural inches as the alternate units.

[OPB]

Also, FYI, the folks at the Autodesk forum turned me on to the startup command which when you set it to 1 and restart AutoCAD, give you the start from scratch option of setting the default units to Metric.

[jbird68]

This is ridiculous. I drew a 1.0" diameter x 5.0"L shaft and I have to scale it by 25.4 to dimension in mm, making it a 25.4" diameter x 127.0"L shaft. This scaled shaft no longer fits in my "A" size border. Shouldn't it be easy to just change the units and dimensions without changning the actual size of my shaft?

[BlackBox]

I may have skimmed over this in the above posts, but just curious...

 

When you say that your scaled shaft no longer fits your 'A' size border... you are working in modelspace, and plotting from paperspace (where your border resides), right?

 

When plotting from paperspace, you use viewports, and set your scale in the mview window.

 

Hope this helps!

[jbird68]

I am in model space. We have our borders in model space and we draw within the borders. Don't really use viewports. I know it's the old way but that's how things were done here...and still are.

[BlackBox]

That's too bad... It's such a simple solution too.

 

You might try it (in a temp drawing) and share it with your CAD Manager...? It's well worth the 30 seconds it would take to copy the border into paperspace, draw an mview window inside your border, zoom into the area you want, and select the mview, and set the scale how you like. (FYI - it took me longer to write this then it does to do the task.)

[jbird68]

I already have a border on both of our A and B size drawings in the paperspace. I've done a few drawings that way but, if for some reason I have to move my viewport, the Dimensions don't move with the viewports if I dimension them on the paperspace.

 

I used paperspace when I used to work with SolidWorks and Solid Edge.

[BlackBox]

Yet another easy fix... put the dimensions in modelspace, my friend.

[jbird68]

If I put the dimensions in model space and my drawing is 25.4x bigger, the text is tiny. I have my text height set at .100" but it looks like 1/4 that size.

[BlackBox]

Jbird, you're missing the point, bud.

 

Draw everything in modelspace at full size, no matter the units. In paperspace, through the viewport, you set what scale your view is... i.e., your drawing scale. If you change your drawing's scale, all of your dimensions and text come in at the correct scale... a multiple of the scale [factor] by your 0.100" text height = normal through the mview.

 

Make sense..?

 

I don't have mechanical, otherwise I'd walk you through step by step, my friend.

[jbird68]

Okay.

I modified my part and used the metric numbers to make my changes. So, I decided to scale the part just to see if it measures correctly. When I measure the part in ACAD, I seem to be about 0.005" small compared to what my conversion was on a calculator.

[BlackBox]

My friend, I would not scale the objects... you're asking for mistakes to happen (in my humble opinion).

 

Draw them full scale, and set your drawing scale accordingly. The dimension style will automatically hold the drawing scale as a factor, and measurements will be accurate. Less frustration, less work, and a better, more precise product.

 

Good luck!

[jbird68]

Exactly what I was thinking. Scaling makes no sense to me. Just have to figure out how to properly configure the dimension scale thing.

[BlackBox]

That too should be easy (again, I do not have Mech)...

 

From the menu bar... Format > Dimstyle > Modify > Fit tab > Under Scale for Dimension Features (if not already so) Select Use overall scale of: and set it to the drawing scale needed.

 

Now in C3D LDC 2009, when I change the drawing scale, this property is automatically updated. Not sure on the procedure for Mech.

 

Hope this helps!

[jbird68]

Just looking around and trying things, I ended up changing my plot setting to mm to see how it would fit on a sheet of paper at 1:1. Still way too big until I scaled it up by 25.4. But after scaling it up, I can go in an measure and dimension things correctly. Stupid PLOT setting!! What a dumb way to convert units from Inch to mm. The part should be the same size no matter what units you draw in. at 25.5 mm part should still be a 1 inch part any way you measure it.