Changing Dimension scale

[microsoft9CQY7]

I'm asking the wrong question because I don't know what to ask for.  I want to be able to scale a viewport and have the dimensions scale accordingly.  Not their physical size but their distances.

1) Say a create an object in model space that 10 x10.

2) I create a new layout tab with a 1:1 viewport

3) I dim the object in paper space.

Now the object can be plotted 1:1.

Now say that I want the same object but I want it at half scale 1:2.

1) I copy the layout tab to a new layout

2) Change the viewport scale to 1:2.  Now the drawing will plot at half scale.  Which is normally what one would want. 

However, I want to be able to dimension the object so that it's dimensions show that it's 5 x 5 without having to resort to lazy dimensioning or making a copy of the object in model space, scaling the new object and redimensioning it.  Essentially creating a new object with a different size w/out having to create multiple objects for each scale.

There has to be way but I don't know what question(s) I should be asking.  Searching dim scaling returns how to scale the physical size of dims and text which is great and all but not what I'm trying to do. 

There's the measurement scale but that changes the scale for all the dims using that dimstyle.  Maybe the answer is that I need to create a new dim style for ever scale that I want to use but it seems like there must be a better solution.

Thanks,

[RobDraw]

You've covered a number of options but haven't said what the drawing is for. Some context will get you more appropriate answers.

[microsoft9CQY7]

A clamp.  I want to be able to make clamps of different sizes w/out having to make a new drawing for every size.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@microsoft9CQY7 wrote:

.... There's the measurement scale but that changes the scale for all the dims using that dimstyle.  ....

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You can change the measurement scale for individual Dimensions, rather than in the Dimension Style definition for all of them, for example in the Properties palette with any such Dimension(s) selected:

You would presumably have different Layers for the different scales, copy the Dimensions in place onto all Layers, have the Viewports restrict which set of Dimensions is visible, and change their linear scale factors within each Viewport.

But it sounds like a dangerous way to go about it.  And possibly inaccurate -- for example, on one that's half as long, would everything about it really be exactly half as big [the arm depth in the direction perpendicular to its length, the material thickness in the 3rd dimension, the notch depths, etc.]?  I have a set of C clamps in different sizes, and the size of the C part and its "throat" dimension vary, but the screw-threaded part that you turn, and its hole in the base of the C part, and the little rod that you turn it with, and the "foot" that moves toward the other end of the C, are of a single diameter and thread pitch and size for several of the larger clamps, and a single smaller size for the smaller ones -- they're not a different size for every clamp size.

[microsoft9CQY7]

No sure that I know how to "have the Viewports restrict which set of Dimensions is visible, and change their linear scale factors within each Viewport." but I get the concept and will give it try. Thanks for the response. 

The attached is just an example of an issue that I've never really found a good solution for other than just redrawing it.  It's more of a "for reference only" type of thing just so I have an idea of what size stock you need to make the same part but at a different size.

[doben]

You can apply a scale factor to the dim style to suit each layout.

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

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@microsoft9CQY7 wrote:

No sure that I know how to "have the Viewports restrict which set of Dimensions is visible, and change their linear scale factors within each Viewport." ....

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That's about viewport-freezing, within each Viewport, all Dimension Layers except the one that has the Dimensions for the intended scale for that Viewport.  Then with only those Dimensions showing, though copied in place from true-measurement-scale originals, you can grab them all and change their linear scale factor collectively.

[Nothing attached....]

[Kent1Cooper]

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@doben wrote:

You can apply a scale factor to the dim style to suit each layout. ....

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... which would require a separate Dimension Style for every scale involved.  That's something they wanted to avoid [see the last paragraph in Message 1].

But I'm still skeptical about the advisability of the whole concept....

[TomBeauford]

Wouldn't it be simpler to scale the clamp to the actual size you want and add quick dimensions to the new size in a new viewport?

[microsoft9CQY7]

Say you're an Architect and you design a elevation view for you client.  You want to build a scale model of the design so they can better "see" what you're proposing.  You can scale a viewport, add dimensions then plot it.  Now you have to calculate ever dim to make a scale model.  Wouldn't it be easier if you dim'ed the plot to sizes that you wanted to make instead?  It would help to reduce errors I would think. -- What if you're model builder who wants to build a scale model of his favorite car?  What if you're a woodworker and want to design a hold down and want different sizes of hold downs. There's definitely reasons why one might want to do this.  Not something that I would want to do if I were making something in a production environment for sure but quick and easy...