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CAD Forums => CAD General => CAD Standards => Topic started by: AUTOKAD on January 28, 2009, 03:04:39 PM

Title: text size arghhh!
Post by: AUTOKAD on January 28, 2009, 03:04:39 PM
the text size that i believe is the standard size is 3/32" for notes, dims, etc..sometimes a co-worker of mine uses 5/16". and this could be for floor plans or 11x17 details. some say its too big, some say its too small..but i just want ask, what is really the good or the correct text size? what do you use or what is globally use by all cad users out there. what is the standard?
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: T.Willey on January 28, 2009, 03:12:48 PM
What I was taught in school was 1/8", but for most places I have worked they used 3/32", unless it was work for the VA then it was 1/8".
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Avanti on January 28, 2009, 03:29:46 PM
When I was working for Govt contractors it was 5/32".  Today we use 3/32" in the cabinet shop.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: deegeecees on January 28, 2009, 04:19:29 PM
.09375 for standard text
.125 for subtitle text
.1875 for title text

Straight from the Cad Standards Manual for a major electrical company.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: SPDCad on January 29, 2009, 04:34:36 PM
I use 1/12" or 0.0833" which is close to 3/32" (0.09375") only slightly smaller.

That way what ever the scale of the drawing is i can easy calculate the text height by reversing the fraction.
Saves me from memorizing a text/scale chart.

ie.
1"=1'-0" is 1
1/8"=1'-0" is 8
1/4"=1'-0" is 4
3/32"=1'-0" is 32/3
3/8"=1'-0" is 8/3
1"=20'-0" is 20
etc...

Titles are twice the size of the above.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: chauny274 on May 04, 2009, 11:25:06 AM
We do work for 4 different chemical plants around here and they are all 3/32" for 11x17 and 1/8" for 24x36 drawings.

I don't know anyone who thinks 3/32 is too big for 11x17, seems just right to me....
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: James Cannon on May 04, 2009, 11:34:14 AM
3/32 = regular text and dims
5/32 = title text

Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: TimSpangler on May 04, 2009, 11:47:00 AM
3/32" for general notes / text / dims
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Bob Wahr on May 04, 2009, 12:19:23 PM
We use 3/32" unless 1/8" is required.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Birdy on May 04, 2009, 01:03:33 PM
used to always be 3/32.
now everything is 2.8
 :|
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Bob Garner on May 04, 2009, 02:46:11 PM
I recall the old standard for hand-drawn drawings was 1/8".  With cad, the legibility is better so a common standard is 5/32"
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Bob Garner on May 04, 2009, 02:47:04 PM
Make that 3/32", not 5/32"
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Kate M on May 04, 2009, 03:12:29 PM
I still like 3/32" for regular text and 3/16" for titles. But the National Parks Service uses 0.13" and 0.17" because they like to print half-size files (so much so that they don't allow text scale on drawings, only graphic ones), and the Smithsonian uses 3.2mm and 6.4mm.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: mjfarrell on May 07, 2009, 06:59:28 PM
the Standard is...

there is No One Standard!
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: James Cannon on May 07, 2009, 07:02:29 PM
the Standard is...

there is No One Standard!

Exceptions don't mean there isn't a rule of thumb.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Dinosaur on May 07, 2009, 07:46:53 PM
it would appear though that there is no standard size for thumbs either
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Dent Cermak on June 14, 2009, 05:51:05 PM
At one time there were standards. The 2/32 and 5/32 sizes were set by a tool called the Ames Lettering Guide. This was primarily for free hand lettering.
Then as jobs got more"automated" text size was tied to the print house's font sizes, ie, 4pt,6pt, 8pt,etc. Typewriters even were usually set to 10 pt or 12 pt type. Engineers adapted to this size syatem so the could use type-set notes on their drawings on strip film. The common sizes allowed them to type notes ans add them to drawings, have fancy type set or even match those sizes with the Leroy lettering system K&E came out with. A Leroy 60 guide was the same as 6pt type or 0.06" high. (That's where the Leroy sizes L60,L80, etc. in AutoCad come from.)
In the days of quality mapping there were manuals that listed the text size and type style for eevry piece of text on a map. As new people came into the field that wanted to "do their own thing" and could not understand the spcifications, the old standards disappeared.{ A prime example of this lack of pride in craftsmanship can be clearly seen in the current U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CADD Drafting Standards Manual and the previous TM's. Maps produced prior to 1989 were suitable for framing. Maps produced after that are suitable for people with lots of birds.}
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Tankman on July 09, 2009, 03:38:18 PM
the Standard is...

