Understanding Scale in AutoCAD
Printing with scale in AutoCAD involves ensuring that your drawings are accurately represented on paper, maintaining proportionate measurements. AutoCAD primarily uses ISO paper sizes measured in millimeters, so it’s essential to convert model dimensions from meters to millimeters before attempting to print.
Steps to Print to Scale
Follow these detailed steps to effectively print your AutoCAD drawings to scale:
1. Set Up Your Drawing
Begin by ensuring your drawing is accurately scaled in model space. If your drawing dimensions are in meters, convert them to millimeters by multiplying by 1000. This ensures that when you print, the measurements are accurate.
2. Select the Entire Drawing
Use the shortcut Ctrl + A to select all the elements within your drawing. This prepares the entire layout for scaling adjustments.
3. Scale the Drawing if Necessary
Type ‘SCALE’ into the command bar and press Enter. Specify a base point and a scaling factor. For instance, if the current drawing needs to be printed at half size, you would use a scaling factor of 0.5.
4. Access the Printer Setup
Click on the Output tab and select Plot from the menu. This will open the printing configuration options. Here, you can access various settings to tailor your print output.
5. Select the Appropriate Printer
In the Printer/Plotter dropdown, choose the correct printer or select DWG to PDF for creating a PDF file. Ensure that the printer settings correspond to your desired output format.
6. Choose Paper Size
From the Paper Size dropdown menu, select the appropriate paper size, such as A4 or Letter. Ensure this matches the paper you’ll be using for printing.
7. Adjust Scaling Options
In the Properties window, look for Printing Options and navigate to Advanced Paper Size settings. Choose your scaling preferences, such as No Scaling to maintain the original size of your drawing.
8. Set Viewport Scale
If your drawing is in paper space, confirm that the viewport is correctly set to display the desired scale. Right-click the viewport, select Properties, and specify the Standard Scale. This ensures that the printout reflects the correct proportions.
9. Execute the Print Command
Once all settings are in order, click OK or Print in the Plot dialog box. Review the print preview to ensure it represents your design accurately, then proceed with printing.
Troubleshooting Common Print Issues
If your drawings do not print to scale as expected, consider the following:
- Verify that the plotted content fits within the page margins to prevent parts of the drawing from being cut off.
- Choose a PDF viewer like Adobe Reader for printing rather than using a web browser, which can distort scaling.
- Ensure that your printer drivers are updated to support accurate plotting.
Changing the Scale of Viewports
If you need to adjust the viewport’s scale within paper space:
- Select the desired layout viewport.
- Right-click and choose Properties.
- Make sure the Display Locked is set to No.
- In the Properties palette, navigate to Standard Scale and select a new scale from the options provided.
- Confirm that changes are applied to the viewport.
FAQs
1. What should I do if my drawing does not fit on the selected paper size?
Check the layout spacing and margins to ensure enough space around the drawing. You might need to adjust the scale settings or use Fit to Paper if necessary.
2. How can I print at a specific scale like 1:100 or 1:200?
To print at a specific scale, ensure your drawing is scaled correctly in model space, and then select the desired scale from the Standard Scale options in the Properties palette for the viewport.
3. Can I print in different units like inches instead of millimeters?
Yes, you can print in inches by adjusting the units in your drawing settings and selecting a compatible paper size. Make sure to adjust scaling accordingly when doing so.
