Pen settings for multiple scales

[maddog1995]

After many years, my office has finally come to the realization that we need some standards when it comes to AutoCAD. One of the standards I'm trying to figure out is regarding the pen type settings and various scales.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to go about setting up one ctb file that would cover printing drawings at various scales, but the line weights will remain proportional to the appropriate scale? Our current method of printing is setting up a 24"x36" sheet in paperspace and printing at 1:1. Sometimes we have to do our drawings at 1/8" and others we can do at 1/4", but regardless of the scale, the drawing is done with the same lines/layers. The current method of plotting is by using 2 different ctb files, one for the 1/4" scale and the other for the 1/8" scale. This seems a little ridiculous. I know there is the "scale lineweights" box, but doesn't that just apply to when you change the plot scale?

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[t1320t]

I agree, that approach seems ridiculous.

For what it's worth, we use a ctb file for plotting on all sheet sizes, and all are at a 1:1, we DO NOT scale line weights. All of our colors range from 0.000 to 0.020. I'll try to post a screen shot...

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[maddog1995]

Thanks t1320t. Does that mean you use different colors if you are drawing an 1/8" plan vs. a 1/4" plan?

[t1320t]

No, I use the same in all drawings.

[RobDraw]

I'm with t1320t on this. I've always used the same lineweights for different scales. If the different scales are for different types of plans, i.e. plot plan vs. floor plan, then I would probably use different linewieghts for the same objects.

 

What kind of plans are you working with and why do you want to see different linewieghts?

 

BTW, are you from New Haven, CT?

[Runnerguy]

I'm also with the t1320t and RobDraw. We use one CTB and one set of line weights for all scales and the printed drawings look fine.

 

I'm an architect so we can have a plan at 1/4" scale, a section at 1/2" scale and a bunch of 3/4" scale details on the same sheet and it looks fine. Of course I have "Walls" (normally printed at 1/4") on one layer with an assigned line thickness and sectional lumber (normally printed at 3/4") on another layer with an assigned line thickness, etc.

 

With the advent of CAD, the line weight question tends to get a little over blown. I started out in the business when everything was done by hand so I know back then on a typical sheet having numerous scales on it there was only maybe two or three different line weights. We had a heavy line (profiles, outlines), a medium line (walls, fixtures, elevation roof lines, etc.) and a thin line (door swings, hatching, elevation materials, etc.).

 

Not really any different now when it comes to appearance only now when the newbies have something like 30 choices, some differing from the next by only .02mm it becomes a "dog in the meat house" kind of thing.

 

I think now even though I have maybe 40 layers, I'm only using 3 or 4 line weights and the printed drawings look great.

 

Doug

Edited June 20, 2011 by Runnerguy
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[t1320t]

You've got it Runnerguy. ACAD will do some ultra trick things now, but, does it make things easier or more productive?? Sometimes yes, sometimes no & in the case of the dwgs that we plot, no. Sometimes, keeping things simple is the most productive approach.

[maddog1995]

Thanks for the responses, and Rob, yes, I work in New Haven.

 

We don't go crazy with too many line weights, but our chief problem is using the same layer/color for both an 1/8" plan and a 1/4" plan. Our typical wall layer is magenta, which has a pen setting of .53mm. This looks fine at 1/4". But as I said earlier, sometimes our buildings are too big to fit on a sheet at 1/4", so we go to 1/8". My dilemma is that with a smaller scale plan, if I use the same ctb file, that magenta wall line now looks too thick. Does this make sense?

 

It sounds like some of you have come up with solutions for this without having to use multiple ctb files and multiple layers. I'm guessing this is one of those simple solutions that's just evading me, but could someone fill me in on their solution?

[RobDraw]

What you might want to do is to find the thickest lineweights that look good at 1/8" and use them for your 1/4" plans. Most of our plans are at 1/8" and we use 1/4" plans if more detail is needed than will fit neatly on the 1/8" plans.

[t1320t]

It must be a variation in some of your settings bc my plots have identical line widths regardless of the scale. I can have mutiple view ports, all w/ different scales & the line widths are all the same.

[maddog1995]

I hate to be a pain, but could either one of you (RobDraw or t1320t) tell me what you use for the line thickness of your wall line? If I plot an 1/8" plan using the same exact settings as the 1/4", the lines are too thick and muddy.

[RobDraw]

I work for an MEP engineering firm. Our walls are background information for us and are light (.1016 mm, converted from inches). Our MEP stuff is drawn at .508 mm, again converted from inches. Our pipes are usually drawn 8" apart at 1/8" but even at 4" apart they still look good at that lineweight. I hope that helps.

[t1320t]

For what it's worth, I'm in the Civil field, our line weights vary from 0.000mm to 0.500mm (also converted to metric) & we RARELY have an issue with the lines plotting too fat. If so, I'll bump down the scale.

[scottarch]

I have the exact same problem! If I want to present preliminary drawings at 1/16th scale just to get an overall idea of layout, then my lines are dark and muddy. If I draw with the intention of plotting at 1/16th, then when I move into the next phase at 1/4" the lines are too weak. Haven't found a good solution yet...

[RobDraw]

I have the exact same problem! If I want to present preliminary drawings at 1/16th scale just to get an overall idea of layout, then my lines are dark and muddy. If I draw with the intention of plotting at 1/16th, then when I move into the next phase at 1/4" the lines are too weak. Haven't found a good solution yet...

 

Your case would call for having two plot styles.