importing metric files and converting them to inches

[Fastyankee]

I have several files that were drawn in Metric and when I import them in they come in way to big. I need to scale them to inches. I tried scaling and clicking on the entire image and imputing 1,25.4 I also tried 1:25.4 with no luck. I can scale it by percentages and that seems to work but I really need to have the parts to the right size.
Does any one know how to convert percentage to inches when scaling a part?
Ink scape does the conversion when you import a part.
I receive a lot of files in metric so this something I will need to do on a regular basis and a good topic to cover.

Thanks for all the awesome help.

[ROKCRLER]

Which software are you using?
To convert mm to inches you need to divide the value in mm by 25.4
In the software you can change the document properties from metric to imperial then save the drawing.

[adbuch]

I have several files that were drawn in Metric and when I import them in they come in way to big. I need to scale them to inches. I tried scaling and clicking on the entire image and imputing 1,25.4 I also tried 1:25.4 with no luck. I can scale it by percentages and that seems to work but I really need to have the parts to the right size.
Does any one know how to convert percentage to inches when scaling a part?
Ink scape does the conversion when you import a part.
I receive a lot of files in metric so this something I will need to do on a regular basis and a good topic to cover.

Thanks for all the awesome help.

Andrew - as I told you during our phone conversation - type in "1/25.4" for your scaling factor. The "/" means divided by, so one divided by twenty five point four. Or type in the result which is 0.039370078. This is because 1 inch = 25.4 mm.

For any Design Edge operation where it asks you for a number - you can type in a fraction - like "1/2" for one half, "1/3" for a third, "1/10" for a tenth, etc.

1/2 = 0.5, 1/3 = 0.333333, 1/10 = 0.1, and so on. It is often quicker to enter the number in fractional format than to use your calculator to do the long division and then type in the result.

David

[adbuch]

Which software are you using?
To convert mm to inches you need to divide the value in mm by 25.4
In the software you can change the document properties from metric to imperial then save the drawing.

Mo - Andrew is using Design Edge.

David

[adbuch]

Andrew - here are some screen shots that may help you.
David

[Fastyankee]

Dave
I did exactly that and it is not coming in right.

[adbuch]

Dave
I did exactly that and it is not coming in right.

Put some dimensions on your imported file before you scale it. Perhaps it is was not scaled correctly to mm when saved from the original program.
If you try my example and draw a square that is 25.4" x 25.4" and then scale it by a factor of 1/25.4 - the result will be a smaller square with dimensions of 1" x 1".

When it asks for the scale factor, you type in 1/25.4
Also you only click once on the drawing before you scale it. If you click twice, it will think that you are entering the dimension you want for the distance between the locations you clicked on.

David

Also - post one of your original files here and I will check it out.

[Fastyankee]

I figured out I think why it was not working.

[adbuch]

I figured out I think why it was not working.

Select the drawing on your monitor.
Type S
Click once anywhere on the selected drawing
Type 1/25.4
Press the Enter key on your keyboard.

[adbuch]

I figured out I think why it was not working.

Andrew - perhaps you could share what you figured out so that others may benefit.
Thanks,
David

[Fastyankee]

Dave
it was the way I was imputing the info. I was using 1:25.4 instead of 1/25.4

[adbuch]

Dave
it was the way I was imputing the info. I was using 1:25.4 instead of 1/25.4

Andrew - happy to hear you've got it figured out.

David