Wondering what is the typical format sizes you use? I like to typically use a D size and print on a B size, this is so the title block doesn't take up too much of the drawing but is still readable. And the B size paper is easy to handle.
How about you?
A,B,C,D. Most parts are B, unless they are small and simple in which case they will be A. More complicated drawings will utilize C and D, printed on A and B respectively. It's easier to do that than it is to change the text height of all the notes/dimensions to make more room.
I did a J once.
| ANSI J | 34 × 55–176 | 864 × 1397–4470 |
|---|
it was like five feet wide...
B size (11x17) is the only allowable size here while any size from A to E could be used in my previous job
I created one or two drawings on 11 x 17 years ago. Everything else has been 8.5 x 11.
I'm surprised that they're not a lot of ISO formats here. Most companies are going global or work with global suppliers that want to use only ISO standards. Having said all that, I do use both sets ANSI and ISO. I'd rather work in metric and ISO and it's real easy EXCEPT for that stinking first angle projection, just doesn't make sense.
Steve C
Parts are on letter (8.5 x 11), assemblies are on tabloid (11x17). I have some assemblies that ''count'' as parts on the shop floor so those are also on 8.5 x 11.
Don't really see the point to use a format bigger to then print in a smaller format. Why not just fit your template to the size you want it in the first place. If it isn't too small to be readable on a D template printed as a B, why would it be too small to read on a B scaled accordingly?
B size are easiest to handle, but for drawings with lots of detail I like to use a D size sheet/title block/etc in SW and then save as PDF and let whatever program prints it to paper do the scaling to 11x17 paper. If you let SW scale it to smaller paper, it will actually not scale lineweights etc, so some details sort of blob together. A full size PDF scaled down by Acrobat Reader looks a lot better than a direct scaled print from SW.
Alex Lachance wrote:
Don't really see the point to use a format bigger to then print in a smaller format. Why not just fit your template to the size you want it in the first place. If it isn't too small to be readable on a D template printed as a B, why would it be too small to read on a B scaled accordingly?
Some places have drawing standards for things like dimension spacing, line fonts, text fonts, etc. that you simply can't cram into a B template. Using a larger template, you can create drawings that meet official drafting standards when printed full size, but are still plenty legible for "unofficial" (meaning practical) use when printed scaled down, either for cost reasons or handling.
Virtually all of our product ends up on B-Size (11x17) ...
Back in the day when pen plotters were all the rage and inadvertently huffing ammonia from the blueprint machine was still a thing the standard was C-Size and D-Size but this went away with the advent of the office copiers and their multi select sheet trays.
We have A, B, C, D. Most are D. Only D are multiple sheets (makes sense, you need more room on smaller sheets move to larger sheet).
ANSI D is the HQ standard. Our districts put out some 11x17 (ANSI B). But, with everything going digital, I'm pushing our CAD group to just make it all ANSI D and let people print it how they want. It's less work for everyone if there is only one format.
Dan Golthing wrote:
I did a J once.
| ANSI J | 34 × 55–176 | 864 × 1397–4470 |
|---|
it was like five feet wide...
Maybe that is the size that I was referring to. I forgot what it was called. LOL
Steve Calvert wrote:
I'm surprised that they're not a lot of ISO formats here. Most companies are going global or work with global suppliers that want to use only ISO standards. Having said all that, I do use both sets ANSI and ISO. I'd rather work in metric and ISO and it's real easy EXCEPT for that stinking first angle projection, just doesn't make sense.
Steve C
Agreed. We have been bitten by that. Every once in a while we get a drawing from a customer that originated from somewhere in Europe. Then it just gets placed on the customer's title block with no changes and suddenly we are looking at a 1st angle projection drawing from someone who is referencing ANSI standards on the print! LOL
Alex Lachance wrote:
If it isn't too small to be readable on a D template printed as a B, why would it be too small to read on a B scaled accordingly?
Because notes and text don't scale with the view or sheet scale. If you take a cramped and crowded drawing on a B size sheet and move it to a D sized sheet, you can increase the scale by at least a factor of two and it is much less crowded.
