Engineering Drawing

Topic - SCALE
SCALE
 Scale is defined as the ratio of linear dimension of

an element of an object on the drawing to the

actual dimension of same element of same object

itself.
SCALE UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS
Units of measurements
Metric system for linear British system for linear
measurement measurement
1 Kilometre (km) = 10 hectometers 1 league = 3 miles
1 hectometer (Hm) = 10 decametres 1 mile (mi) = 8 furlongs
1 decametre (Dm or dam) = 10 1 furlong (fur) = 10
metres chains
1 metre (m) = 10 decimeters 1 chain (ch) = 22 yards
SCALE
1 decimeter (dm) = 10 centimetres 1 yard (yd) = 3 feet
1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimetres 1foot (ft) = 12 inches
(mm) 1 inch (in) = 8 eighth
The following linear and area conversions is also useful in
construction of scales.
Linear conversion 1 mile = 1.609 km
1 inches = 25.4 mm
Area conversion 1 are (a) = 100 m2
1 hectare (ha) = 100 areas = 10000 m2
1 square mile = 640 acres
1 acre (ac) = 10 square chain = 4840 square yards
SCALE
REPRESENTATIVE FRACTION (RF)
Representative fraction is defined as the ratio of the
linear dimensions of an element of the object in the
drawing to its actual linear dimension of the same
element of the object itself.

𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈

R.F. =
𝑨𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
 REDUCING SCALE : R.F. <1
 ENLARGING SCALE : R.F. >1
 FULL SIZE SCALE : R.F. =1
SCALE
TYPES OF SCALE
1. PLAIN SCALE
2. DIAGONAL SCALE
3. COMPARATIVE SCALE
4. VERNIER SCALE
5. SCALE OF CHORDS
SCALE
Plain scale
• A plain scale consists of a line divided into suitable number
of equal units. The first unit is subdivided into smaller parts.
• The zero should be placed at the end of the 1 main unit.
• From the zero mark, the units should be numbered to the right
and the sub-divisions to the left.
• The units and the subdivisions should be labeled clearly.
• The R.F. should be mentioned below the scale.
SCALE
SCALE
Problem
Construct a scale of 1 : 40 to read metres and
decimeters and long enough to measure up to 6
metres. Mark a distance of 4.7m on it.
SCALE
R. F. = 1:40
MAX. LENGTH = 6 METER
LENGTH OF SCALE = R.F. × MAXIMUM LENGTH
LENGTH OF SCALE = (1/40 ) × 6 METER
= (1/40) × 6 × 100 cm
= 15 cm
PLAIN SCALE / DIAGONAL SCALE = UNIT OF MEASURING
LENGTH
Measuring length = 4.7 m
Number of division : ( max length /n ) = ( 6 m / 2,3,6)
n = number of division
SCALE
SCALE
R. F. = LENGTH OF DRAWING / ACTUAL LENGTH = 1 CM / 4 M = 1:400
MAX. LENGTH = 50 METER
LENGTH OF SCALE = R.F. × MAXIMUM LENGTH
LENGTH OF SCALE = (1/400 ) × 50 METER
= (1/400) × 50 × 100 cm
= 12.5 cm
PLAIN SCALE / DIAGONAL SCALE = UNIT OF MEASURING LENGTH
Measuring length = 44 m
Number of division : ( max length /n ) = ( 50 m / 2,5,10,25,50)
n = number of division
Numerical : A room of 1728 cubic meter volume is shown by a cube
of 216 cubic centimeter volume. Construct a scale long enough to
measure up to 42 m. Show a distance of 37 meter on it.

