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CAD Forums => CAD General => Topic started by: sailfl on May 03, 2010, 05:15:37 PM

Title: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: sailfl on May 03, 2010, 05:15:37 PM
I have a drawing that was drawn in metric I need to conver it to inches.

Please tell me how to do that.

Thanks
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: JCTER on May 03, 2010, 05:19:36 PM
Short answer:  Scale all by 25.4 or change your dimension scale to reflect inch measurements of a metric model, by scaling primary units by 25.4 or adding alternate units with a 25.4 scale.  Whichever fits the situation better.
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: sailfl on May 03, 2010, 05:24:24 PM
James,

I understand what you told me but my problem is that I don't use AC 2006 that much and I usually don't have to change drawings.  But I need to be able to do this more often, so I need some directions.

Thanks
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: JCTER on May 03, 2010, 05:28:15 PM
James,

I understand what you told me but my problem is that I don't use AC 2006 that much and I usually don't have to change drawings.  But I need to be able to do this more often, so I need some directions.

Thanks


Select all objects:
SCALE
<pick base point of reference to scale objects about>
25.4 (scale factor)
Done.
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: MP on May 03, 2010, 05:43:15 PM
*blink*

To go from metric (mm) to imperial (inches) wouldn't you scale by the inverse of 25.4, or 0.03937007874015748?
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: JCTER on May 03, 2010, 05:44:17 PM
*blink*

To go from metric (mm) to imperial (inches) wouldn't you scale by the inverse of 25.4, or 0.03937007874015748?

*facepalm*

Yes.  I was all flip flopped on my direction of scaling, there.

Or as I do it, scale by 10/254
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: MP on May 03, 2010, 05:49:36 PM
Thanks. I read and then re-read the original question about half a dozen times because I thought I must be misinterpreting it to want to use the inverse.
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: sailfl on May 03, 2010, 05:54:36 PM
I have decided that there must be some thing else set because I am not getting what I want.  Because I can not share the file as is but I can delete some things and share a small part, I have another problem I need help with.

I can not look at the complete file.  I move toward the bottom of the file and I can not continue.

How do I see the comlete drawing?

Once I can look at the complete drawing, I will modify and post a copy of the drawing with a part.

Thanks
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: JCTER on May 03, 2010, 06:02:31 PM
when you come to the limit of what you can see, hit "regen" and then continue panning around.
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: sailfl on May 03, 2010, 06:16:50 PM
Thanks for the Regen.  That works great.

Here is the drawing with a few items left.

Thanks for you help.

Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: JCTER on May 03, 2010, 06:24:50 PM
If you need it in INCHES then:

SCALE entire drawing by 10/254

Turn off SNAP (F9)

Using the dialog reached via the UNITS command, change your units from decimal to fractional, with a precision more suiting to your needs, like 1/32 or 1/16 or whatever.

The dimensions will be huge, but you that may not be a problem, depending on your purpose.

Are you just trying to take measurements from this drawing?  Are you trying to use the geometry for CNC programming, or what?
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: sailfl on May 03, 2010, 06:37:04 PM
James,

I need the drawing in a 1:1 format in inches so I can cut it on my CNC machine.

Thanks
Nils
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: Krushert on May 05, 2010, 08:00:05 AM
*blink*

To go from metric (mm) to imperial (inches) wouldn't you scale by the inverse of 25.4, or 0.03937007874015748?

*facepalm*

Yes.  I was all flip flopped on my direction of scaling, there.

Or as I do it, scale by 10/254
Slick!
Got to try to remember that one if and when I ever get a metric drawing.
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: JCTER on May 05, 2010, 08:22:22 AM
*blink*

To go from metric (mm) to imperial (inches) wouldn't you scale by the inverse of 25.4, or 0.03937007874015748?

*facepalm*

Yes.  I was all flip flopped on my direction of scaling, there.

Or as I do it, scale by 10/254
Slick!
Got to try to remember that one if and when I ever get a metric drawing.

Yea, I only learned that a few months ago :P  I was always whipping out the calculator and dividing 1/25.4 (since you can't do a decimal in a fraction in Autocad) and an engineer saw me doing that one day and gave me that tip.  Brilliant!  That works in a -lot- of situations, actually, I've found.
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: MP on May 05, 2010, 08:35:16 AM
For the uninitiated -- you can supply appropriate lisp statements to most command prompts -- for example, when prompted for scale you can simply enter (/ 1 25.4).
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: jonesy on May 05, 2010, 08:46:42 AM
*blink*

To go from metric (mm) to imperial (inches) wouldn't you scale by the inverse of 25.4, or 0.03937007874015748?

*facepalm*

Yes.  I was all flip flopped on my direction of scaling, there.

Or as I do it, scale by 10/254
Slick!
Got to try to remember that one if and when I ever get a metric drawing.

Yea, I only learned that a few months ago :P  I was always whipping out the calculator and dividing 1/25.4 (since you can't do a decimal in a fraction in Autocad) and an engineer saw me doing that one day and gave me that tip.  Brilliant!  That works in a -lot- of situations, actually, I've found.
I've been working like that for many years, especially when trying to work out viewport scales when we're doing civils drawings as they work in meters
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: Big G on July 02, 2010, 01:00:59 AM
Ive had a few before and just changed the INSUNITS (UNITS) var to Inches (if working on a metric drg or vice versa) thus leaving the original drawing intact.......
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: Bryco on July 02, 2010, 06:54:37 AM
I find it easier to copy all w/ a base point and paste it in a new inches drawing at 0,0,0, then scale all. If you dont you should change the measurement, insunits and the other 2 insunit setvars to reflect inches, otherwise inserted blocks go crazy and hatch is wrong. Also you need the new dim styles
Title: Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
Post by: mondes on January 04, 2011, 04:39:59 PM
be much better to convert all the inches dwgs to metric!

Not helpful, I know.  Sorry