DRAWING I

SCALES

Definition:

It is a factor of proportionality between a drawn or represented object and the

real object. Indicates the times that a drawing or representation is less than, equal to or
greater than the real object.

It is expressed with two digits separated by a colon or in the form of a fraction.

E = __Drawing dimensions__ = __D__

Object dimensions O

E = __D_ ó E=D:O
O

2. Classification of scales:

Natural scale: When the drawing or representation has the same

dimensions than the real object.
Scale of enlargement: When the drawing or representation has dimensions
greater than those of the real object.
Reduction scale: When the drawing or representation has dimensions
less than those of the real object.

Reduction Scales Natural Scale Scales of Enlargement

1: 2 1:1 2:1
1: 5 5:1
1: 10 10:1
1: 20 20:1
1: 50 3:1
1: 100 100:1
200 200:1

3. Types of Scales.

Numeric Scale

Everyone knows the need to draw on paper the numerous and

various objects and figures that the technician must work with, such as machines,
buildings, constructions, pieces, land, etc.

In the vast majority of cases, the dimensions of the object to be represented

they do not allow it to be drawn to life size, which forces a similar figure to be drawn
the one from the origin, that is, in the same way but of different size.
 Si las dimensiones de la figura son menores que las del original, que es el caso
If they are smaller, we will achieve a reduction, and if they are larger, an enlargement.

The relationship that exists between two homologous lengths of two figures
Similar (in this case, of the drawing and the original), is called the relationship of similarity.
Yes, as is known from Geometry, constant for all homologous elements of
both figures. This relationship indicates the greater or lesser enlargement of
reduction of the drawing is, precisely, the scale. From here, the definition:

Scale is the ratio of similarity that exists between the drawing and the original.

The scale, being a relationship or ratio, is expressed as a fraction whose

numerator represents the drawing, and the denominator, the original. Thus, a drawing of a
land at a scale of 1:10,000 means that a length equal to one unit in the drawing,
is equivalent to another equal to 10,000 units, in the field.

To facilitate their construction in handling, scales are chosen in such a way that
one unit length in the drawing corresponds to an integer number of units in the
original and, if possible, that this last number can be expressed as a digit
followed by zeros. This happens with scales:

1 1 ; 1 ; 1 ; 1 1 ; etc.
10 50 200 1,000 25,000 50,000

On the scale 1/20,000, for example, 1 mm on the drawing corresponds to 20,000.

mm.=20m. of the original, and thus we can reason with any other.

Graphic scale.

Once the numerical scale is known, to calculate lengths of the drawing or the original,
it is enough to perform a multiplication or a division. This procedure results
laborious and impractical if we have to take many measurements. For this reason, it
use the graphical method that allows you to read directly from the scale divisions,
the length we are looking for. Its basis is the following.

For example, 1/400 is the scale of the plan. The equivalence between the drawing and the
original es:

1 m. The drawing is equivalent to 400 m of the original.

1 dm. “ “ “ 40 m. “
0.1 m = 1 dm. “ “ “ 4 m. “
0.00125 m = 2.5 mm. “ “ “ 1 m. “

In light of these equivalences and taking into account that the divisions of the
lengths less than 1 mm are difficult to read, we will adopt the meter as the unit
practice in the original, which corresponds to a length of 25 mm in the drawing.

Having done this, let’s draw a point '0' on a line (which will be the zero of the
scale) and from it to the left (fig. 1) we will take equal segments, one to

10 5 0 10 20 30 Mts.

Fig. 1
continuation of another, of length equal to 2.55 mm. and like these segments
representa, en esta escala, longitudes de un metro en el original, numeraremos estas
divisions with the numbers 1, 2, 3, ..., 10. Next and to the right, we will take
equal segments of 10 of these divisions and we will number them with the numbers 10,
20, etc.
From 0 and to the right, a line is usually drawn below the line.
thicker, as drawn in the figure, thus completing the scale
We will see the usefulness of the graph immediately. The underlined part is the scale.
properly speaking and the set of the ten subdivisions on the left, the
counterscale.