There is No One Standard!

I use a standard size unless the print is very small.
Frequently adjust title block w/ text and dimension text to suit.

We don't need to squint to see the text dialog!
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Crank on July 09, 2009, 04:18:55 PM
the Standard is...

there is No One Standard!
In the metric world we already did have ISO-standards for text sizes when I started on the drawing board....(http://gathering.tweakers.net/global/smileys/yawnee.gif)
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Willie on July 09, 2009, 05:39:20 PM
2.5mm = Dimensions, notes and text on drawings - if you realy have to, 2.0mm may be used.
4.0mm = Headings

Keep it straight and simple
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: MickD on July 09, 2009, 11:05:18 PM
2.5 for dim's and general notes
3.5 for minor headings/titles
5.0 for general titles
7.0 for major titles, usually the main plan on a general arrangemnet say. seldom used though
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: 42 on July 10, 2009, 07:24:23 AM
2.5 for dim's and general notes
3.5 for minor headings/titles
5.0 for general titles
7.0 for major titles, usually the main plan on a general arrangemnet say. seldom used though
Ditto here
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: chrisdarmanin on November 10, 2009, 06:38:32 AM
i use 2 but i think i'm straining the workers' eyes too much ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: hermanm on February 03, 2010, 09:30:03 PM
We use 1/8" for basic text height for dimensions & annotations on steel shop & erection dwgs, which are typically Arch D (24x36).
For check prints, these are plotted reduced to Arch C (18x24), which makes text on check prints (2/3)(1/8") = 0.0833" , just slightly smaller than 3/32" - very easy to read text on check prints.

Typical scales for shop dwgs are:

1 1/2" = 1' (1:8 )
1" = 1' (1:12)
3/4" = 1' (1:16)
1/2" = 1' (1:24)

Typical scales for erection dwgs are:

1/2" = 1' (1:24)
1/4" = 1' (1:48)
3/16" = 1' (1:64)
1/8" = 1' (1:96)
etc.

So, it is easy to calculate the standard text height as an integer representing the inverse of the scale.
For example, the text height for 1" = 1' is 12 eighths, 12/8, or 1 1/2"

I never actually need to calculate the text height, because I wrote a LISP routine to calculate it for me many years ago, based on this scaling function:

Code: [Select]
;-------------------------------------------------------------------
;;--------------------- tktn_getscl--------------------------------------
;;      Purpose: calculate scale factor
;;      Uses:    nothing
;;      Returns: sf
;;-----------------------------------------------------------------
(defun tktn_getscl( )
  (cond ((= 1 (getvar "TILEMODE")) (getvar "DIMSCALE"));tiled space
        ((= 1 (getvar "CVPORT")) 1.0);in paper space
     ;; in a viewport
        (T
          (last (trans '(0 0 1.0) 3 2));calc scale factor
        )
  );cond
);end tktn_getscl


The basic text height is calculated as:

Code: [Select]
(* (tktn_getscl) (getvar "DIMTXT"))

and larger or smaller "standard" sizes are calculated from values in a user-defined list:

