Plot to scale?

[canaanp]

Hello, I am extremely unexperienced with AutoCAD, but I desperately have a need to accomplish the following task:

 

I have several dxf files that were provided for laser cutting purposes. I have attached one file as an example. I am able to open the file and choose layout 1 and print. If I choose a 1:1 scale the image is very tiny in the corner of the page. If I leave the settings alone and just print, it is a full page, but the part on the paper is not the correct dimensions. The dimensions are in the gif file I also attached. When I print the dxf file the gap between two of the holes, for example, that should be 70mm is actually like 95 or so. Can someone please tell me how I can make this work? I have acad lt 2004 but also trueview 2011 if that helps. I have not had any luck in either one though. Thanks in advance for any help that is provided.

Bearing plate 5mm mild steel.dxf

[designerstuart]

okay so i don't have an immediate answer but.......

 

your model space object looks to be drawn the right size, i.e. 1:1. all good.

paper space (layout) is not thought, as it's only 11 units across - that will be why it is printing so small. also the viewport is at an arbitrary scale. i will try to correct this and reattach. what size / scale were you hoping for?

[canaanp]

The files were provided for laser cutting, however, I will be using a plasma cutter by hand. So what I need is to be able to print this out and cut the shape out to use as a template for marking the steel. So I guess I need it to be 1:1, 1 unit = 1 mm right? I did a linear dimension on the two small holes on the right hand side, and it did say 70, which the gif shows it should be 70mm. If you are able to fix this, can you explain how it is done - I have about 30 more that I will have to correct. Thank you very much

[ReMark]

Your layout should be plotted 1:1 (metric).

 

The viewport through which you are viewing your model space objects needs to have a scale assigned to it. The viewport itself should be on its own layer that is set to "no print" and the viewport's display should be locked so you don't accidentally change the scale. Any of this sound familiar to you?

[designerstuart]

how is this (attached)

 

i have made the paper size A3 and the viewport scale 1' to 1" but i am not an imperial user so don't understand how you got a drawing in mm but scales in inches!

(this can be changed too if you need to)

i also locked the viewport to prevent accidental changes. all this is easy for you to do if you want to learn!

Bearing plate 5mm mild steel ADJUSTED.dxf

[designerstuart]

okay sorry i missed your last post..... so you want 1:1? i think this will fit on A4 full size.

 

remark do you know why there is mix of metric and imperial here?

[canaanp]

Well, it doesn't sound familiar because I've never really worked with this before... I have received architectural drawings before and had to plot them on our plotter but I always muddle through it and it comes out good on the second if not first try

[canaanp]

Sorry, maybe something was saved in the file from me messing with it. The plans came from Canada I think, and everything is metric.. so if you have imperial stuff in the file, it's probably my fault although I always said no when asked to save changes. As much as I hate it, I have been sticking with metric while building this project, just to avoid the hassle of thousands of conversions

[designerstuart]

okay try this. it's metric throughout i'm afraid.

lol

Bearing plate 5mm mild steel NEW SHEET.dwg

[designerstuart]

if it's what you want i'll tell you how to do it (easy!)

[ReMark]

It's not uncommon to find a mix of both imperial and metric units in some drawings from Canada. Their ties to the British empire and their proximity to the U.S. probably account for part of the problem.

 

I recently assisted someone in a Canadian architectural company convert a building drawn in metric units by a company in the U.K. to imperial units. The building was being constructed in Alberta, Canada.

 

My advice is to pick one or the other and stick with it. If dual dimensions make things easier consider the use of Alternate Units (see your Dimension Style tabs).

[designerstuart]

it's odd though because in the first file i returned when i changed the layout to A3 paper i measured it at 14 units (i think) which in inches is correct. can it be that model space is measured in mm while paper space is inches? if it is...... aaargh! the end is nigh!

[canaanp]

Yes, this is perfect thank you! I could not open with 2004 lt, but I could open it with trueview 2011 and clicked the work tab, plot and it worked straight away with no changes. The measurement was 70mm as it is supposed to be - Thank you! Now, what is the secret?

[canaanp]

Ok, so is it possible for me to make the necessary modifications to these files with acad lt 2004?

[designerstuart]

ah no secrets i'm afraid! i just copied it into one of my drawing templates and set up the page that way - in an attempt to keep it metric.

sorry forgot you were 2004 i saved as 2007. oh well you sorted that - yes you can work on it in 2004LT.

 

so i suggest for the other drawings, if they are a similar size part, just copy into your new template, resave, and go from there...... breakdown:

 

copy drawing (model space) out and paste into (model space) the one i sent as a template. if you use command COPYBASE or ctrl+shft+C you can select a base point, which will help you position it. either move into position using MOVE command or go to paper space, unlock viewport by selecting and command CH or properties - in the list somewhere will be a box "display locked" choose no. then double click inside viewport and zoom in or out, pan to find you drawing, click back out of viewport and set its scale using the drop-down box in bottom right (i think) and lock it again.

 

not much to it really. let us know if it works. and i'd like to know where you are. can you put your location in your CADTutor profile please?

[canaanp]

Hmm, could you possibly resend that as a 2004 version? TrueView does not allow any editing or creating files, only to view and print - as far as I know anyway.

 

ok sorry I get it now, you are explaining how I can make these changes myself in 2004...

[designerstuart]

ok sorry I get it now, you are explaining how I can make these changes myself in 2004... hahaha nothing free is that easy!

thanks for the info too

[ReMark]

Doesn't DWG TrueView also include a conversion utility (save dwg to different release)?

[canaanp]

copy drawing (model space) out and paste into (model space) the one i sent as a template. if you use command COPYBASE or ctrl+shft+C you can select a base point, which will help you position it. either move into position using MOVE command or go to paper space, unlock viewport by selecting and command CH or properties - in the list somewhere will be a box "display locked" choose no. then double click inside viewport and zoom in or out, pan to find you drawing, click back out of viewport and set its scale using the drop-down box in bottom right (i think) and lock it again.

 

Ok, so I have created a new file, copied and pasted the model view to it, when I use ch I see properties but there is no option to lock or unlock viewport. What exactly is the viewport anyway? is that what you see when you click the layout tab? On the layout tab now, I see what appears to be the same layout as on the original file which is just the part centered nicely in a box, on a white on black screen.

[canaanp]

OMG so simple... I just realized that all I have to do is select the layout tab, select the entire contents of the layout, then hit ch. display locked was already set to no, but it had a custom scale, I changed that to 1:1 and hit plot and it's perfect. Thanks for all the help!