Let's suppose we want to measure the length of a segment in the plane,

we first apply a pencil tip of the compass at each end of the segment and then,
we place one tip of the compass at the zero of the scale. If the opening of this is
inferior to the counter scale, we will measure the requested length directly on it, but
if it were larger, one of the tips would have to be placed in one of the divisions 10, 20,
20, etc., so that the other falls within the counter scale. Thus, if the compass spans
for example, from division 20 of scale 3 of the counter scale, the length of
segment, in the original, will be 23 m.

Proceeding in reverse, if we want to carry a length of 38 on the plane.

In the original, we will apply one tip of the compass to division 30 of the scale and the
another, in division 8 of the counter scale, and this opening will be the sought length.

Note that this procedure can only measure exactly the

units in the subdivisions of the counter scale, in this case, the meter, but not the
proportional parts of it.

It is more practical to avoid using a compass to draw the scale.

graph it on a separate piece of paper and overlay it on the plan, which allows reading
directly the lengths that are desired. To this end, they are sold in stores.
scale games that contain the most frequently used ones.

Scale Selection

So far we have seen how to operate with a given scale, numerical or

graphic, but it is also common that it is us who have to choose the
scale. There will be cases where we can choose arbitrarily between several scales, but
It may also happen that this is imposed by certain limitations.

These limitations, aside from the specifics of each case, may

reduce to two general types, opposed to each other; one, of the dimensions of the paper
of drawing, and the other, the minimum visual operation.
The dimensions of the paper set the maximum scale to be used since, moving on
From her, we would obtain a figure larger than the paper, which is not acceptable.

On the contrary, the minimum visual appreciation determines the minimum scale to
utilizar para que podamos apreciar en el dibujo la dimensión más pequeña que nos
interest to measure from the original. In this regard, it should be noted that the length
The minimum that can be appreciated in a drawing is usually no more than 0.25 mm.

To clarify what has been presented, the following exercises have been solved
three most common cases of scale choice.
EJERCICIOS RESUELTOS.

In a drawing, at a scale of 1/5,000, the length of a segment is 4.5 cm.

What is the true length in the original?

Solution:

If one centimeter of the drawing equals 5,000 cm = 50 m of the original, the length
dad will equal: 4.5 x 50 = 225 m.

It could also have been found by a simple rule of three, reasoning from
next way:

If 1 cm of the drawing is equivalent to 5,000 of the original

4.5 cm. “ “ X “ “

Where from: X = 4.5 x 5,000 = 22,500 cm = 225 m

2. The perimeter of a farm is 3.25 km. What will its length be in a

drawing, at a scale of 1/20,000?

Solution:

If 20,000 m of land are represented by 1 m in the drawing.

3.250 m. “ “ X “ “

Where from: X =3.250∙11= 0,1625 m = 16,25 cm.

20,000

In a plan, a length of 25 km, in a straight line, is represented

for a segment of 5 cm. What is the scale of the plan?

Solution:

Since the scale is the relationship between the drawing and the original, it will be had (reducing
the kilometers to centimeters:

E= 5 = 15
2,500,000 500,000

The scale of the map is therefore: 1/500,000.

4. A topographic map is at a scale of 1/50,000. Build its graphic scale.

Solution:

The equivalents are:

1 m of the drawing is equivalent to 50,000 m. of land

0.002 m = 2 mm. “ “ 100 m. “

It will be enough to take divisions of 2 on the counter-scale, as shown in figure 2.

mm in length each and number them by 100s up to 1,000 and to the
 right, take segments equal to 10 of these divisions and mark them with 1,000,
2,000, 3,000, etc.

1.000 500 0 1.000 2,000 3,000 4,000 Mts.

Fig. 2

1Km 0 1 2 3 4 Mts.

