Construction of Scales
Scales
1. It is not always possible or convenient to
draw drawings of an object to its actual size.
2. Drawings of very big objects like buildings,
machines etc. cannot be prepared in full size.
3. Drawings of very small objects like precision
instruments, namely watches, electronic
devices etc.
Full size scale
1. If we show the actual length of an object on a
drawing, then the scale used is called full size
scale.
Reducing scale
1. If we reduce the actual length of an object so
as to accommodate that object on drawing,
then the scale used is called reducing scale.
2. Example :
a) large machine parts
b) Buildings
c) Bridges
d) Survey maps
e) Architectural drawings etc.
Increasing or Enlarging scale
1. Drawings of small machine parts, mechanical
instruments, watches, etc. are made larger
than their real size. These are said to be
drawn in an increasing or enlarging scale.
NOTE :
The scale of a drawing is always
indicated on the drawing sheet at a suitable
place either below the drawing or near the
title thus “scale 1 : 2”.
Representative Fraction (R.F)
1. The ratio of the drawing size of an object to
its actual size is called the Representative
Fraction, usually referred to as R.F.
Drawing size of an object(in same units)
R.F =
Its actual size
Reducing scale R.F
1. For reducing scale, the drawings will have R.F
values of less than unity. For example 1 cm
on drawing represents 1 m length.
1 cm 1 (in same units)
R.F = = <1
1 X 100 cm 100
Increasing or Enlarging scale R.F
1. For drawings using increasing or enlarging
the R.F values will be greater than unity. For
example, when 1 mm length of an object is
shown by a length of 1 cm.
R.F = 1 X 10 mm = 10 = 10 > 1
1 mm 1 (in same units)
Metric Measurements
1. 10 decimeters (dm) = 1 meter (m)
2. 10 meters (m) = 1 decameter (dam)
3. 10 decameters (dam) = 1 hectometer (hm)
4. 10 hectometer (hm) = 1 kilometer (km)
Types of Scales
1. Simple or Plain scales
2. Diagonal scales
3. Vernier scales
Simple or Plain scales
1. A plain scale is simply a line which is divided
into a suitable number of equal parts, the
first of which is further sub-divided into small
parts.
2. It is used to represent either two units or a
unit and its fraction such as km an hm, m and
dm, etc.
Simple or Plain scales
NOTE :
1. Before constructing a scale, it is necessary to
know: (a) Its R.F.,
(b) Maximum length to be
measured and (c) Divisions it has to show.
2. If the length of scale and distance to be
marked are not given in the problem, then
assume the scale length = 15 cm.
Problem 1
Construct a plain scale to show meters when
1 centimeter represents 4 meters and long
enough to measure upto 50 meters. Find the
R.F. and mark on it a distance of 36 meters.
Problem 1
1. R.F. Drawing size (in same units) 1cm 1
Actual size 4 100cm 400
2. Length of scale = R.F. x maximum length to be
measured.
Maximum length to be measured = 50 m (given)
length of scale = 1 50m 1 50m 100cm
400 400
3. Draw a horizontal line of length 12.5 cm (L)
4. Draw a rectangle of size 12.5cm x 0.5cm on the
horizontal line drawn above.
NOTE: Width of the scale is usually taken as 5 mm
Problem 1
5. Total length to be measured is 50m.
Therefore divide the rectangle into 5 equal
divisions, each division representing 10m.
NOTE: 1. For dividing the length L into n number
of equal parts, use geometrical construction.
2. Use 2H pencil for the construction
lines.
6. Mark 0 (zero) at the end of the first main
division.
Problem 1
7. From 0, number 10,20,30 and 40 at the end of
subsequent main divisions towards right.
8. Then sub-divide the first main division into 10 sub-
divisions to represent meters.
9. Number the sub-divisions. i.e. meters to the left of 0.
10.Write the names of main units and sub-units below
the scale. Also mention the R.F.
11.Indicate on the scale a distance of 36 meters (3 main
divisions to the right side of 0 + 6 sub-divisions to
the left of 0.
36 m
5 mm
10 5 0 10 20 30 40
METRES
L = 12.5 cm
1
R.F =
400
DIAGONAL SCALE
1. Plain scales are used to read lengths in two
units or to read to first decimal accuracy.
