Scale!! How do I get it right???

[B>dobson]

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to scale my drawing, i have drawn it in model space at 1:1 using the decimal option from the units section, but i want to print at a scale of 1:200, and maybe later on at 1:100. I have drawn i line that is 21.000 decimals long which is supposed to represent 21 meters, have i done this right? the reason i ask is that when i scale it in the lay out it goes extremely small....HELP PLEASE!!! ......

[ReMark]

Draw everything in model at FULL size. It doesn't matter if it is a paperclip or a Boeing 777 Dreamliner. When you switch to your paper space layout you'll create a viewport (or multiple viewports) and assign the scale to the viewport. The scale will be the equivalent of what you would like AutoCAD to plot the objects at whether it is 1:100 or 1:200 or 1:50. Once the scale is assigned and the view setup you'll lock the display so the scale will not be accidentally changed. Make sure to set up a separate layer for your viewports and set this layer to not print in your Layer Properties Manager.

[B>dobson]

thanks Remark... but i have done this and its is still printing in a very small scale... do you know if i am using the decimal selection correctly?

[nestly]

Is it printing small, or is it displaying small in your 1:200 viewport, or both?

 

Are you sure 1:200 is what you really want? 1:200 means if your paper was 1 meter wide, your 21 meter line would only be 1/10 as wide as the paper.

[B>dobson]

1:200 is the scale i want, i also have a circle on the design that has a diameter of 50 meters and i am trying to print the drawing onto A1 paper, its is printing small but looks fine in the layout area, does the decimal have anything to do with its, do i have to enter the measurement in as meter or millimeters?

[nestly]

If you're printing a scaled layout, then make sure your Plot scale set to 1:1

[B>dobson]

Sorry nestly, I just realised when i change the viewpoints scale it becomes really small too, i know how to print, i have done what you are explaining before, its just that that was on 2008 and I drew in feet/ inches not meters, dont really know why its not working do you think i need to write 21 meters as 21000.0 as a measurement in autocad at the moment i am writing the it as 21.000?

[JD Mather]

i also have a circle on the design that has a diameter of 50 meters ...

 

Attach file here with this circle (only this circle) in the file.

What template did you start from?

[JD Mather]

I have drawn i line that is 21.000 decimals long ...

 

Decimals is not a unit of length.

It is a format of entering magnitude.

[B>dobson]

So how would i design a building i Autocad so that it is in scale is correct... in feet/ inches?

[JD Mather]

So how would i design a building i Autocad so that it is in scale is correct... in feet/ inches?

 

This is the first time you've mentioned a design intent of feet/inches.

Do you want feet/inches (imperial) or mm or Meters (Metric) units?

More information is needed.

 

Simply select the correct template and distance entry format in UNITS.

 

This is usually covered in a beginning class.

 

Whatever units you use - the scale is correct when you draw 1:1, then show viewport/plot at whatever scale desired.

[ReMark]

To draw in feet and inches you will have to use the UNITS command and set the "units" to "architectural". The "precision" you want to maintain is up to you. 1/8th" or 1/16th" wouldn't be uncommon.

 

Draw your objects FULL size. It doesn't matter if the object is 12" long or 1200' long. AutoCAD will adjust its display accordingly.

 

When you are done then you switch to a paper space layout and create a viewport. A viewport is like a window that allows the user to look back into model space and see the objects that were created. Two important things to remember are 1) it is the viewport that a scale is assigned to and 2) viewports should be on their own layer and the layer set to "No print' in the Layer Properties Manager.

 

Got all that?

 

What are you going to be drawing? And what size paper will you be plotting to?

[BIGAL]

Sticking with metric for a moment Draw in model space at 1:1 50m = 50 UNITS in layout insert your title block at a scale of 1:1 a A1 is about 801 x 500 units then start a model view window. click in side zoom approx to your object if you have the Mview toolbar on you will get a number displayed eg 4.123 for 1:200 just put 5 in the box and enter, then move the object and lock the window, 5= 1000mm/200, 1:500 =2, 1:250=4 etc you can also do a "zoom 4xp" is the same as 1:250 hope this helps the toolbar also has pre defined scales if your using a metric template just pick the right one.