Fig. 3

It is more practical in this case, since it involves large lengths,

number the divisions in kilometers, as indicated in figure 3.

5Km 0 5 10 15 20 mts.

Fig. 4

5. Given the graphic scale drawn in figure 4, determine the scale.

numeric.

Solution:

On the given scale, one of the large divisions represents 5 Km. and its
length (measured with double decimeter) turns out to be 20 mm. the value of the
the scale will therefore be:

E= 20 = 11
5,000,000 250,000

6. On a rectangular paper of 32 x 21 cm, it is intended to draw, to scale, a

rectangular plot of 200 x 150 meters. What will be the maximum
What scale can we use?

Solution:

Since the paper and the plot of the estate are rectangular, it will be convenient to draw it.
so that its longer side corresponds with the longer side of the paper.

According to this, the scale corresponding to the larger sides would be (reducing
every centimeter):

E= 321= 1 1
20,000 625
 Considering now the shorter sides of the paper and the property, it would result in:

E’= 32 = 1 .
20,000 714.28

Between these two scales, the maximum we can use is E' (if
we used the other one, the smaller side would not fit in its paper counterpart), but as
It is not practical, we will round the denominator and adopt it as definitive.
the scale 1/1,000, which allows leaving a side margin on the paper for the
labeling of the drawing.

7. In a building floor, the minimum thickness of partitions is 6 cm. If

this thickness must be represented with 1 mm at a minimum in the drawing.
What scale should we use?

Solution:

If the thickness of the partition is to be 1 mm in the drawing, the scale will be:

E= 1.
60

Since this scale is not practical, we will adopt, rounding the denominator,
the scale 1/50.

In this scale, the 6 cm. of wall will appear in the drawing:

6.= 0.12 cm. = 1.2 mm.

50

8. To draw a piece of land whose maximum dimension is 5 Km.

It has a sheet of 60x70 cm. What scale should be used if a
a 15 m wide highway that crosses this area, we want
Represent it with two parallel lines, spaced at least 0.5 mm apart?

Solution:

For 0.5 mm to represent a width of 15 m, the minimum scale will be:

0.5 = 1.
15.000 30.000

And so that the maximum dimension of 5 km fits on paper, the maximum scale
it should be:

60 = 1.
500,000 8.333

And rounding:

1.
10,000
The range of practical scales to be used will therefore be:

1 > 1 > 1 > 1.

10.000 20.000 25.000 30,000

Among these four possible scales, it would be advisable to choose the 1/10,000 scale, since
that with it a better use of paper is obtained and greater clarity in the
drawing.

PROPOSED EXERCISES

There is a piece that measures 1,500 x 800 x 600 mm and it is desired to draw it.
In a scale of 1:2.5, what dimensions will the drawing have?

2. We have the drawing of a piece without its dimensions, but we know that
It has been done at a scale of 5:1. What will its actual dimensions be if
with the scale ruler measure 500 x 450 x 220 mm?

3. We have a drawing with its dimensions, but without specifying the scale.
in which it was carried out. One of its dimensions is 1,800 mm and it appears in the
Drawing as 90 mm. What scale was used?

4. Given the drawing of a house in which one of its actual dimensions is

of 350 cm and with the scale ruler measures 7 cm. It asks to calculate the scale in
what was done.

In a drawing to scale 1:5000, the length of a segment is 4.5 cm

What is the true length in meters in the original?

The perimeter of a piece of land is 3.25 km. What will its length be in a...
drawing at a scale of 1:20000?

7. In a plan, a straight road of 25 km is represented

What is the scale of the map for a segment of 5 cm?

8. A topographic map is at a scale of 1:50,000. Construct a scale

graph in meters and in kilometers.

9. A closet is to be built with dimensions of 3 x 0.9 x 2.1 m

What scale will be used if its dimensions on the plan are 6 x 1.8
x 4.2 cm?