2. Diagonal scales are used either to measure
very minute distances such as 0.1 mm etc., or
to measure in three units such as dm, cm and
mm.
DIAGONAL SCALE
Divide AD into ten equal divisions
of any convenient length (5 cm)
C D
10’ 10
88' A8 8 9
; ButA8 AD 9’
DC AD 10 8’ 8
88' 8 8
i.e.88' DC 0.8DC 0.8AB 7’ 7
DC 10 10 6
6’
5 cm
5’ 5
4’ 4
11’ equal to 0.1 AB 3’ 3
22’ equal to 0.2 AB 2’ 2
. 1’ 1
. B A
.
99’ equal to 0.9 AB
Problem 2
The distance between two stations by road is
200 km and it is represented on a certain
map by a 5 cm long line. Find the R.F. and
construct a diagonal scale showing a single
kilometer and long enough to measure up to
600 km. Show a distance of 467 km on this
scale.
Problem 2
1. Determine R.F 5cm 5cm5 1 6
200km 200 10 cm 4 10
2. Calculate length of scale
1 5
L s R.F maximum length 6
60 10 cm 15cm
4 10
3. Draw a rectangle ABCD of length 15 cm and width
between 40 to 50 mm.
4. Divide AB into 6 equal parts so that each part may
represent 100 km.
5. Divide A0 into 10 equal divisions, each representing
10 km. Erect diagonal lines through them.
Problem 2
6. Divide AD into 10 equal divisions and draw
horizontal lines through each of them
meeting at BC.
7. Write the main unit, second unit, third unit
and R.F.
8. Mark a distance of 467 km on the scale.
467k m
D C
10
KILOMETRE
A B
10 5 0 100 200 300 400 500
KILOMETRE R.F = 1:4000000
5cm 5cm 1
R.F
200km 200 10 cm 4 106
5
1 5
L s R.F maximum length 6
60 10 cm 15cm
4 10
Problem 3
Construct a diagonal scale of R.F. =
1:3200000 to show kilometers and long
enough to measure upto 400 km. show
distances of 257 km and 333 km on your
scale.
VERNIER SCALE
1. Vernier Scale is a short scale used when a
diagonal scale is inconvenient to use due to lack
of space.
2. It consists of two parts, i.e., Main Scale (which
is a Plane Scale fully divided into minor
divisions) and a Vernier Scale.
3. Vernier scale slides on the side of the main scale
and both of them are used to measure small
divisions up to 3 divisions like diagonal scales.
VERNIER SCALE
1. Least Count: It is the smallest distance that is
measured accurately by the vernies'Scale.
2. It is the difference between a main scale
division (m.s.d.) and a vernier scale division
(v.s.d.).
Problem 4
Construct a Vernier scale to read meters,
decimeters and centimeters and long enough
to measure up to 4 m. R.F. of the scale is
1/20. Mark on your scale a distance of 2.28
m.
Problem 4
1. Least Count = Smallest distance to be measured =
1 cm (given) = 0.01 m
2. L = R.F. x Maximum distance to be measured =
(1/20) x 4 m = 20 cm
3. Main Scale: Draw a line of 20 cm length. Complete
the rectangle of 20 cm x 0.5 cm.
Divide it into 4 equal parts each representing 1
meter.
Sub-divide each part into 10 main scale divisions.
Hence 1 m.s.d. = 1m/10 = 0.1 m = 1 dm.
Problem 4
4. Backward Vernier: Take 11 divisions on main
scale. Divide it into 10 equal parts on vernier
scale. So
1 v.s.d. = 11 m.s.d./10= 11 x 1 dm/ 10= 0.11 m =
1.1 dm = 11 cm.
Mark 0, 55, 110 towards left from 0 on the
vernier scale. The units of main divisions is
METERS, sub-divisions is DECIMETERS and
vernier divisions is CENTIMETERS
Problem 4
5. AB = (v.s.d x 8) + (m.s.d x 14)
= (0.11m x 8) + (0.1m x 14) =
(0.88+1.4)m
2.28 m
0.88 m 1.4 m
CENTIMETERS
110 A 55 0
10 5 0 1 2 3
DECIMETERS METERS
AB = (v.s.d x 8)+(m.s.d x 14)
= (0.11m x 8)+(0.1m x 14)=(0.88+1.4)m
