Engineering Drawing
TOPIC: SCALES
LECTURE: 13
LECTURE: SCALES & TYPES
LEVEL: 1 S T SEMESTER 1 S T YEAR
PREREQUISITES: NONE
COURSE TEACHER: ENGR. QAMAR ZAMAN (
qamar.civil@suit.edu.pk)
ACCESS AT: portal.suit.edu.pk
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, SUIT PESHAWAR
Scales
Outlines
Scales
Representative Fraction
Drawing scale Designation
Scales on Drawing
Types of Scales
Plain Scale
Diagonal Scales
Vernier Scales
Comparative Scales
Scale of Chords
Scales
Definition
A scale is defined as the ratio of the linear dimensions of
the object as represented in a drawing to the actual dimensions of the same.
Drawing of small objects can be prepared of the same size a the objects they
represent.
E.g. 150mm long pencil may be shown by a drawing of 150mm length.
Representing scales
The proportion between the drawing and the object can be represented
by two ways as follows:
Scale: - 1cm = 1m or 1cm=100cm or 1:100
Representative Fraction: - (RF) = 1/100 (less than one) i.e. the ratio between the
size of the drawing and the object.
Drawing Scales Designation
There are three types of scales depending upon the proportion it indicates as
Full size Scale
Reducing Scale
Enlarging Scale
Full scale
Some times the actual dimensions of the object will be adopted on the drawing
then in that case it is represented by the scale and RF as
Scale: - 1cm = 1cm or 1:1 and by R.F=1/1 (equal to one).
Reducing Scale
When the dimensions on the drawing are smaller than the actual dimensions of the object. It is
represented by the scale and RF as
Scale: - 1cm=100cm or 1:100 and by RF=1/100 (less than one)
Enlarging scale
In some cases when the objects are very small like inside parts of a wrist watch,
the dimensions adopted on the drawing will be bigger than the actual dimensions
of the objects then in that case it is represented by scale and RF as
Scale: - 10cm=1cm or 10:1 and by R.F= 10/1 (greater than one)
Scales on drawing
To construct a scale the following information is needed:
The R.F of the scale.
The unit which it must represent.
The max. length which it must show.
The length of the scale is determined by the following formula:
Length of scale = (R.F) x (max. length required to be measured)
The various types of scales used in practice
1. Plain scales
2. Diagonal scales
3. Vernier scales
4. Comparative scales
5. Scale of chords
1. Plain scales
Plain scales read or measure up to two units or a unit and its sub-division, for
example centimeters (cm) and millimeters (mm).
When measurements are required up to first decimal, for example 2.3 m or 4.6 cm
etc.
It consists of a line divided into number of equal main parts and the first main
part is sub-divided into smaller parts.
1. Plain scales
Procedure:
Mark zero (O) at the end of the first main part.
From zero mark numbers to the main parts or units towards right and give
numbers to the sub-divisions or smaller parts towards left.
Give the names of the units and sub-units below clearly.
Indicate below the name of the scale and its R.F clearly.
Example 1.1
Construct a plain scale of 1:5 to show decimeters and centimeters and to read up
to 1 meter. Show the length of 7.4 decimeters on it.
The scale has to represent decimeter and 1/10 of decimeter.
Given that the scale is 1:5 that is R.F=1/5
Maximum length to read is 1 meter.
Length of the scale=(1/5) × 1 × 100=20cm
Example 1.1
Construct a plain scale of 1:5 to show decimeters and centimeters
and to read up to 1 meter. Show the length of 7.4 decimeters on it.
Steps of Construction:
Draw a straight line of 20cm length and divide into 10 equal parts.
Divide again first part into 10 equal parts. Give numbers as shown.
To represent 7.4 decimeters, take 7 main parts to represent 7 decimeters and 4 small
parts to represent 0.4 decimeters.
Give names as A and B so that the distance between A and B is 7.4 decimeters as shown.
2. Diagonal Scales
Diagonal scales are used to read or measure up to three units.
For example: decimeters (dm), centimeters (cm) and millimeters (mm).
This scale is used when very small distances such as 0.1 mm are to be accurately
measured or when measurements are required up to second decimal, For example:
2.35dm or 4.68km etc.
Small divisions of short lines are obtained by the principle of diagonal division,
as explained below:
Principle of diagonal scale:
To divide a given line AB into small divisions in multiples of 1/10 its length for
example 0.1AB; 0.2AB etc. as shown below.
2. Diagonal Scales
Procedure:
Draw AB of given length
At one end, say at B draw a line perpendicular to AB.
Mark 10 equal divisions by taking some convenient length
starting from B and ending with C.
Give numbers from 9, 8, 7----1 as shown.
Join C to A and from 9 to 1, draw parallels to AB, cutting
AC at 9′, 8′, ------ 1′ etc.
From the similar triangles 1′1C, 2′2C ------- 9′9C and ABC,
C5=(1/2)BC=0.5BC and 5′5=(1/2)AB=0.5AB. Similarly
1′1=0.1AB, 2′2=0.2AB etc.
