i'm a lil confused with how metric scales work (using a triangular scale). my drawing is set up with a metric template... using 11x17 sheet size...my viewport is zoomed to 1:20. but when i print it out and use a triangular scale's 1:20 to check my measurements, its ot correct. my plot setup is 1mm=27.9units
 
what am i missing?

Plot scale should read 1 unit = 1 mm if you are plotting from a layout.BTW...1 inch = 25.4mm not 27.9mm.



John Connor2011-12-15 18:12:26

Hello, if you print on a smal plotter it's normal to have to cope with the margins of your plotter ( not on a big printer using a large paper roll ).
With the message that you get : 1 mm = 27.9 units I think that it means that your plotter have 25.4/27.9 = 0.9103942... --> 1-0.9103942 = 0.0896058 # 8.9 % margins.
To print correctly in millimeters and obtain a scalable print you must print a smaler rectangle in millimeters to skeeze your plotter margins :
 
11" x 17" =
 
11 x 25.4 mm = 279.4 mm without margins
17 x 25.4 mm = 431.8 mm without margins
 
11 x 25.4 x 0.910 = 254.254 mm with margins

17 x 25.4 x 0.910 = 392.938 mm with margins
 
You can also see my reply on a same subjet in the forum discussion of last week dated 09 dec 2011 at 11:03