4 SCALESS

4.1. INTRODUCTION
The term "Scale" is defined as the
ratio of the linear dimensions of element of the ooje as
represented in a drawing to the actual dimensions of the same element of the object itself. his rauo
is also called scale factor (S.F.)
representative fraction (R.F.).
or

Mathematically, S.F. or R.F. = Distance of the object on drawing

Actual distance of the object
The dimensions in both numerator and denominator of the fraction must be in the same units.
Since it is a ratio it has no units.

4.2. PURPOSE OF SCALE

Scales are used for the following purposes
To prepare drawing on a reduced scale so that large object can be accommodated on
the limited size of drawing sheet.
e.g. building, machine parts etc.
To prepare the drawing of very small objects, e.g. parts of wrist watches, measuring
instruments etc. on an enlarged scale in order to give better understanding and to study
the details of the minor parts of the objects.
To measure linear measurements of the object under measurement directly without involving
any calculations.

To measure and set off dimensions as per scales decided upon or given betore starting
the drawing.
4.3. SIZES OF SCALE
(1) Reducing Scale: It is the scale in which the actual measurement of objects are reduced
and represented on the drawing sheet.
Generally the drawings of very big objects like buildings, machine parts, town plans etc. are
preparedin reduced scale. The standard reducing proportions are:
1:2 1:5 1:10
1:50 1:100
1:20
1:200 1:500 1:1000
1:2000 1:5000 1:10000
For this scale, RF < 1.
(2)Enlarging scale: it is the scale in which the actual measurements of the objects are
increased in some proportion to accommodate object details on the drawing sheet.
 A4 Engineering Drawing

instrurmens
of very small obiects like watches, electronic devices, precision
c are
y
prepared
the indrawings
enlarging scale. The standard enlarging scaies aic

50:1 10:1
20:1
5:1 scale, RF> 1.
2:1 For this
on
scale: In this scale the actual measurements of the objects are represented
the Size
drawing. In this scale the usual
proportion is 1:1.
For this scale, RF
=1.
4.4. UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS
The relation between the various units are given below
(A) Metric Measures
(i) Linear Measures
10 mm 1 cm

100 mm 10 cm 1 dmn
1000 mm 100 cm = 10 dm
1 m
10 m 1 dam

10 dam = 1 hm

1000 m 100 dam= 10 hm 1 km

Note mm millimeter
cm centimeter
m meter

dm decimeter
dam decameter
hm hectometer

km kilometer
(ii) Square Measurement
100 mm2 1 cm2

100 cm2 1 dm2

100 dm2 1 m2
100 m2 1 dam2 1 acre (a)

100 dam2 1 hectare 104m2

100hectares 1km2 106m2

(ii) Cubic Measures

1000 mm3= 1 cm'

1000 cm3 = 1 dm

1000 dm = 1 m
 A5
sCALES

British Meas ures

(B)
() Linear Measures

12 inches 1 foot (12" 1)

1 yard 3 feet
220 yards= 1 fúrlong

8 furlong 1 mile

Square Measures
(ii)
144 square inches 1 square foot
9 square feet = 1 square yard

4840 square yards 1 acre

640 acres 1 square mile

(i) Cubic Measures

1728 cubic inches 1 cubic foot

27 cubic feet 1 cubic yard.

4.5. SCALE ON A DRAWING

constructed on the drawing sheet. To construct a scale
When an unusual scale is used, it is
it requiresthe following information.

The scale of factor (S.F.) or the representative fraction (R.F.)

(i)
millimeters (mm) and centimeters (cm) or feet
(i) The units to be represented, for example
and inches etc.

The maximum length to be measured.

(ii)
the formula as follows
The length of the scale is determined by
of the scale = R.F.
* Maximum length required to be measured.
Length
4.6. CLASSIFICATION OF SCALES
classified as follows
The scales used in engineering drawing are

(i) Plain scale or simple scale

(i) Diagonal scale

(ii) Comparative or Corresponding scale.

(iv) Vernier scale

(v) Scale of chords

Here in this chapter we will discuss about plain scale and diagonal scale only.

4.7. PLAIN SCALES

A line suitably divided into equal parts is called a plain scale. Generaly the first part (primary
divisions) is sub-divides into smaller parts (secondary divisions). Thus a plain scale is used to
represent either two units or a unit and its fraction such as km and hm, m and dm etc.
 47
SCALES

Problem- 1
Construct a scale of 1:8 to show decimeters and centimeters and long enough to measure
length of 7.5dm, 5.8dm on the scale.
upto 1m. Show
a

Solution (Fig. 4.2)

Here R.F. of the scale is give as 1:8 i.e. So find the length of the scale.
()

Length of the scale =

R.F. x Max. length = x 1m 12.5 cm
Draw line AB 12.5cm
a long and divide it into 10 equal parts, each part representing 1dm
(ii)
as shown in fig.
marking 1, 2, 3 etc. on the right of the
(ii) Mark 'O' after the first division and continue the
scale.
Then divide the first division (primary division) into again 10 equal parts (secondary
(iv) divisions from right to
divisions) each part representing 1cm each. Mark the secondary
left as shown.
Write the units and subunits at the bottom of the scale in their respective positions.
(v
divisions and 58 dm
(vi) Mark the distance 7.5dm by selecting 7 primary and 8 secondary
as shown.
by selecting 5 primary and 8 secondary divisions
(vii) Write the R.F. below the figure.

7.5 dm

5.8 dm

10 8 64 2 0
5 B
DECAMETERS
3

9 10
10
CENTIMETERS RF or SCALE = 1: 8

Fig. 4.2

Próblem 2
Construct a simple or plain scale to show meters when 1cm represents 4m and long enough
to measure upto 50m. Find the R.F. and mark on it a distance of 35m.

