1:1 scale in drawings is actually 96.3% - even when the printer can handle 1:1

[edwardsc3]

I noticed this problem a while ago, but now it's time to document it fully. Fusion does not print at 1:1 scale when it is set to 1:1; it prints at about 96.3%.

Here's an object that I made to demonstrate the difference. The object is a 250mmx100mm rectangle, with lines at 10mm increments and then 25mm increments. I extruded the segments to alternating heights of 1mm and 2mm (the extrusion is only used so that the drawing lines are clearer in the photo). Here is that drawing compared to an Incra metric ruler which has 0.25mm precision. The dimensions were added with the dimension tool in the drawing mode. 250mm, drawn to scale but not printed to scale

The obvious response to this is to suggest that my printer is shrinking the image, or that the default outer border is having some effect. So, first I removed the border, but there is no change. I should also note that there are no printer options available in Fusion, at least not with my setup.

250mm drawing isn't at 1:1 scale, without the default border

And so the next question is if my printer is scaling it down. I tested this by making a new drawing in a different program - the online version of SmartDraw - using a 1 cm : 1 cm scale and making similar lines. I had to add the lengths in manually rather than with a dimensioning tool, but the onscreen measurements and grid make it easy to correctly apply those. I used fewer lines for the sake of brevity.

SmartDraw correctly sizes to 100%

I made the drawing from the first two images entirely in Fusion this evening, without sending it through any other program, so there is no way that other software could interfere with it. All this was done on the same computer with the same printer. My printer is a Canon MG 5220, but I can also use other printers over the next few days and I expect I would see the same result. The paper size is 8.5"x11" and the printer settings in Fusion were for 8.5"x11". I have seen this problem with the exact same shrinkage amount in drawings that came with supplier parts months ago, so either they also use Fusion and this is a long-standing problem, or it's common across many CAD programs.

Personally, I was expecting to use 1:1 printouts to help form some components I am making. A 1:1 diagram can be printed, cut, and glued onto a part to provide all the markings necessary for the first pass of machining (see the ClickSpring youtube channel, he often uses that shortcut). 

[mustangguy1969]

I accidently deleted the video while modifying if from my phone. It's in the process of uploading it again. I'll post the new link in a few minutes.

[mustangguy1969]

https://youtu.be/2p89pjDP0xw

[sabadell]

Hi mustangguy1969 ,

Thank you so much for uploading the YouTube video, it was very helpful. I am glad you have found a workaround, though obviously it is not the way this should work. One thing I would like to suggest - if you have time to try it:

With the view scale reset back to 1:1, move the view away from the sheet border. My thought is that printer margins could be forcing the print to "fit". So since you already have the border turned off, you might want ensure you have (to be on the safe side) a full 1" margin on all 4 sides. To really test this theory, you should also move the title block in a bit away from the sheet edges. I have seen cases where, for a given printer, one print margin is larger than the other 3, or that margins are different based on how the sheet feeds through the printer.

I am not blaming the printer here, just looking for alternative workarounds for you, until we can be sure we can force 1:1 output for the sheet. Thanks for your patience and the informative video.

[mustangguy1969]

Stew, Thank you for the reply. I have tried as you suggested. Both with and without the border and/or title block. Even tried the printer setting to print to edge of paper turned on and off. Tried both of those inside the PDF workaround as well. Still didn't work. This is what has lead me to believe it's not a printer setting. 

I want to preference that I didn't make that video to throw you guys under the bus or cause a ruckus. I'm genuinely trying to help figure out what the root cause is. 

I'll give it another try now and see if anything has changed. 

-mike

[Anonymous]

It currently 6/29/2021 and this is still an issue.

[Anonymous]

It currently 6/29/2021 and this is still an issue.

[gtprototype]

Holding back the tears
'Cause nothing here has grown
I've wasted all my tears
Wasted all those years
Nothing had the chance to be good
Nothing ever could, yeah oh well

I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on

Holding holding holding on
La…
I say ooh well
That's all I have today
It's all I have to say

[ecnels]

Here's a method of compensating that has worked easily and well for me - see enclosed .pdf.

[ClintBrown3D]

To everyone who has given us feedback on printing, I want to say a big thank you! I fully understand the frustration. We are listening, and will work to improve printing in Fusion 360. I am going to add a project to look at printing improvements to the public roadmap. Please bear with us, there are other projects in the queue before this one, but we will be overhauling the print options in Fusion 360.

While you wait, it might be useful to explain how printing from Fusion 360 desktop client works right now.

• Fusion 360 prints 1:1 when the paper size of the drawing and the printer match exactly (i.e., A4 Sheet to A4 printer = 1:1)
• Fusion 360 scales down sheets that have a mismatch (i.e., A3 sheet to A4 printer = scaled to fit)
• Printing setup & scaling is based on the Operating System (Windows or Mac) default settings for your printer. Some printers are better than others at getting this scaling right.