Thus each horizontal line below AB will be shorter by
(1/10)AB, giving lengths in multiples of 0.1AB
Example: 2.1
An area of 144 sq. cm on a map represents an area of 9 sq. km on the field. Find the R.F. of the
scale for this map and draw a diagonal scale to show kilometers, hectometers and
decameters and to measure up to 5 kilometers. Indicate on the scale a distance of 3 kilometers, 5
hectometers and 6 decameters or 3.56km.
Solution:
The area on the map is 144 sq. cm and the area on the field is 9 sq. km.
Take square root on both sides. Then 12cm=3 km or Scale is 1 cm= 0.25km or
2.5x104 cm; RF=1/(2.5x104)
Length of the scale to read up to 5 km is RF X 5 km= 1/(2.5x10 4) X 5x105 =20cm
Steps of Construction
Draw a line AB of 20 cm and construct a rectangle on it, by taking AD 5cm as
shown. Divide AB into 5 equal parts and number them from second part starting
with 0 to 4 towards right side to indicate kilometers (km).
Divide 0A into 10 equal parts, each part represents a hectometer (hm). Divide AD
into 10 equal parts, each part represents one decameter (dam). Join diagonals as
shown.
To mark 3.56km, take it as sum of 3.50km and 0.06km. On the plain scale take
3.5km and on the diagonal at 5 up to 6 parts diagonally which is equal to 0.06km,
giving a total of 3.56km as shown by MN.
Note: Assume the height of the diagonal scale AD as 5cm for dividing it into 10
equal parts conveniently.
Diagonal Scales
3. Vernier Scales
Similar to diagonal scale, Vernier scale is used for measuring up to second decimal.
A Vernier scale consists of (i) a primary scale & (ii) Vernier.
The primary scale is plain scale fully divided in to minor divisions.
The graduations on the Vernier are derived from those on the primary scale.
Least count
Least count is the minimum distance that can be measured.
Forward Vernier Scale:
MSD > VSD; LC = MSD – VSD
Backward Vernier Scale:
VSD > MSD; LC = VSD - MSD
3. Vernier Scales
Length A0 represents 10cm and is divided into 10 equal parts each representing 1cm.
B0 = 11 ( i.e 10+1) such equal parts = 11cm.
Divide B0 into equal 10 divisions. Each division of B0 will be equal to 11/10 = 1.1 cm or
11mm.
Difference between 1 part of A0 and one part of B0 = 1.1cm – 1.0cm = 0.1 cm or 1mm.
Example 3.1
Draw a Vernier scale of R.F = 1/25 to read upto 4 meters, on it show
lengths 2.39 m and 0.91m.
Steps of Construction
Length of the scale = (1/25) × (4 × 100) = 16 cm
Draw a 16cm long line and divide it into 4 equal parts. Each part is 1 meter.
Divide each of these parts in 10 equal parts to show decimeter (10).
Take 11 parts of dm length and divide it into 10 equal parts. Each of these parts
will show a length of 1.1 dm or 11cm.
To measure 2.39 m, place one leg of the divider at A on 99 cm mark and other leg
at B on 1.4 mark. (0.99 + 1.4 = 2.39).
To measure 0.91m, place the divider at C and D ( 0.8 + 0.11= 0.91).
Example 3.1
Draw a Vernier scale of R.F = 1/25 to read up to 4 meters, on it show
lengths 2.39 m and 0.91m.
4. Comparative scales
Scale having same representative fractions but graduated to read different units
are called comparative scales.
A drawing drawn with a scale reading inch units can be read in metric units by
mean s of a metric comparative scale, constructed with the same representative
fraction.
Comparative scale may be plane or diagonal scales and may be constructed
separately or one above the other.
Example 4.1
Draw a comparative scale of R.F = 1/48500 to read up to 80km and 80 versts.
1 verst = 1.067km
Steps of construction
Length of kilometer scale = 1/48500 × 80 × 1000 × 100 = 16.5cm
Length of verst scale = 1/48500 × 80 × 1.067 × 1000 × 100 = 17.6cm
Draw the scale one above the other as shown below.
5. Scale of Chords
The scale of chords is used to set out or measure angles when a protractor is not available.
Steps of Construction
Draw a line AB of any length.
At B erect a perpendicular.
With B as a center, describe an arc AC cutting the perpendicular at a point C. then, the arc SC
subtends an angle of 90o at the center B.
Divide AC into nine equal parts.
Divide the arc AC into equal three parts taking centers A & C. of arc AC.
Divide the equal three parts again by trial and error method further in equal three parts.
Transfer each division-point from the arc to the straight line AB-produced by taking A as a center and radii equal
to chords A-10, A20 etc.
5. Scale of Chords
Complete the scale by drawing a rectangle below AD. The divisions obtained are unequal,
decreasing gradually from A to D.
***THE END***
Thank You
