Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
(OP)
I recently going through some drawings that in title block it has a cell stating DO NOT SCALE, while another cell in the title block showing scale number under the SCALE subtitle. Does it make sense?





RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
Nowadays it's even more dangerous because of uncalibrated noncontact printers, and because of the number of electronic shrink/stretch cycles an image may have undergone to fit various virtual pages before it ever reaches you.
The SCALE number tells you how a linear dimension on the image you've got corresponds to the linear dimension on the real drawing. ... but you may have to guess what size the real drawing is, or use other dimensions in order to evaluate the real transfer function.
IOW:
You assume some risk by scaling from a drawing, and more so in recent decades. A general scale factor is provided as a courtesy. DO NOT SCALE makes it clear that the risk is yours alone.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
In SolidWorks, you can select the appropriate paper size, and forget to de-select scale-to-fit.
When I want people to scale my drawings, I attach a reference scale on my titleblock. Someone can take a ruler, and check my drawing's scale.
--
JHG
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
We had a few instances of plots being scaled wrong along the way, and the mistakes were expensive because we were using nickel alloys that cost $1000 or more per sheet.
So I got in the habit of putting a prominent line on each template image, with an equally prominent dimension. Whoever did the plot and cut the template also measured that line to verify that it was the correct size, and initialed the dimension line on the template to say so.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
If you must scale a drawing, check a measurement against a known dimension in the drawing. Better if you check both horizontal and vertical scaling.
90+% of drafting nowadays is careless slopsmanship. Always verify.
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
I think it's OK that the print also says Do Not Scale, because as mentioned above that just instructs you not to rely on actual measurements from the print. Yes, in the "old days" people would sometimes literally put a ruler up to the print and try to determine the real build size from that!
John-Paul Belanger
Certified Sr. GD&T Professional
Geometric Learning Systems
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
So I got in the habit of putting a prominent line on each template image, with an equally prominent dimension. Whoever did the plot and cut the template also measured that line to verify that it was the correct size, and initialed the dimension line on the template to say so.
I have fallen into that booby trap of not having parts cut at the correct scale when sending water-jet patterns. So now we always put a rule, or a 1" square on the plot to be checked before the actual cut.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
Great idea; include an image of a simple 6" rule or other useful object, with a simplified logo, in a scrap area next to the part. Easy scale check, and you can pass them out at trade shows.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
The drawing scale simply states the size of the views relative to each other and to the format size.
Different animals.
“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
-Dalai Lama XIV
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
Back in the days of hand drawings and even a lot of sloppy AutoMAD drafting, dimensions were changed without redrawing the geometry. This was doubly true for assembly drawings. So many of the views were not drawn correctly and if you tried to measure directly off the drawing you could get a LARGE error. Our pre-printed mylar drawing sheets in those days would always have a note of DO NOT SCALE.
We no longer have that note in our drawing blocks for Pro/ENGINEER and SolidWorks generated drawings. Not saying that a draftsperson still can't fake something but they have to do extra work rather than just being lazy.
Our drawing blocks still have the microfilming center tick marks and a 100 mm linear scale. Does anyone else still remember the Gerber variable scales we used to use to scale things off drawings despite the DO NOT SCALE note? I guess those are relegated to the museums along with the slide rules.
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RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
-Dalai Lama XIV
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
A graphic scale makes more sense.
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
So the complete message delivered by title block is: IF your drawing is created to scale, and IF you set your printer correctly, the item will be shown scaled as noted, BUT don’t scale it anyway, just in case.
RE: Both DO NOT SCALE and SCALE in title block
The "SCALE" is telling you what scale the drawing was made at.
"DO NOT SCALE" is an instruction to users not to measure from the print.
At a former employer out template did have a reference scale on it showing 100mm or whatever like on a map but really you need something for both X & Y due to the potential different scale on the 2 axis from printing etc.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?