How to Change Scale in AutoCAD 2019?

Understanding Scale in AutoCAD 2019

When working in AutoCAD, managing the scale of your drawings is crucial, especially for ensuring accuracy in dimensions. Changing the scale effectively allows you to adjust drawings for printing and presentation purposes. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to changing the scale in AutoCAD 2019.

Step-by-Step Process to Change Scale

1. Accessing the Layout View

• Open your drawing in AutoCAD.
• Switch to the layout view where you want to adjust the scale by clicking on the corresponding tab at the bottom of the workspace.

2. Adjusting the Viewport Scale

• Click on the viewport border to select it. The border should become highlighted, indicating it has been selected.
• If needed, you can also press the CTRL key while clicking to choose multiple viewports.

3. Opening the Scale Menu

• Locate the "Viewport Scale" drop-down menu on the bottom right corner of your AutoCAD interface.
• Click on this menu to reveal available scaling options.

4. Selecting a New Scale

• Choose your desired scale from the provided list. There are pre-defined scales like 1:50, 1:100, etc. If your required scale isn’t listed, you can create a custom scale.

5. Using the Properties Palette

• For more detailed adjustments, right-click on the selected viewport and choose "Properties."
• Under the "Misc" section, find the scale settings. Here you can manually enter a new scale if necessary.

Creating a Custom Scale

If the default scales don’t meet your requirements, creating a custom scale is straightforward:

1. Inside the viewport properties, locate the option to define a new scale.
2. Enter your custom scale factor, for example, if you want a scale of 1:20, you can input the corresponding fraction.
3. Confirm the changes and close the Properties palette.

Adding a Scale Bar for Reference

Adding a scale bar helps viewers understand the scale at which your drawing is presented:

1. Navigate to the "Layout Tools" tab in the ribbon.
2. Click "Scale Bar" and select a style that suits your preferences from the list.
3. Place the scale bar appropriately in the layout, typically in a corner.

Tips for Ensuring Accuracy

• Always double-check your scale comparisons between model space and paper space. Using commands like LIMITS can help you understand the drawing area effectively.
• When dimensioning, make sure to verify that all dimensions reflect the new scale accurately.

FAQ

1. What happens if I don’t change the scale correctly?
Not changing the scale accurately may lead to misrepresentations of sizes and dimensions in your drawing, potentially causing issues during construction or presentations.

2. Can I change the scale in model space?
Yes, while working in model space, you can scale objects using the SCALE command; however, it’s generally recommended to change the scale in layout view for presentation purposes.

3. Is there a way to revert to the original scale after making adjustments?
If you’ve saved your drawing before scaling, you can simply close the file without saving or use the "Undo" command to revert changes. Always keep backups of your original files for safety.