For optimal 1:1 prints, the printer’s default settings need to be set up to allow for 1:1 prints. Some drawing borders have geometry that crosses into the print margins, and in some instances the printer will scale the drawing down to fit the printable area. In this instance, the printer setup needs to be changed to accommodate this. Unfortunately, setup can vary from one printer or manufacturer to another.

I have documented this, as well as an option to print from Fusion Team (which gives more flexibility & scaling options) here: https://clintbrown.co.uk/2021/04/08/fusion-360-calibrating-11-prints/

Thank you again to everyone who has raised this, and for your patience.

[atodds]

Admittedly, this is 100% my fault for being careless. But if a solution is so difficult that it takes over 3 years to implement, perhaps a warning would be possible in the meantime? I can't express within the character limit how demoralizing it is to print all the drawings, cut and glue them to all the material for project, and get half way through cutting before realizing that all your dimensions are 96% of what they should be. Sure, the print to pdf is a functional work around, but no one will ever find that until after mistakes are made.

[cyberreefguru]

Made even worse now that non-paid accounts cannot output to PDF - none of the scaling options exist in the broken *ss print windows using Mac OS.  Super frustrated with Autodesk right now.

[franck.morisseau]

same thing here, I can't print at 1:1 scale! I can't check my footprints or patterns.

But perhaps I have a clue about this problem because I've got a similar issue when I've made a front overlay under adobe illustrator.
If I do a DXF export from eagle in mm and import it under illustrator in "mm" I have the same scaling problem.
but if I make an inches DXF export and import under illustrator, all is fine.
so im pretty sure it's something like the printer driver working in mm and fusion or eagle working in inches but making the mm conversion with not enough precision or lower rounding of the mil unit.

Printing a "printable rule"  from internet in PDF works fine and the result is in 1:1 scale but the scale problem remains  with an exported pdf file from eagle.

for me this error is something like 0.5mm for a 25cm line under eagle, so 24.5mm printed.
and the error seems not equal in X and Y because my correction factor is different for each axis (perhaps printer feed speed)

 

 

 

[Anonymous]

This is a big deal. I only found these posts because we just realigned the laser in a epilog CO2 laser engraver, assuming the scale of the drawing was true. That was a lot of time lost, realigning the laser. Also a lot of time lost putting the part back in Solidworks and Inkscape. Seems like this should be a priority. I'm only one of two in the group with Fusion because we didn't like the Solidworks policies, but in our case Fusion is competing directly with Solidworks. I'm rooting for Fusion to fix this, hate to go back to a 2000 dollar license.

[hamid.sh.]

Wow didn't know such problem exists... Skimming through this thread I am happy I've always exported my 1:1 drawings into DXF and sent for printing using a DWG editor (CorelCAD). I use 1:1 print quite frequently as a guide. Had I trusted printing within Fusion things have gone wrong. 

[gtprototype]

STILL WAITING -- its now been 3 years, 10 months, and 18 days!

[franck.morisseau]

they don't care, you pay for their subscription every year...

[franck.morisseau]

It's print driver related because I'm using the same laptop computer as my post above at home (telework) on my Brother inkjet MFC-J5330DW and 1:1 works well without scaling the print.
I just need to remember to change the scale factor when I want to print close to 1:1 at work on the laser printer....

[cyberreefguru]

If it is a driver problem, then HP printers and Epson printers are affected.  If I knew the scaling factor, I could compensate while printing.

So my question is, how does Autodesk track defects? Is there an actual defect tracking capability other than people complaining on the forums? At one point you could submit a defect and people could vote on it.  Does that still exist? Has this problem been formally submitted as a defect?  I'm not defending them, but being an app developer myself, unless the development team knows there is a problem, then the right people are blind.  0.02

-Tom

[franck.morisseau]

STILL WAITING -- its now been 3 years, 10 months, and 18 days!

I think it's enough time to find the problem for an app developper of their team.
And the print factor is not the same if the print is in A3 or A4 or landscape/portrait.
very easy to set! for a software with subscription every year.

[ClintBrown3D]

Hi Everyone

"Advanced Print Controls" is one of the features that we plan to build this year. It's on our public roadmap under "Usability".

What I really want you to know, is that we do care, and we are listening!

We take all of your comments and posts very seriously. Every customer request that we get, from customer meetings, emails, tech support, forum posts etc. gets collected and categorized in our feature request database. We use this information to prioritize the features that we build next.

Sometimes a feature request can seem to take a lot longer than you might expect to get into the product. This is usually because there are other prioritized features in the queue ahead of it. Prioritization of features is based on many factors, but one of the largest influencers is the amount of customer requests we get (as outlined above).

Please bear with us, we are working on this! While you wait for "Advanced Print Controls", please give this article a read, it explains how printing currently works, and suggests 2 workflows that will allow you to scale your prints today, without any 3rd party software! 

Keep an eye on the public roadmap and the Fusion blogs, where we will share updates as we go. If you would like to meet with me to discuss drawings, or our prioritization process, please book a Zoom session with me via my calendar link. I'd love to chat to you about this, and to share some of our near term plans with you. Or feel free to drop me an email, Clint. Brown {a} Autodesk.com.