Troubles Plotting 1:1 Scale

[chris11]

I am currently running Autocad Civil 3D 2015, and have been searching for the reason why I can't plot at a 1:1 scale. My drawing is scaled at 1:1000 and when I go to plot I select 1:1 and window the drawing. When I select preview the drawing is zoomed in to a small portion of the drawing. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks

[nestly]

....My drawing is scaled at 1:1000

 

Do you mean you that when you made an object that measure 1000 real world units, you specified it's size as "1" in AutoCAD? Normally, you should draw at 1:1, meaning if the object your drawing measure 1000 units, you draw it 1000 units in AutoCAD. Scaling should happen when you plot, not when you draw. It sounds like you actually made the drawing at 1/1000 scale, so you'd have to plot at 1000:1 to get back to 1:1 (not that I'm recommending that as a final solution).

 

If you didn't draw 1:1, then I recommend you scale the entire model up 1000x so it is drawn at 1:1 and that should resolve the scale/plot issue.

 

You can also post a sample drawing here if you're not certain about how to fix it.

 

Related: Plot to Scale from Modelspace

[RobDraw]

Plotting from your model space requires the plot to be scaled to 1:1000. A viewport set up at 1:1000 in paper space would be plotted at 1:1.

[Ski_Me]

I've never trusted the scale command. I've gotten files that were drawn in model space to scale and when I scaled them up I had issues with blocks and other objects not being the right size. Might want to scale up the viewport in this case. From now on draw 1:1 in model space.

[RobDraw]

I've never trusted the scale command.

 

That's the funniest thing I've heard today. It's not the command that you should not trust. It works perfectly and has for many years. The issues you are having are due to those objects not being drawn correctly in the first place.

[chris11]

RobDraw makes sense to me. I tried opening another drawing which was scaled the same way in model space, I selected mview, then 1xp, switched to paper space selected plot, then window 1:1 and it plotted fine to scale. I then opened the drawing in question, selected all the same commands, selected plot then select similar and it plotted fine to scale. There must be something simple that I am missing.

[Ski_Me]

That's the funniest thing I've heard today. It's not the command that you should not trust. It works perfectly and has for many years. The issues you are having are due to those objects not being drawn correctly in the first place.

You are most likely correct. I never draw out floorplans I get them from other sources which makes me a victim of other peoples mistakes and you should pity me.

[RobDraw]

You scale floor plans?

[nestly]

You scale floor plans?

 

Already answered.

 

From post #7

....I never draw out floorplans I get them from other sources

 

From post #4

.... I've gotten files that were drawn in model space to scale....

[Ski_Me]

Thx nestly

[RobDraw]

Well that's just foolish. I still see title blocks in model space but scaled floor plans? That's just bad CAD.

[nestly]

I get drawings from one engineer that uses Modelspace only. Every sheet is it's own .dwg file and they copy/scale for details. What a pain in the butt not to be able to just measure something without converting the measurement, or scaling so the measurement is correct.

[Ski_Me]

I've seen all sorts of crazy stuff but what I think happens is that different engineering firms get ahold of the drawings and scale the floor plans so that their blocks will fit into the drawing and look right. I know our mech drafter will do this because he doesn't what to redraw his blocks or scale them to the drawing. Imagine placing a block for a AHU that's is 12" by 20" into model space that's 1:1 you wouldn't be able to see it. At least not very well. Solution make the floorplan smaller in model space. This was an improvement from his previous practice of placing the block on the z-axis above the drawing, kinda of a forced perspective I guess.

[Dana W]

Ok, believe it or not time.

 

A local surveyor was looking for somebody to field measure and draw up a house location survey. A fresh lot stake-out had just been done but they didn't have a drafter to finish it up. The guy sent me a sample drawing of another lot done in AutoCad LT 2008 as a template. There was NOTHING in modelspace. The entire 1/4 acre survey drawing was in paperspace, with no viewport, scaled to 1" = 20'-0" to fit on 8 1/2" x 14" paper.

 

Now, on a survey there are usually no dimensions, there are bearings and distances. These were typed in using single line text, rotated to approximately match the bearing angle of the lot lines. It is required to dimension to the two closest adjacent lot lines from the structure. These two dimensions were lines and text.

 

Since I had to drive from Central Seminole County, to North Brevard County to do some field measurements for it, I took a pass. I might have made 30 bucks after gas money to do it.

[RobDraw]

I've seen all sorts of crazy stuff but what I think happens is that different engineering firms get ahold of the drawings and scale the floor plans so that their blocks will fit into the drawing and look right.

 

What kind of CAD hell do you live in? Where on earth is it so I can stay very far away?

[Ski_Me]

This is what you get when you depend on others out of your control for drawings. It's just the nature of being an independent fire alarm designer.