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How To Use Scale Rulers

The document provides instructions for using three types of scale rulers: engineer's scale, architectural scale, and metric scale. Engineer's scale rulers are labeled in increments of 10, 20, 30 etc feet and are used to measure lengths on engineering drawings where 1 inch represents those distances. Architectural scales are used like tape measures to measure floor plans, with various scales ranging from 1/16 inch = 1 foot. Metric scales are used to directly measure lengths in centimeters and millimeters on drawings where the metric system is used.

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Chee Hern
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736 views

How To Use Scale Rulers

The document provides instructions for using three types of scale rulers: engineer's scale, architectural scale, and metric scale. Engineer's scale rulers are labeled in increments of 10, 20, 30 etc feet and are used to measure lengths on engineering drawings where 1 inch represents those distances. Architectural scales are used like tape measures to measure floor plans, with various scales ranging from 1/16 inch = 1 foot. Metric scales are used to directly measure lengths in centimeters and millimeters on drawings where the metric system is used.

Uploaded by

Chee Hern
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DFTG-1305

HOW TO USE SCALE RULERS


by Prof. Francis Ha, instructor
13-0610

Drawings for large projects must be greatly reduced


when compared to the objects they depict. The scale of
the drawing defines the size relationship between the How to use Engineer Scale
drawing and the objects. The SCALE information is 1. Determine the scale of the drawing. Look in the
located at the bottom of the sheet within the title box of drawing’s title block legend for the specification of
the drawing, something like this: SCALE 1=1 its scale. Title blocks are at the bottom right hand
corner of at least the first page of the drawing,
Examples: and sometimes on every sheet. The drawing
scale may be given graphically; that is, a line may
SCALE Description be shown and dimensioned with a specified
What you measure is what you length. In this case find the correct scale tool to
1=1 or Full Scale
see it on the drawing use by trial and error measurements. Align each
Every 1 unit on the drawing scale tool ruler with the line until you find one that
1=4 matches.
equals 4 times larger

1”=6” Every 1 inch equals 6 inches 2. Position the scale tool so that the ruler that
matches the drawing scale is against the paper.
Align the zero (0) at the left side with one end of
1”=4’ Every 1 inch equals 4 feet the object you want to measure.

3. Find the tick mark on the scale tool that lines up


Every 1 unit (inch, milimeter,
1=50 with the other end of the object you are
foot,etc) equals 50 times measuring. Read the major mark value and add
the minor marks as tenths. Multiply the composite
8=1 Every 8 units equals 1 unit actual reading by ten to get the length.
The minor divisions on the ruler represent individual
feet and the major tick marks are each ten feet.
Every 1 milimeter equals 20 The markings at the major divisions represent
1mm=20cm
centimeters one tenth of their actual value.

To measure something on a drawing, you use a special Example: Find the length of a water line on plans
tool that is also called a scale. Scale tools are for a factory that have a scale of 1 inch equals 20
triangular rulers with two independent graduated feet.
surfaces on each face. There are architect scales, Use the 20 scale to measure on this drawing. Line
engineer scales, and metric scales. up the zero mark on the scale that is labeled “20”
to the left end of the water line. If the right end of
the water line aligns with the tick mark that
A. ENGINEER'S SCALE represents 8 major divisions and 2 small
The rulers of an engineer’s scale are labeled 10, 20, 30, divisions, the reading is 8.2. Multiply 8.2 by 10 to
40, 50 and 60. They are sized such that one inch on the get the length of 82 feet.
drawing equals 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 feet
respectively. B. ARCHITECTURAL SCALE
1
An architectural scale ruler is not used in the C. METRIC SCALE
same way as other types of rulers. Employ an The metric system is a system of measurement
architectural scale ruler as a measuring tool, used through much of the world and in scientific
much like a tape measure, rather than as a and technical applications. The "meter" is the
straightedge. It can basically be described as a base unit for length measurement in the metric
"multi-ruler" with several measurement scales system. One tenth of a meter is a decimeter,
ranging from 1/16" = 1' to 3" = 1', either from left one hundredth of a meter is a centimeter and
to right or vice versa. one thousandth of a meter is a millimeter.

1m = 10 dm = 100cm = 1000mm
How to use Architect Scale How to use Metric Scale

1. Look for the scale. Whether you have a flat or a 1. Locate the side of the ruler that has centimeters
multi-sided architectural scale ruler, the scale will and millimeters. This is the metric side. Find the
be clearly marked at each end of the ruler. "0" marking on the ruler. Many rulers do not begin
the measurement markings at the end of the
2. Make sure that you have the appropriate scale ruler. "0" is often slightly inward from the edge of
for the job you are doing. For example, if you are the ruler. Using the edge of a ruler as the first
drawing a floor plan at a ¼ scale, then you need measuring point can cause miscalculations.
to have the ¼ scale on the architectural scale
ruler. 2. Place the ruler along side the length to be
measured. Ensure one end of the length aligns
3. Draw a straight line on a blank piece of paper with a reference marking on the ruler.
using a straight edge, such as a T-square and a
light pencil. If you are measuring the lines on a 3. Identify the markings on the ruler at both ends
pre-made floor plan, then skip this step. of the length being measured. If the zero marking
is used, then the length is simply the higher value
4. Align the architectural scale ruler to the straight of the two ends. For example, an object aligned
line. with the "0" centimeter mark at an end and the
"11" centimeter mark at the other end would
5. Measure out the appropriate length based on measure 11 centimeters (11 cm -- 0 cm = 11 cm).
the scale you are using. If you are drawing a new
set of floor plans, for example, use a light pencil 4. Subtract the ending measurement from the
to mark the desired length. If you have a premade starting measurement if using a starting point
floor plan that you are measuring, write the other than the zero marking. For example, an
measurement down on a piece of paper. object aligned with the "1" centimeter mark at one
end and the 11 centimeter mark at the other end
6. Darken the line within the space marked off would measure 10 centimeters (11 cm -- 1 cm =
with a dark pencil. If you have a pre-made floor 10 cm).
plan, skip this step.
5. If a measurement is greater than a whole
number, include millimeters in the final
measurement. For example, 10.3 cm means 10
centimeters and three millimeters.

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