What Is the Command for Scale in AutoCAD?

by

AutoCAD is a powerful software used for designing and drafting in various industries. One of the essential commands in AutoCAD is the Scale command. The Scale command allows you to resize objects, such as lines, arcs, circles, and blocks, either uniformly or non-uniformly by specifying a scaling factor.

Using the Scale Command

To use the Scale command in AutoCAD, follow these steps:

  1. Select the objects that you want to scale. You can select multiple objects by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each object.
  2. Type SCALE in the command line or choose Modify > Scale from the menu bar.
  3. Specify a base point for scaling. This point acts as the reference point for scaling. You can either click on a specific point or enter its coordinates.
  4. Specify a scale factor.

    The scale factor determines how much larger or smaller you want to make the selected objects. For example, if you enter a scale factor of 2, the objects will double in size.

  5. Note: To scale uniformly, enter only one value as the scale factor. To scale non-uniformly, enter separate values for each axis (X, Y, Z).
  6. Note: You can also specify a reference length instead of a scale factor by entering ‘R’ and then specifying two points that represent your desired reference length.

Tips for Using the Scale Command

The following tips will help you effectively use the Scale command:

  • Use object snaps: To accurately specify the base point for scaling, use object snaps. Object snaps allow you to snap to specific points on existing objects, such as endpoints, midpoints, intersections, and centers.
  • Use grips: You can also use grips to scale objects.

    Select the objects and then click and drag one of the grips to resize the objects interactively.

  • Scale blocks: When scaling a block, you have the option to scale the block reference or explode it and then scale its individual components. To scale the block reference, select the block and follow the same steps mentioned earlier.

Example Usage of Scale Command

Let’s say you have a drawing that contains a circle with a radius of 10 units. You want to scale this circle to have a radius of 20 units. Here’s how you can do it using the Scale command:

  1. Select the circle using any selection method.
  2. Type SCALE in the command line.
  3. Select a base point by clicking on any point inside or near the circle.
  4. Type ‘2’ as the scale factor and press Enter.

The circle will now be scaled up to have a radius of 20 units while maintaining its original position relative to its base point.

The Scale command is an essential tool in AutoCAD that allows you to resize objects easily and efficiently. By understanding how to use this command effectively, you can enhance your drafting workflow and create precise designs with ease.