Solution (Fig. 4.3)

Distance on drawing sheet
) Find R.F.
Distance of object

1cm 1
4m 400
 48
Engineering Drawing
(ii) Length of scale = R.F. x maximum length to be measured

1
x 50 x 100 12.5 cm
400
(ii) Draw a line AB of 12.5 cm long and divide it into 5 equal parts as shown. Each equal part
represents 10m. Keep width of scale 5mm.
(iv) Mark '0 at the end of first division and 1, 2, 3, 4, at the end of each
right. subsequent to its

(V) Then divide the first division

(primary division) into again 10 equal parts (secondary
division)
each part
representing 1cm each. Mark the secondary divisions from right to left.
(vi) Write the units below the scale
along with RF.
(vii) Mark the distance 35m on the scale.

35 m

10 8 6 4 2 0

10

RF or SCALE =
1: 400 METERS

Fig. 4.3

Problem - 3

To construct a plain scale to show meters and decimeters when 1m

and long enough is represented
to measure upto 6 m. Also mark 4m 7dm and 3m 4dm on the by 2.5c
scale.
Solution: (Fig. 4.4)
() Find R.F.

R.E = stance on drawing sheet2.5 cm2.5 cm 1

Distance of object 1:40
1:40
=
1m 100 cm 40
Length of scale = R.F, x Max. length = 1 x 6m =
x 600 15cm
40 40
(ii) Draw a line AB 15 cm and width 5 mm divide it into 5 equal parts
in figure. represent 1m as shown
(iv) Mark '0' at the end of 1st main
division and 1, 2, 3, 4 at the end of
towards right. subsequent divisions
(v) Divide the 1st main division
(i.e. AO) into 10 equal parts to represent single
(vi) Mark decimeters to the left of decimeter
zero as shown.
sCALES 49

4 METER 7 DECIMETER
3 METER 4 DECIMETER
10 8 6 2 0

Linii 3

DECIMETERS SCALE = 1: 40
10

Fig. 4.4 METERS

(vil) Wrte the names of units and sub-units either to the respective ends or below the scale.
(vii) Write the scale below the figure.
Drablom
Problem - 12

Construct a diagonal scale of R.F. 1 32,00,000 to show km and long enough to measure upto
400km. Show a distance of 333km orn the
scale.
Solution: (Fig. 4.13)
(i) R.F. 1 : 32,00,000 (given)

(i) Length of scale (L) = R.F. x Maximum distance to be measured

1 1
L
32,00,000
x 400km32,00,000 x 400x 1000x 100 12.5cm

(ii) Draw a line AB of length 12.5cm divide it into 40 main division, each representing 100km.
(iv) Mark 0 (zero) at the end of first main division and 100, 200 and 300 at the end of
subsequent main division towards right to zero.
(v)Now sub-divide the first main division into 10 equal sub-divisions, each representing
10km. Mark them as 10, 20 100 from left of zero.
(vi) Draw a line AD of 5cm Iong perpendicular to AB. Complete the rectangle and draw vertical
lines from each main division on AB.
(vii) Divide AD into 10 equal divisions and name the divisions 0, 1, 2. .. 10 from A
to D. Draw the horizontal lines from each division on AD.
(vii) Join D to the first sub-division fror1 A on the main scale AB and the first diagonal line is
drawn. Similarly other 9 diagonals parallel to the first diagonal. Thus each 10km is divided
into 10 equal parts by diagonals.
333 Km
10
D

B
100 200 300

5
1
KILOMETERS
8
9 10 R.F. = 1
3200000
Fig. 4.13 KILOMETERS
Problem - 13

Construct a
diagonal scale of RF the scale kms, hectometers and
50.000 showing on

decameters and
50,000
long enough to measure upto 6km. Mark the scale, the following
on alstdn
) 4km, 2 hectometers and 3 decameters.
() 3 km 8 hectometers and 5 decameters.
Solution : (Fig. 4.14)
1
() RF
50,000
(i) Length of the scale (L) =RF x
Maximum distance to be measured.

L 1 x 6x 1000x 100 =12cm.

50,000
(ii) Draw a line AB 12cm long and divide it into 8 each part
equal parts, representing 1km.
(iv) Divide the first part (primary division) into 10 parts, each part
representing 1 hectometer.
(v) Draw a vertical line AD and divide it into 10 equal parts, each part
representing one decameter.
(vi) Show the distances on the scale and write the units, sub-units and R.F.

10
9
8
D

3 KM, 8 HM, 5 DAM

4 KM, 2 HM, 3 DAM

A O

KM

HM
R.F. 1 50,000

Fig. 4.14
Problem 14
 ulilS dlla

Problem - 15
The distance
between Bhubaneswar and Balasore is about 200km and its
on map measures 10cm. Draw a equivalent distance
diagonal scale to indicate 225km and 138km.
Solution: (Fig. 4.16)

Distance on map
(i) R.F. =
Actual distance to be measured

RF = 100cm 10cm
200km 200x 1000 *
100 cm 1 : 20,00,000
(i) Length of scale, L =
R.F. x Maximum length to be measured
1
x 250km 1
20.00,000 x
250x 1000x
20,00,000 100 12.5cm

(ii) Draw a rectangle ABCD of length 12.5cm and width

5cm
(iv) Divide the line AB into 5 equal parts each
representing 50km.
(V) Sub-divide the first main divisions into 5 equal parts and also name it from 'O' to left, each
part representing 1Okm.
(vi) Divide AD into in 10 equal parts and draw the
diagonal lines as usual complete the scale
by representing the given distances.
(vii) Write the scale and units below the figure.