Hi, Ken!

You might be over thinking this.  I wouldn't accuse you of anything like that if I wasn't guilty of it myself sometimes.  But here's the thing:  I don't think you need to worry about the model space scales when sending the DXF file to your machinist.  The 1:1 and 1:10 (which is what I used for dimensioning the drawing) don't make a difference - don't change the model - if you've drawn everything full scale.  The scales are just there to make annotation easy.

I used a DIMSTYLE modified from one of my typical ones and did dimensioning with the model scale set to 1:10.  From what I can see this will print this full part quite easily on ANSI A paper (or larger).

I redrew the part and dimensioned it to match your tolerance settings.  No critique from me on that because I'm not familiar with machine work ... but I duplicated what you did as best I could.  I mapped each dimension object to both 1:1 and 1:10 scales.  What you'll see in the attachment is probably what bothered you too... things look "good" at 1:10 but really small and useless at 1:1.  But the real dimensions of the DXF model (check them with MEASUREGEOM) don't change regardless of the scale setting.  This is the important part.  Without knowing what your machinist is doing or what software he's using at least this tells you the part should be the right size.

Let us know if that last assumption is incorrect.

Dave.

uploads/35918/machinist.zip

Ken, wait... what?  You're drawing isn't full scale to start with?  Not 1:1?!  That's a no-no if so.  It might also be your problem.  Everything should always be drawn as if it's real size... even if you're dimensioning something out to the moon; it should be real scale... 238,900 miles (384,400 km).

When you change the drawing scale in Model space you're not affecting the size of the drawing linework at all.  Real units are still in play.  What's really happening is that the scale is there for Annotative scaling of annotative objects such as text notes or dimensions.  You can provide dimensions, notes, and other object in model space at 1:1 if you want (and if the machinist wants), but they will be large objects quite possibly.  But you can also put dimensions, notes, etc in at other scales for yourself for your own uses.  If you don't want the machinist to see them you can use a variety of tricks to do that.

If we're still missing the point, post a couple sample files showing what you're doing and what's happening.  I have a feeling the solution may be simple but we're missing a couple pieces of key info.

Dave.


Edited by heinsite - 09.Mar.2013 at 12:18

Easy way?  There's AutoDesk's way and then there is.........nothing else.  AutoDesk created the DXF file format and everyone adopted it.

Who are you exchanging drawings with and what program are they using that you are required to save to the DXF file format?


Edited by John Connor - 08.Mar.2013 at 15:06