Converting Architural Units to Engineering Units

[Anonymous]

As a designer I do all my work in architectural units but I need to translate info regarding my building changes onto an existing engineering site plan. When I start working on the site plan (done at 1"=8' scale shown but everything is in engineering) how do i get my architectural dimensions say 2' converted into the correct engineering units? Thanks anyone!

[Anonymous]

You are going to have to SCALE one of the drawings
correctly: all you need is a known dimension in both plans
and have to know in advance which one you are going to draw
in.

You reference a plotted scale: all AutoCAD file content
should be drawn at 1:1, nothing else. So first thing you
want to do is to confirm this. Then you ask your engineer
what they used for a dimension of 1unit (is it one foot for
example).

Then assuming you are also drawing at 1:1, and your setting
is 1unit=1", then it's obvious by how much you need to scale
one of the drawings (1foot=12").

Now all you have to do is call up the Engineer that sent you
the file and ask.

--
Dean Saadallah
Add-on products for LT
http://www.pendean.com/lt
--

[Anonymous]

Dean thank you for your quick response. I will try what you are suggesting but first I have a question from your answer.
The 1"=8' Scale as noted on the engineers plan isn't indicative of your comment "ask your engineer what they used for a dimension of 1 unit"? Or does that not have anything to do with it?

[Anonymous]

Nothing to do with it: you need to know what scale the model
was drawn in and you need to find out what they used for
1unit size (inch, foot, mile...).

--
Dean Saadallah
Add-on products for LT
http://www.pendean.com/lt
--

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, they are not available to ask that question.
One place on the engineers drawing shows a measurement of 12.50' and another area shows 5'. When the architectural drawings that I received came in they did not have either of those dimensions so I can't work from "a known dimension" in both plans. Any other thoughts?
I am really working in the dark as far as understanding translations between engineering and architectural units, so will need very basic instructions.
Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Draw a line that's one unit long, then dimension it using one of their defined dimension styles. That will tell you if it's one inch or one foot or one mile...

You could also insert your drawing into theirs and get a feel for how far off the scale is.