 Solution: R.F. = length of element on drawing / actual length of same element

1
(3)
216
 R.F. = 1
(3)
1728
 R. F. = 6 c.m. / 12 m = 1/200
 Max. length = 42 m
 Length of scale = R.F. * Max. length = 21 cm
 Plain scale / Diagonal scale = unit of measuring length
 = 37 m
 Diagonal Scale
 Through Diagonal scale, measurements can be up
to second decimal (e.g. 4.35).
 Diagonal scales are used to measure distances in a
unit and its immediate two subdivisions; e.g. dm, cm & mm,
or yard, foot & inch.
 Diagonal scale can measure more accurately than
the plain scale
 R. F. = 1:40
 MAX. LENGTH = 6 METER
 LENGTH OF SCALE = R.F. × MAXIMUM LENGTH
 LENGTH OF SCALE = (1/40 ) × 6 METER
= (1/40) × 6 × 100 cm
= 15 cm
 PLAIN SCALE / DIAGONAL SCALE = UNIT OF MEASURING
LENGTH
 Measuring length = 4.76 m
 Number of division : ( max length /n ) = ( 6 m / 2,3,6)
 n = number of division
 2 𝐼𝑁𝐶𝐻𝐸𝑆 2 𝐼𝑁𝐶𝐻𝐸𝑆
R.F. = = 1.25 ∗3 ∗12 𝐼𝑁𝐶𝐻𝐸𝑆
1.25 𝑌𝐴𝑅𝐷
 COMPARATIVE SCALE
 Scales having same representative fraction but graduated to
read different units are called comparative scale. Comparative
scale may be plain scale or diagonal scale and may be
constructed separately or one above the other.
 Vernier Scales
 Similar to Diagonal scale, Vernier scale is used for measuring upto
second decimal.
 • A Vernier scale consists of (i) a primary scale and (ii) a vernier.
 • The primary scale is a plain scale fully divided in to minor divisions.
 • The graduations on the vernier are derived from those on the primary
scale
 Least count (LC) is the minimum distance that can be measured.
 Forward Vernier Scale : MSD>VSD; LC = MSD-VSD
 Backward Vernier scale: VSD>MSD; LC = VSD - MSD
Scale of Chord
In absence of protector, a scale of chords may be used to
measure the angle or to set the required angle. The
construction is based on the lengths of chords of angles
measured on the same arc.
Construction of Scale of Chords
(1) Draw a line AB of any convenient length.
(2) At point B, erect a line BF perpendicular to AB.
(3) With centre B draw an arc AC cutting BF at point C.
This are subtends 90° angle at the centre B.
(4) Divide this arc AC into nine equal parts, each
representing 10° division at B.
(5) With centre A turn down the divisions to line AB
produced. Thus, the distance AE on the scale
represents the length of chord A-30, which subtends
an angle 30° at the point B.
(6) Similarly, mark 5° divisions on the line AB.

(7) Complete the scale by drawing a rectangle below

AD as shown. It may be noted that the divisions
obtained are unequal, decreasing gradually from A
to D. Scale AD is the required scale of chords.
 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
4.1
For drawing the components of a wrist watch, the
scale used is
(a) reduction scale
(b) full size scale
(c) enlargement scale
(d) Any of these
4.2
Drawing of a building can be made on A0 size
drawing sheet using -
(a) reduction scale
(b) size scale
(c) enlargement scale
(d) None of these
4.3
The R.F. is always -
(a) less than 1
(b) equal to 1
(c) greater than 1
(d) Any of these
4.4
The unit of R.F. is -
(a) cubic centimetre
(b) square centimetre
(c) centimetre
(d) None of these
4.5
The full form of R.F. is -
(a) reduction fraction
(b) representative fraction
(c) reduction factor
(d) representative factor
4.6
The R.F. of the scale on a mini-drafter is -
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) 10
(d) None of these
4.7
A map of 10cm x 8 cm represents an area of
50000sq.m of a field. The R.F. of the scale is -
(a) 1/25
(b) 1/625
(c) 1/2500
(d) 1/6250000
4.8
An area of 36 sq. km is represented by 144 square
centimetres on a map. The R.F. is -
(a) 1/4
(b) 1/2
(c) 1/5000
(d) 1/50000
4.9
The length of scale with R.F. 1/40 to measure up to
6m will be -
(a) 10cm
(b) 12 cm
(c) 15 cm
(d) 20 cm
4.10
When measurements are required in three
consecutive units, the appropriate scale is -
(a) plain scale
(b) diagonal scale
(c) isometric scale
(d) scales of chords
4.11
The diagonal scale is most suitable to take a
measurement of -
(a) diameter of a circle
(b) diagonal of a square
(c) side of a pentagon
(d) All of these
4.12
The scale used for measuring in two systems of
units is -
(a) plain scale
(b) diagonal scale
(c) comparative scale
(d) Vernier scale
4.13
The diagonal of a square can be measured by -
(a) plain scale
(b) diagonal scale
(c) Vernier scale
(d) All of these
4.14
Comparative scale is a pair of scale having a
common-
(a) units
(b) R.F.
(c) length of scale
(d) least count
4.15
An angle can be set off and measured with the help
of -
(a) plane scale
(b) diagonal scale
(c) Comparative scale
(d) Scale of chords