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IndustryArena Forum > CAD Software > Autodesk > Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    83

    Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    I asked my designer to scale up a print so that I could read it without straining my eyes. I got a whole line of bull why he can't do this. But specifically: I have to produce a drawing to ANSI standards on a C size print. The only way I can make this part larger is to section off a portion of it and enlarge it for YOU.

    I asked why he couldn't change the scale. He said it was a pdf. I asked why he couldn't open the parent document, increase the scale, save it and then produce the pdf. He said it cannot be done. Something about (Yes, I am experienced with CAD drawings but I could not follow his logic) something about sitting in a smart car and a lincoln. I told him the font on the speedometer was the same size but he said that id not matter.

    My example to him was a print that utilized 14% of the bordered region the 8.5x11 landscape print provided in the package. This part is about the size of a soft ball. The font is so small and fine I have to strain to read it. The next part is the size of a used up pencil. I can read it just fine. The next part is the size of pump that you could have trouble holding in your lap. I can read it. All produced on a C size drawing.

    BTW I was able to show him 2 examples sitting on my machine shop table at that time. He told me to take it to someone else who has access to the prints, blow it up and print it out for me.

    Help me carry this subject to fruition without being fired.

    Thanks, Lee

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    Font size should be fixed, and independent of the drawing scale, if the person knows what they are doing.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    83

    Re: Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    Gerry, I know AND if the font size is really too small for the chosen scale,,,,,,, you can change it?? !! ??? I'm ready to shoot myself.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    What CAD program is this?
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    83

    Re: Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    Auto Cad. I admit, I have not worked auto cad since version 11 but have been in enough others that I know he is trying to bull**** me into dropping this.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    83

    Re: Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    I have done more research and found out what he was referring too. While there is no law, a company may specify a font size per drawing size. In this case, C size and whatever the font calls for. Once converted to a pdf 8.5x11 it cannot be read. Well, it can, if you take it to a lighted magnifying glass to view the dimension. Mind you, this is a print that is saved for the purpose of the production cycle.

    I can't seem to convince him to use more than 14% of the C size print. Because if he did, once he made a pdf for the machine shop, I could read it.

    I know, I know, it's just been a really bad day.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    There are a lot of different ways to do page layouts and dimensions in AutoCAD, and it may not be that easy to print to a different scale, on different sized paper.

    The simplest thing would be to just print a "window", scaled to fit the paper, but the drawing would then be some random scale.


    If you need to print 8.5x11 pages, then you shouldn't be setting them up for C size sheets.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    83
    Quote Originally Posted by ger21 View Post
    There are a lot of different ways to do page layouts and dimensions in AutoCAD, and it may not be that easy to print to a different scale, on different sized paper.

    The simplest thing would be to just print a "window", scaled to fit the paper, but the drawing would then be some random scale.


    If you need to print 8.5x11 pages, then you shouldn't be setting them up for C size sheets.

    Thank you. My thoughts exactly. I also found out there are no more paper prints produced. You know, the room with rack upon rack of prints hanging on sticks? They don’t produce them any longer. They do not print out and ship with our products. And there are a limited amount of printers at our company that can produce these 22x17 prints.

    Every discussion on this topic only clarifies my argument further.

    So, a C size print has a locked it font in order to ensur national consistency, correct? However if a company decides a larger font for their purposes works better they can do this correct?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Tactful description of why a part can be scaled up in a C size print

    To be honest, I don't know the answers.

    I've used AutoCAD daily for over 20 years now. In our industry (cabinet shop) There are no standards that we need to follow. We use multiple page sizes, but I've always used the same size font, regardless of the page size.
    It also depends on how the drawing is done. Are the dimensions and notes in Paper Space, or Model Space. Depending on how it's done, it can be complicated.
    If I had a drawing on an 18x24 page, but it only used 1/4 of the page, and I wanted to print it on 8.5x11, then I'd copy everything from the 18x24 layout and paste it onto the 8.5x11 layout. This would maintain the original drawing scale.

    If you want to actually change the scale of the view, then it can get more complicated.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

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