Code: [Select]
;;initialize NTEXTSCALES (global)
(setq NTEXTSCALES (list '(JUMBO .  2.0) '(BIG . 1.5) '(MEDIUM . 1.25) '(NORMAL . 1.0)
                        '(SMALL . 0.75) '(TINY . 0.5)))

NTEXT is available free at my website:

www.tktn.com







Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Alan Cullen on February 04, 2010, 04:22:12 AM
2.5 for dim's and general notes
3.5 for minor headings/titles
5.0 for general titles
7.0 for major titles, usually the main plan on a general arrangemnet say. seldom used though

And that, Mick, has been the Aussie standard for as long as I can remember
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: MickD on February 04, 2010, 04:42:07 AM
true dat, BUT... we have been moving to 3.5 for dim text and notes as the client/s like to look at drgs at A3 size and a B1 is hard to read for some.

I'm not a real fan of this but I'm not paying the bills although for straight steel detailing (not general arrangements etc) I use 2.5 or 3mm as 3.5 is just oo big for tight or busy details.

Really though, 3 is fine and I don't care as long as every one uses the same standard. :)
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Kerry on February 04, 2010, 04:50:21 AM
2.5 for dim's and general notes
3.5 for minor headings/titles
5.0 for general titles
7.0 for major titles, usually the main plan on a general arrangemnet say. seldom used though

And that, Mick, has been the Aussie standard for as long as I can remember

Which is fine untill A0's are issued as A1's and B1'a as A1's and A1's ( or all) as A3's ... and the SteelShop foreman comes in and asks why you do such small text on HIS drawings.
on original drawings :
2.5 for reference notes
3.0 or 3.5 dimensions
5.0 titles
7.0 big stuff
... or be prepared to wear a hammer aroung the ears :)

Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: MickD on February 04, 2010, 04:56:46 AM
Quite often the steel shop foreman with give the fabby an A3 and have full size copies in the office which they can refer to if something isn't clear (you lose a lot of hidden line and edge details with reduced drgs). Nothing worse than a half burnt drg :)

With 3mm text this system works fine up to B1's then we would go 3.5 but we rarely if ever go larger than B1.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: Alan Cullen on February 04, 2010, 08:42:36 AM
Whatever happened to stock standard ISO sheets? Basically A1 and A3? If the fabricator has a problem with reading an A3, then someone should tell him that A3 is a pretty drawing only, not a fabrication/construction drawing. Construction drawings are A1, which they have all been issued.

If a contractor phones me and says he can't read the drawing, then I tell him to go and look at the contract drawings and stop wasting my time. I refuse to clutter up a drawing with oversized text.

And therein is my input into text size. I will not compromise my standards to suit a short sighted foreman who likes A3 just because they are handy.  :lmao: :lmao: :angel:
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: wwhittle on February 19, 2010, 06:02:33 AM
Jeez. Inches everywhere. try mm.

1.5mm - xref text
1.8mm - most notes & text
2.5mm - headings
3.5mm - Bold headings.

Above follows the old iso pen sizes. Before CAD lol.

Not sure what the equivilant is in Inches.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: dgorsman on February 19, 2010, 02:02:49 PM
Jeez. Inches everywhere. try mm.

1.5mm - xref text
1.8mm - most notes & text
2.5mm - headings
3.5mm - Bold headings.

Above follows the old iso pen sizes. Before CAD lol.

Not sure what the equivilant is in Inches.

I take it you only have young whipper snappers reading your drawings from full size prints?  Anything on an A1 drawing under 2mm is virtually unreadable on an 11x17 print (used for checking, among other things) and checkers have more than a few grey hairs.  That 1.5mm text will not survive a single photocopy; text should survive at least a second-generation copy and/or fax to be useful.
Title: Re: text size arghhh!
Post by: craigr on March 16, 2010, 09:15:07 AM
We print on both 11x17 & Letter Size.

Because of this and our field guys often are not in the best lighting, such as mechanical rooms, closets, etc., our standard size is .08 Arial. Our minium size is .06.

craigr