Author Topic: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.  (Read 20034 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

sailfl

  • Guest
Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« 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

JCTER

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #1 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.

sailfl

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #2 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

JCTER

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #3 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.

MP

  • Seagull
  • Posts: 17750
  • Have thousands of dwgs to process? Contact me.
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #4 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?
Engineering Technologist • CAD Automation Practitioner
Automation ▸ Design ▸ Drafting ▸ Document Control ▸ Client
cadanalyst@gmail.comhttp://cadanalyst.slack.comhttp://linkedin.com/in/cadanalyst

JCTER

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #5 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

MP

  • Seagull
  • Posts: 17750
  • Have thousands of dwgs to process? Contact me.
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #6 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.
Engineering Technologist • CAD Automation Practitioner
Automation ▸ Design ▸ Drafting ▸ Document Control ▸ Client
cadanalyst@gmail.comhttp://cadanalyst.slack.comhttp://linkedin.com/in/cadanalyst

sailfl

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #7 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

JCTER

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #8 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.

sailfl

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #9 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.


JCTER

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #10 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?

sailfl

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #11 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

Krushert

  • Seagull
  • Posts: 13679
  • FREE BEER Tomorrow!!
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #12 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.
I + XI = X is true ...  ... if you change your perspective.

I no longer CAD or Model, I just hang out here picking up the empties beer cans

JCTER

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #13 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.

MP

  • Seagull
  • Posts: 17750
  • Have thousands of dwgs to process? Contact me.
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #14 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).
« Last Edit: May 05, 2010, 09:06:23 AM by MP »
Engineering Technologist • CAD Automation Practitioner
Automation ▸ Design ▸ Drafting ▸ Document Control ▸ Client
cadanalyst@gmail.comhttp://cadanalyst.slack.comhttp://linkedin.com/in/cadanalyst

jonesy

  • SuperMod
  • Seagull
  • Posts: 15568
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #15 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
Thanks for explaining the word "many" to me, it means a lot.

Big G

  • Bull Frog
  • Posts: 415
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #16 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.......
I thought i seen the light at the end of the tunnel. But it was just someone with a torch bringing me more work.
"You have to accept that somedays youre the pigeon and  somedays youre the statue"

Bryco

  • Water Moccasin
  • Posts: 1882
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #17 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

mondes

  • Guest
Re: Howconvert a metric drawing to inches.
« Reply #18 on: January 04, 2011, 04:39:59 PM »
be much better to convert all the inches dwgs to metric!

Not helpful, I know.  Sorry