Autocad Scaling

[Code_x]

hello,

I have drawing at 1/16" -1'-0" in CAD. I don't have any measurements on the drawing. I have to revert this drawing to a real world size. Can anybody help me how do I calculate, and how to input that in CAD? 

[imadHabash]

Hi,

you may need to use Scale ( Reference )  as describe here . >> Click <<   You can use the Reference option to scale an entire drawing. For example, use this option when the original drawing units need to be changed. Select all objects in the drawing. Then use Reference to select two points and specify the intended distance. All the objects in the drawing are scaled accordingly.

[rkmcswain]

@Code_x wrote:

I have drawing at 1/16" -1'-0" in CAD. I don't have any measurements on the drawing. I have to revert this drawing to a real world size. Can anybody help me how do I calculate, and how to input that in CAD? 

What makes you think it's not drawn to real world size now? Typically, people do not draw CAD drawings to a particular enlarged or reduced scale. They are drawn to real world dimensions and than a scale factor can be applied to the page setup for printing.

[Code_x]

The drawing have some information  it's all in decimals. It's a building lot survey. I checked the layout tab in paper space, the scale indicated as 1/16". When copy paste that survey file next to my plans, it is very small.  I can't find any dimensions on the survey. 

[RobDraw]

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@Code_x wrote:

hello,

I have drawing at 1/16" -1'-0" in CAD. I don't have any measurements on the drawing. I have to revert this drawing to a real world size. Can anybody help me how do I calculate, and how to input that in CAD? 

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Why don't you make some measurements to verify the scale?

If it is indeed drawn to 1/16"=1'-0", then the scale factor would be 192.

Keep in mind that what @rkmcswain said is more than likely the case and save a copy of the file in a safe place before you make any changes to it.

[rkmcswain]

@Code_x - note that copy+paste can result in AutoCAD trying to scale things automatically for you, based on settings in the source and target files. So you can't necessarily trust this.

Use LIST, or DIST, or PROPS to find out the length, radius, etc. of some object in the drawing. If you measure the side of a lot and you know it should be 110 feet long, and it gives you a distance of something like 1320 units, then perhaps it's in inches. But if it gives you something like 0.781245 units - then you probably have a scaled down drawing.

[RobDraw]

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@Code_x wrote:

The drawing have some information  it's all in decimals. It's a building lot survey. I checked the layout tab in paper space, the scale indicated as 1/16". When copy paste that survey file next to my plans, it is very small.  I can't find any dimensions on the survey. 

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Why don't you measure it or put your own dimensions in?

Is it about 1/12th the size it should be?

Civil guys use different units. Feet vs. inches.

[Code_x]

So, I exported that survey as a block, and then inserted  into my drawing it showed me that scale Unit : Feet, and scale factor is at : 12.00000.  Now the size of the survey matched my plans.  The Survey is drawn at Decimal and I am working in Architectural Unit. What is the different between these two? 

[RobDraw]

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@Code_x wrote:

What is the different between these two? 

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Feet vs. inches, 1:12.

[scot-65 · Accepted solution]

Architectural units are based on an inch and a fraction thereof.
Engineering uses decimal-feet and decimals thereof.

Keep engineer's work as a block or xref and scale up 12 times
once inside your environment.
If needed, keep as block and bedit --> scale 12 times all objects
inside the block. Back in regular editing, scale factor of the block
you just edited should be 1.0.

And welcome to these forums.

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