Viewport scaling is way too zoomed in - Layout Space - 3D Modeling

[milanvidovic]

So I have to create 4 different views of my model. Easily done. And they are to be scaled 1:5 in Layout space. That's WAY too zoomed in to the point where you can't see anything. I'll upload my drawing. I really can't think of what's wrong with it.

...?

[milanvidovic]

And also, when I insert one of my blocks, it's way too big. Thought I made a breakthrough with INSUNITS set from 4 to 1, but no. It fixed the block issue, but scale 1:5 is still way too zoomed in.

[cadffm]

1. Your statement ". And they are to be scaled 1:5 in Layout space." is wrong!

     3 of 4 are set to Annotation Scale 1:5, nothiong more. (thats for Annotation object scaling, not the zoom-level)

2. CTRL+1, check the Viewport properties: Annotation Scale, Standard Scale, Custom scale..

[dbroad]

It appears that you are drawing model space objects using millimeters and have set up your paper space using inch units. This makes the scale off by a factor of 25.4.  You should decide which units system to use. Don't use insunits alone to change units. Use -dwgunits.  It will offer the option to change the scale of objects.

Example:  To fix your drawing to have inches in both model space and paper space, set insunits to 4. Then use -dwgunits to change to inches.  Choose do not scale paper space.

Example:  To fix you drawing to have paper both model and paper space in millimeters, scale the paper space objects by 25.4 and then run page setup again to choose an appropriate size metric sheet. Set insunits to 4.

[milanvidovic]

This is all so confusing, and my instructions never included this. My Layout space is supposed to be 8.5 x 11 Inches, Letter size. And my instructions are to draw the model in MM and scale it to 1:5. So how would it appear normally in this situation? What would I have to do?

[dbroad · Accepted solution]

You should be asking your instructor these questions. If they don't know the answers, you should consider another CAD school. Of course, I would suggest Nash Community College, which has an online program that you can take from anywhere in the US.

I'm not crazy about using US paper sizes with mm drawings but you have three choices.  1)Scale your model space objects down by a factor of 25.4, which converts the model to inches and change your dimensions to scale measurements by 25.4 which would report distances in millimeters or you would need to keep the model in millimeters; 2)Save the drawing as is and insert it into another imperial, which should automatically shrink the drawing due to the insunits settings and setup the paper space in that drawing by cut and paste from your current drawing; or 3) do the following:

1. Set insunits to 4 (millimeters, since your block is in millimeters.)
2. Use -dwgunits to set the drawing to millimeters.  Most of the other prompts should be answered yes but since your block is already in millimeters, you don't want to scale the model space.
3. In paper space, you need to use pagesetup.  Choose the general documentation PDF printer.  Choose its properties and add a custom paper size.  Choose start from scratch and choose millimeters. The size of the current letter shape should be automatically converted to millimeters.  Save it and select that as your current paper size.  Then set the scale to 1:1, the units to mm, and what to plot as layout, temporarily. Close the page setup.
4. In paper space, scale all objects about 0,0 by 25.4.
5. Zoom extents in each viewport to correctly center each view.  Change the right view viewport from perspective to parallel (right click on the viewcube).  Set all viewports to 1:5 and you're good to go.

I try to avoid assigning a millimeter plot on an imperial sized sheet like letter.  ISO sizes are A0-A4.  They are also built into the acadiso.dwt template, which is what you should have started the drawing with.

If these concepts are confusing, ask your teacher or sign up at https://online.nashcc.edu/ for ARC 114, which begins in Fall Semester 2019. First class is Aug 15.

[milanvidovic]

I'll get around to experimenting some time later with this. I have class in a couple hours and am eager to ask about this. I followed the (rather simple) instructions meticulously. To draw the model in millimeters and set up Layout space in letter size. I kind of suspected that it would create problems.