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Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
I am drawing the Instrument board of a WWII airplane. Now I want to scale the Board to a 1/5 scale for a model airplane, but I don't know how to do this.
So how does one scale down a drawing in Solid works?

Jean

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

Are you wanting to scale a 2d drawing or 3D model?

If it's a 3d model, and the feature sketches are fully dimensioned and constrained, you could use the ModelRescaler macro from http://www.lennyworks.com/solidworks/default.asp?ID=20

If the feature sketches are or aren't fully dimensioned, you could use the Scale function within SW.
http://help.solidworks.com/2011/English/solidworks/sldworks/allcontent/solidworks/core/features/c_scale_feature_overview.htm

If it's a 2D drawing created from a 3D model, you could adjust the print scale but that's not the best method.

If it's only a 2D drawing ... why are you using SW?

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
Thanks for the response, but yes it's a 3d drawing in SW that I've drawn full scale. Now I'd like to convert it to a different scale, because I might use it for a 1/5 or 1/4 scale in the future depending on the need, and I have all the dimension in full scale so converting each part as I draw is a lot of work and the error potential is hight.

Jean

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

I apologise if this comes across as condescending, but in SolidWorks;
A model (part or assembly) is a 3D solid (or wireframe) which can be rotated and viewed from all angles.
A drawing is the 2D representation of the 3D model, shown in various views on a flat "paper" sheet.

If the Instrument Board is a single part, make a copy and use the ModelRescaler macro.

If the Instrument Board is an assy, you will have to make a copy of the assy, and copies of all the parts and scale them individually. Then you will have to re-reference each part within the copied assy.

 

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

In the drawing, you could make views scaled 1:5, then print full size.

If your drawing views are 1:1 scale, you can still scale down right in the print menu, under "Page Setup".

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
Thank you and your right about Drawing and Model or assembly.
I will try what you said and get back to you.
Jean

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
I'm using SW 2007 and I'm looking for ModelRescaler macro! Where can I find this command. Is it under TOOL - ??

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

Read my first post.

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
Hi CorBlimeyLimey, and thanks for the info. I admit that I had to find the Icon but I did finally and now it's working perfectly. Do you know if one can scale down an assembly or just a part?

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

Quote:

Do you know if one can scale down an assembly or just a part?
Read my second post.

Alternatively you could create scaled configurations of each part, and use a Design Table in the original assy to control which part config is active.

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

As another alternative... at some point (may be before SW2007), SolidWorks added the "scale" feature for parts.  Effectively allowing you to scale up or down.  Since you have an assembly, you can save it as a part and then scale the part.

Going down this path you will lose the feature tree in the part, so you won't be able to edit the dimensions... so make sure you full size representation is correct before you saveas part.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

3D sketches are difficult to deal with. Did you actually create a 3D sketch? Impressive. A 2D sketch is much easier to work with and would certainly give you the result you want, which I expect is a scaled drawing of the panel?
If you plan to scale and print a drawing to use as a template for panel layout leave the sketch (which is actually a part model?) at 1:1 and create a _drawing_ at 1/5 scale, print at 100% (not 'to fit') and use that. Keep in mind, most printers do not scale accurately, so you will need to fiddle. I do this by drawing and printing a ruler in the sketch or having a known distance. Adjust the 100% scale up or down until it prints correctly.

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2011 SP 4.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
Actually the reason I need to scale a 3D model is that I want to print the part ether 1/5 or sometime 1/4 scale depending on the need. By the way I neglected to mention that the printing is to be done with a 3D printer in order to make a part to be fitted in a model airplane.
 

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

In that case, create a config for each scale and use the SW Scale tool.

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
what do you mean "create a config for each scale", and then what do you mean

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
Hi fellows well I'd like to thank you all for your help, now i've got very good

Jean

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
I have an other problem
I want to save a copy to STL format but don't know how

Jean

Jean Forgues

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

Should be as simple as Save Copy as and set to stl output.

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
Yes it's simple but the 100 or so part in my model save to individual parts instead of one single part. I can't see to save it as one part.stl

Jean Forgues

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

Save your .sldasm as a .sldprt selecting "all componenets" checkbox.  Open that new .sldprt file and save is as an .STL.

Also... you should have started a new thread for this new issue.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

RE: Scaling a drawing from full to 1/5

(OP)
Thanks for the info and ok IC what you mean about a new thread.

Jean Forgues

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