Plotting to Scale for Templates

[draftsman101]

First off, I'm printing on a HP Designjet 650c.

I have been told that on occation I will have to plot something of 1:1 so that the guys in the sheet metal shop can us the drawing as a template that they can cut out and trace. I know that this is not common practice. But, every print that I do, I cann't get it to plot 1:1. The printer always plots larger. I set-up a test plot w/ a 12x12 box, plotted it and it was larger in the X than in the Y.

My question is, how do I set-up a drawing in Solidworks so that I will be able to print 1:1.

Also, when it plots it cuts off my title block. Sometimes at the bottom and sometimes at the side ( it switches sides).

I am not at work right now so there for I cann't give you what I have it set at to print.

In advance, Thank you for all your help.

 

[ctopher]

It's a combo of SW, PC & printer settings.
Change to print 1:1.
IMO, I would not use any plot/print to trace, especially if needs a tight tol. Most printers/plotters are not exact.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 02-10-07)

 

[MikeHalloran]

I used to print templates for a sheet metal shop, on (I think 60# stock), using a DJ650C, from AutoCAD. Some required six D size sheets.

I don't know if you can do this in SW: We put the templates off to the side of the actual drawing, and annotated each piece with a reference to the drawing by number or title, at least one dimension to be used for checking the plotting scale, and matchmarks to be aligned as the sheets were taped together (with some overlap) before cutting.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[drawoh]

draftsman101,

As far as I know, I do this successfully on SolidWorks, and on an HP DesignJet 450C.

As ctopher noted, you set the print scale to 1:1. I agree about the scale not being absolutely precise.

I suggest creating a scale line on your drawing so that someone can check it quickly with a ruler. Even if you do it right, there is no guarantee that your co-workers will when they are asked to print the thing.

JHG

 

[fcsuper]

draftsman101,

Of course, we don't know the relationship between you and your shop, but I don't think it's a good sign to have someone ask for something they can trace when machining metal for commercial or industrial purposes. Break them of this habit and fast.

There's all sorts of factors that can impact the accuracy of the plot's physical scale, such as X-Y ratios of the printer, paperfeed, driver settings, etc. Even something as simple as changing the type of paper can affect the scale.

The closest you will get is drawoh's suggestion, but if you do that, then it defeats the purpose for traceability.

Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php

 

[KENAT]

Barring the fact it's a bad habbit, but very useful for prototypes etc...

I don't know about SW or your printer but do you have the option to 'print area'.

If I do this I have the option to explicitly state the scale and If I specify 1:1 I get 1:1 within the tolerance of the printer and line widths etc.

I've done this to help experimental workshop create tooling, especially for conduits that had a fairly complex path.

 

[ewh]

I agree with drawoh, but I would add two lines (with their respective lengths dimensioned) at 90 degrees to each other.

This allows you to check for any horizontal or vertical ratio differences.