How to Change Scale in AutoCAD 2017?

Changing the Scale in AutoCAD 2017

Adjusting the scale in AutoCAD can be essential for ensuring that your drawings are accurate and fit the intended context. This guide outlines the steps needed to change the scale settings in AutoCAD 2017, allowing you to convert measurements seamlessly according to your project’s requirements.

Step 1: Accessing the Dimension Style Manager

1. Open your drawing in AutoCAD 2017.
2. Navigate to the Dimension menu located in the main toolbar.
3. Select Style to open the Dimension Style Manager. This tool allows you to modify various aspects of dimension styles.

Step 2: Creating a New Dimension Style

1. Click the New button in the Dimension Style Manager.
2. A prompt will appear for creating a new style. Provide a name for the new style to easily identify it later.
3. Choose a Start With Style from the existing styles to tailor your new dimension style accordingly.
4. Set the Use For option to "All Dimensions" to ensure that this style applies universally within your drawing.

Step 3: Setting the Units to Millimeters

1. Access the Primary Units tab in the New Dimension Style dialog box.
2. In the Suffix box, input "mm" to signify that the measurements will be in millimeters.
3. To ensure proper conversion, adjust the Scale Factor to 25.4, as this represents the number of millimeters per inch.

Step 4: Applying the New Style

1. Once you have configured the settings, click OK to save the new dimension style.
2. With your new style selected in the Dimension Style Manager, click Set Current to make it the active style for your drawing.
3. You may need to update existing dimensions to apply the new scale settings. Select the dimensions you want to modify and change their style to your newly created one.

Step 5: Verifying Scale Adjustments

1. To check if your dimensions reflect the correct measurements, zoom in on your drawing.
2. Use the DISTANCE command to measure between two points to confirm that your dimensions appear as expected.

Step 6: Additional Scaling Tasks

To convert scales or switch to different units (inches, centimeters, etc.) follow similar steps by adjusting the Scale Factor or the Suffix accordingly in the Dimension Style Manager.

FAQs

1. Why is my drawing still not scaling correctly after adjusting the dimension style?
If adjustments have been made but the dimensions do not appear correct, ensure that all dimensions have been updated to use the new dimension style. You may also need to check your drawing limits and zoom level.

2. Can I change the annotation scale without affecting the dimensions?
Yes, you can set the annotation scale for your viewport in paper space independently from dimension style settings. Adjust the scale in the status bar when in paper space.

3. How can I convert units for existing dimensions in my drawing?
Use the UNITS command to set default drawing units. Select an appropriate insertion scale to ensure that existing dimensions reflect the correct real-world measurements. Adjust dimensions individually if necessary to match the new settings.