Available printers could play a part in this decision. If all you have is a copy machine to use as a printer then B size could be appropriate. Any larger size will make the title block too small to read. If you have access to a plotter this point is mute.
A, B, C, D, E4 through E9. Yep, NINE feet wide. Those are super fun to fold up!
I'd say my most used size is C or D. A may be one in 100 drawings.
At my previous job, we had some pretty complex stuff (Gas Masks) and most of our prints were D size or larger.
We had been working with the government office for at LEAST 8 years (sending them drawings, etc...). Then, all of a sudden we get a question from them regarding our drawings: "Why is it that we make all the text so small? It is way too small to read without magnification."
We sent them PDF files. The next time we were able to talk to one of them, I told them to open the PDF on their computer and look at it. They told me: "No, we can't do that. We only look at drawings once we have printed them off." I asked them if they had a plotter there. They had no idea if they did or not, or if one was available. The had been taking all of my drawings and scaling them down to 8.5X11.
*sigh*
Dan,
Our standard here is a "B" size. This works most of the time, but on larger parts I prefer a "C" size. We have one particular customer that puts everything on "E" size. Needless to say, printing on a "B" size doesn't work unless you are 17 years old, have 20-20 vision, and a good magnifying glass. My personal preference is to match the paper size to the drawing template size.
Bob
I'm with Bob, use the paper size that fits your part. Or use multiple sheets if required and print to that size paper. If you are limited to a B size printer then that should be your size of choice. Remember that your customer is the one that has to read your drawings. So the 60 year old machinist that can make any thing that you dream up needs to be able to read your prints easily, not spend time looking for a micro scope to see if the print says 1/4" or 14"
David Matula wrote:
I'm with Bob, use the paper size that fits your part. Or use multiple sheets if required and print to that size paper. If you are limited to a B size printer then that should be your size of choice. Remember that your customer is the one that has to read your drawings. So the 60 year old machinist that can make any thing that you dream up needs to be able to read your prints easily, not spend time looking for a micro scope to see if the print says 1/4" or 14"
Yes, but if you read my response above, it says that we had been dealing with them for at least 8 years.....they had no complaints or requests for drawing sizes in that time until the end.
As was mentioned, the D can be printed on 11 x 17 and for the most part still be legible. Then if needed, it can be plotted on the D format.
If you use a B format for 11 x 17 drawing then the title block eats up quite a bit of the drawing.
I've had a lot of drawings that a D was necessary or have a whole bunch of smaller pages. Usually one page is better than multiple pages.
Bob Van Dick wrote:
Dan,
Our standard here is a "B" size. This works most of the time, but on larger parts I prefer a "C" size. We have one particular customer that puts everything on "E" size. Needless to say, printing on a "B" size doesn't work unless you are 17 years old, have 20-20 vision, and a good magnifying glass. My personal preference is to match the paper size to the drawing template size.
Bob
I agree. Someone here mentioned the title block not taking up as much room using a certain size. I also size my title block to fit the sheet. Pretty much all the text in my title block uses smaller text than the notes and dimensions in the drawing views.
By the way, in my earlier reply I said I almost always use 8.5 x 11. That's because in addition to my drawings being used to fabricate or build the test installation and parts, they're included in the test reports, which are of course on 8.5 x 11 paper. If I used a larger size paper for my drawings then they'd be illegible when the report was printed. And I happen to like that size anyway. When I hit the Fit button on my new 3d mouse it's pretty close to real life size on my monitor.
The problem is that on a B format, if you're prone to printing on 11 x 17, the title block eats up a lot of real estate. If you draw on a D size, then it is fairly legible still if printed on a B, depending on font selection. AND, you still have the option to plot on a D size if desired. I would leave it to the customer (shop workers) if they want a larger print, just let me know. But if the 11 x 17 was OK, the save a tree.
Glen, maybe you should be submitting your reports in 11 x 17. That way your work will really stand out! Everybody else's will look wimpy by comparison! ;-)
I try to stick to D and B as well. We don't even have a template for A size.
Sometimes I have to resort to E. And very rarely I use C.
When I worked for an Automotive Supplier (Tier 1), sometimes the final prints would be E size vertically, but could extend double or triple the length of a standard E size document.