Display full version of the post: Drawing in desired unit of measurement

knowlzy0791
11.10.2013, 19:54

Brand new to the AutoCAD world, before I have been using VcarvePro (very simple drawing program) I took an online crash course in the basic operations of AutoCAD LT 2013, in the course it did not cover how to draw in the desired unit of measurement, only covered how to translate it when scaling before printing the job. Is it possible to set my program up so that I draw in inches so I do not have to do that? Cheers!

John Connor
11.10.2013, 21:24
The default setup for AutoCAD is a template geared towards imperial units (there is a different one for metric users) and it uses decimal inches.  So three quarters of an inch would be .75 while three eights of an inch would be .375 and so on.  Does this fit your needs?  BTW...you can change the units that you work in and their precision via the UNITS command.  You probably covered this in class but just forgot in all the excitement of learning something new.Oh, and one more thing.  Always draw everything in model at full size no matter if it is a flash drive or the world's tallest building.  Your teacher mentioned that as well didn't he?
John Connor2013-10-11 21:25:36

knowlzy0791
11.10.2013, 21:43
yes that should accommodate perfectly. It wasn't a teacher, someone just wrote out step by step instructions on the functions of the different commands so their really wasn't any personal usage examples to the class. All I can do now is start using the program and work on utilizing the different tools appropriately! I will take your advice and always draw to full size scale, seems like the easiest and least faulty way to do these kinds of things. I appreciate your feedback and help! Cheers![QUOTE=John Connor]The default setup for AutoCAD is a template geared towards imperial units (there is a different one for metric users) and it uses decimal inches.  So three quarters of an inch would be .75 while three eights of an inch would be .375 and so on.  Does this fit your needs?  BTW...you can change the units that you work in and their precision via the UNITS command.  You probably covered this in class but just forgot in all the excitement of learning something new.Oh, and one more thing.  Always draw everything in model at full size no matter if it is a flash drive or the world's tallest building.  Your teacher mentioned that as well didn't he?
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John Connor
11.10.2013, 21:44
I hope you either 1) didn't pay for the class or 2) got a refund!  LoLNo problemo dude.

knowlzy0791
11.10.2013, 22:10
lol no I didn't pay for the class, definitely would not of been happy if I had![QUOTE=John Connor]I hope you either 1) didn't pay for the class or 2) got a refund!  LoLNo problemo dude.[/QUOTE]

laurencejsmith
17.10.2013, 23:57

yes, imperial is the 'out of box' AutoCAD way. AutoCAD, however, doesn't know the fricken diff between a millimeter and an inch. Its all units. You tell Autocad what those units are. You set the units in a pop-up (command UNITS).Mr. Conner is correct in saying that you should always draw in model space at 1:1, but it's best to decide your UNITS first. If you have learned AutoCad from a quick lesson written out on a bar room napkin, then good luck and go to it! All the best!Laurence

John Connor
18.10.2013, 12:07
Yes, it's all units but you would be amazed to hear how many users (outside of the U.S.) who thought they were drawing in metric units started with the default (and wrong) template thus drawing in decimal inches instead.  Why AutoDesk didn't make the choice clearer, up front, is beyond me.  Maybe they never expected to be selling their program world wide.

knowlzy0791
18.10.2013, 14:36
[QUOTE=laurencejsmith]
If you have learned AutoCad from a quick lesson written out on a bar room napkin, then good luck and go to it! All the best!Laurence[/QUOTE]
 hahaha thank you. It's all in good time!