Why not only A size templates?

[Manifolddesigner]

My question
Why not make a A size template that has essentially D size fonts on it?

I was surprised that when I did a search, couldn't find much on the subject.
I'm finding myself in a cad admin role and setting up drafting templates for a small division of a large company.
I'm a mechanical engineer and I've been a career contractor (9years or so now) so I've seen quite a few ways of doing things. I've also worked as a machinist and gotten to see many customer prints and understand how a machine shop works.

We print things on A size paper. We use the metric system.
The asme y14.1m standard for A4 is ridiculous, no one here uses it for their drawings because the recommended title blocks take half the page and it calls for weird metric size paper (which we don't have). The fonts are huge, which I can only assume are for plotters, blind people (maybe they can read the bumps left from the plotter?), and microfiche (I always wondered what those little arrows on the centers of drawing templates were for). Why not just dual unit in braille?

So everybody uses C or D size templates for the most part because they print pretty well. I prefer C size paper as it scales better, although with D size I can get a little more on the page and still read it.
I hear rumors some automotive OEMs have gone to all A size drafting templates?

If someone was going to print it out 1:1 for something larger than the page, they'll probably just want a DXF for the waterjet/laser anyway.
Why not just have one size paper that is actually labeled correctly? just because tradition? (remember that some people still measure height in hands and weight in stones because 'tradition)

What am I missing here?

Jason

 

[CheckerHater]

Some industries still use drawings that can be rolled out on the table or hung on the wall for discussion.

Other than that it's between you and your client - whatever deliverables you have agreed upon.

"If you don't know what to do - go by the book" - that rule and having set of standard templates ready may (unexpectedly) come out really helpful.

"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future

 

[drawoh]

Manifolddesigner,

I set up templates at my site for A[ ]size through E[ ]size drawings, because we have an E[ ]sized plotter. At our other site, someone set up an A[ ]size and B[ ]size template. Their printers go up to 11[×]17".

The title-block shown on the ASME standard is a suggestion, not an inflexible standard, violators of which will be hunted down and killed. I don't like the ASME title-block. Information should be grouped more logically.

You really need an 11[×]17"[ ]printer. If you in the USA or Canada, you can use 8.5[×]11"[ ]paper. This probably is what your fabricator uses. Use a small font and a small title section.

Leave 1/2"[ ]borders around your paper. Do not try to maximize paper space by reducing your borders. You may replace your printer with a new one that has wider borders.

--
JHG

 

[CoryPad]

FYI, GM has used 11 x 17 format for all drawings for years now.

 

[KENAT]

We stuck with the default larger sizes when setting up our templates a few years back, but did increase the font size to .15 for most stuff so that a 'D' printed on 'B' is quite legible. 'E' on 'B' is a bit of an eye strainer but just about OK.

Frankly A is too small to do anything useful on in my opinion, but I have a tiny bit of sympathy for the idea of using all B with smaller fonts.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[Manifolddesigner]

Good info.
My experience at the machine shop was that there was a 'traveler'. A printed copy of the drawing (on A size paper) that stayed w/ EVERY batch of parts in a plastic sleeve (to prevent their/my greasy monkey hands from destroying it). The setup machinist, the production monkey, and the inspector all used that drawing printed out on 8.5x11. If it was a E size drawing it was illegible and we had to write over the top of the ink blob in red what it actually said, if it was D or B it printed out w/ the top and bottom margins w/ a large gap.

Ok, I'll speak w/ the other engineers and management here, but give my recommendations and let them know that the standard is flexible.
Thnx

 

[ctopher]

We only use sizes B, C, and D.
B and D fit nice on a 11x17 printer, C on 8.5x11 printer.
Size A doesn't have enough room for views, dimensions, and other company data that goes in a title block.

Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks '15
SolidWorks Legion

 

[drawoh]

KENAT,

My 21[sup]st[/sup] edition Machinery's Handbook specifies 1/8" or 3mm lettering on A, B and C sized drawings, and 5/32" or 4mm lettering on D and E sized drawings. The larger font is adequately readable on B[ ]sized printouts of E[ ]sized drawings. It is also readable from six feet way, which is important, because E[ ]size does not fit on a workbench. You either tape them to a wall, or toss them on the floor.

This note has disappeared from my 26[sup]th[/sup] edition.

--
JHG

 

[HGMorgan]

In CATIA V5, we have set up auto templates for A thru E.
Obviously the big stuff views get scaled down.
So, on A thru E, just make the text size large enough for sheet size readability.
Print E CAD DWG out on A paper: fully readable and convenient for shop use.
We have a big format printer we use for customer big busy long drawings for RFQ.
99% of our shop drawings are printed on A paper.




Harold G. Morgan
CATIA, QA, CNC & CMM Programmer