Drawing set up in metric

[Maria Camara]

Good mornning, I am in a bind here, I use ACAD but always just draw flow diagrams or P&ID's now I need to start using scales and I have now a drawing that needs to be set up in metric, my scale is 1:20 and then I need to set up a viewport, but I don't know how or where to start. HELP

[steven-g]

Have you created the drawing yet, if you can post the dwg someone could show you using that as an example.

[CyberAngel]

If you haven't created the drawing yet, use a metric template. If you have, use the DWGUNITS command to change the units to millimeters (or whatever). From now on, that will be the basic unit in your drawing.

 

To use scales, draw your model in model space at its actual size. Switch to paper space to create a viewport. To do that, use the Layout tab of the ribbon, select Layout Viewport and then Insert View. Or on the Menu, use View, Viewports, and pick the number of viewports you want. If you want to go old school, type VPORTS at the command prompt.

 

Once you have a viewport, it should display the your model zoomed to its extents. If not, double click in the viewport to go to model space, adjust the view as needed, and return to paper space (double click outside the viewport or click on the MODEL tab on the status bar). You can set the scale of the viewport in its properties; the annotative scale is for annotative entities only, standard scale is for everything. When you have the view set up, you should lock the viewport as soon as possible, to avoid disturbing your settings.

 

If you have problems, someone here will be happy to help.

[Maria Camara]

Hello, Thank you for replying to my post, and no I have not set up the drawing yet, I got it and found out is in metric, scale 1:20 that's why I came here for help, I will try your guide and hopefully I will do fine, once again Thank you for the prompt response

[BIGAL]

Were I used to work was in metres, so in a layout we had a title block a A1 sheet 840x594mm all drawn at 1:1 in mm. We would create a viewport , go inside the title block,  zoom in approx, on your project what you want displayed in the view port, so for 1:20 = 1000/20 =50 type zoom 50xp this is 1:20 scale. mm at 1:1 will be similar factor of zoom xp

Edited March 7, 2020 by BIGAL

[steven-g]

The most important point at the start, after you make sure your units are set correctly to millimeters, is forget anything about scale, just draw your geometry in model space using the actual sizes. You only think about scale much later on when it comes to deciding what you want to plot/print, for now just concentrate on creating your drawing. Let us know when you have done that and then someone can explain the process for setting up your layout(s) for plotting.

[Maria Camara]

Okay, start by setting up my drawing in mm, draw at 1 to 1 all my graphics  and then worry about setting the viewport and the scale being 1:20, right? One step at a time, okay will do that, Thank you for your support, at least now I know how to start!

 

[BIGAL]

One important thing as its now metric what is a foot length 304mm or 300mm, a lot of pipe stuff here in AUS is a mixture of imperial and metric, threaded pipe is still BSP etc. So need the correct catalogue of parts to be used.

[steven-g]

Quote

One important thing as its now metric what is a foot length 304mm or 300mm, a lot of pipe stuff here in AUS is a mixture of imperial and metric, threaded pipe is still BSP etc. So need the correct catalogue of parts to be used.

I didn't realize there was such a difference "down under", here above the equator 1 foot = 305 mm 

[nukecad]

Actually 1 foot = 12 inches = 304.80 mm.

 

1 inch = 25.4 mm.

 

Not a big difference and 305 is 'close enough' if your working in Civil or Architectural, but for engineering work you should get it correct.

 

We have the same in the UK as Aus, everything is in metric except for those things that aren't.
Smaller pipe threads in particular are still BSP, but usually simply designated with a capital 'G' for parallel pipe threads.
eg. G-1/2 is a half inch BSPP thread.
Taper pipe threads are still BSPT. (But can also be dedignated with a capital 'R'. eg. 'R-1/2' is the external taper thread and Rc-1/2 is the mating internal taper thread).

Other threads are usually now metric, unless your are refurbishing old stuff, or working on large process pipework which is often ASME/ANSI standard so uses American fasteners.

[Maria Camara]

Good afternoon, I started my drawing, in mm  1 to 1 so far so good, and I may leave it in MS since there are no a lot of stuff in there is mostly equipment, but I am having trouble setting the dimstyle and text height, same with the ltscale, I have centerlines and phantom lines, what ltscale should they be at? If I need to plot for checking what's my scale to plot as well, I know I am asking a lot but is my first time doing this type of drawings and drawing in metric.Thank you for your help

[BIGAL]

Are your plot sheets metric if so just look up sheet sizes starting with A0 then A1 A2 A3 A4. Don't forget hard plot limits are inside sheet size.

[Maria Camara]

Good morning I just tried to insert an A0 Title block but it is too small for my drawing, I guess because I have a 1 to 1 , ow do I make it that it will fit into an A0 , here is what I have done so farLayOut.dwg

[Maria Camara]

Thank you for our help, I really appreciate it

[steven-g]

Well a drawing of that size isn't going to fit on any piece of paper using a scale of 1:20. The best scale in this case is 1:200 which I added to your drawing. I also took the liberty of scaling your text, dimensions and linetype so they show up in the layout.

I just have one question, why have you converted the drawing into a block in model space?

LayOut.dwg

[Maria Camara]

Oh I just did that to make it easy ND Mke sure I was not forgetting anything, my original drawing is not a block, Thank you so much for your help! You are a life saver!

 

[Maria Camara]

Hello Steven, sorry to bother you, But I tried to recreate and placing my Title block in PS but when I go to pick 1:200 I don't have that, I only have 1:100 and I try typing it without avail, why can"t I do it, I tried to do it into another drawing, and also if you don't mind giving me the guidelines as to how you set up the right text and the viewport, this is all so new to me. Thanks!

[steven-g]

As i noted above I had to add it to your drawing. It's not difficult, in the drop-down list for the scales if you scroll to the very bottom you see 'custom' click on that, in the dialogue that opens click 'add' you can name it there 1:200 below that are two boxes leave the first as paper units=1, but change the second box to 'Drawing units= 200' Click OK to exit and the new scale should now be in the list.

[Maria Camara]

Okay, got it, Thank you!

[BIGAL]

Steven has done a good job the layout dwg is a A1 sheet you could go larger as A0 is 1189x841 but as dwg fits nicely makes sense keep A1

 

If you want check plot on a A3 laser etc when you plot just change the 1mm = 2 units and paper size this will produce a A3 I did use window as the title block needs to go up a mm or 2.

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by BIGAL