AutoCAD: Set the scale - how it works

With the help of the drawing program AutoCAD you can create complex drawings and set any scale for them. In this practical tip, we will explain how you can set a scale in AutoCAD and what you need to consider.

Set the scale in AutoCAD - how it works

With the AutoCAD vector-based drawing program from AutoDESK, you can display your digital drawings in various scales. In the following instructions we explain how to set a scale in AutoCAD:

1. Start AutoCAD first and open a new or existing drawing that is to be displayed to scale.
2. As soon as you have finished drawing or you have loaded your existing drawing, right-click on "Model" to select the "New layout" option. A "Layout 1" tab is created next to the Model tab. Switch to this new tab.
3. Right-click on the newly created "Layout 1" tab to call up the "Page Setup Manager ...". A new window is opening up. Select your layout and then click the "Change" button.
4. In addition to some important settings, such as for the printer / plotter or the paper format, you can also make basic settings for the scale here. First set the plot area to "Layout" and then set the plot scale to 1: 1 if you have drawn in mm in the model area. Note: If you have drawn in meters, you must enter the plot scale 1000: 1. The plot scale must be adjusted depending on the desired unit, because AutoCAD basically only works in millimeters. Make sure that the unit of measurement is "mm" instead of "inches" before you confirm your settings with "OK". You will then see a white sheet in the desired format size.
5. Now select the "Rectangular" function in the menu bar under the "Layout" tab in order to open a view window from the top left to the bottom right corner of the page with the left mouse button pressed. When the viewport is placed, your model will appear in it.
6. Now mark your view window to set any scale in the properties under "Other" under "View window scale" (see screenshot). If you want a scale that is not predefined in the list, you only have to set it using the "User-specific factor". Example: The factor for the scale 1: 500 is 0.002 - it is calculated from 1000: 500 = 2.

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Step 1: Create a new layout for the model (see point 2).

2. Open the Page Setup Manager in AutoCAD (see point 3).

3. Set up the basic settings for the scale (see point 4).

4. Create and draw a viewport (see point 5).

5. Set the scale via the view window in AutoCAD (see point 6).