Can you add pictures into Autocad, and control the scale properties?

by Darko
(Acton, Ontario)

Basically, I was told that you can take a picture of lets say, a piece of drilling equipment. Upload it into Autocad , scale it to whatever you wish, edit it, and know all the measurements without actually measuring the entire thing.

Example:

My colleague just measured one side, and uploaded the picture and found out all the other dimensions, without needing to sketch out on the field, and/or waste time measuring it, by just knowing that one dimension. He did mention something about line art I believe.

Unfortunately he is no longer working here, but I believe it would be essential to learn how to do.

Is this possible in Autocad 2012? If so, how?

Thanks,

Darko

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Feb 02, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		It depends on the accuracy you need
by: Joe

I think this true to a certain extent.

When you take a picture of a piece of equipment, dimensions taken from that picture can only be so accurate due to the angle of the shot.

A slight angle may cause some of the dimensions to be slightly skewed.

I think this is a useful technique to find approximate dimensions though. It really depends how accurate you need your drawing.

I imagine a piece of equipment would need to be fairly accurate, to say 1/32" or to the nearest mm?
Feb 02, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		How?
by: Anonymous

How exactly would I go about doing this?

It doesn't have to be exact, rough dimensioning is all we're looking for right now.

Would I just take a picture and upload it to autocad, and then trace over it?
Feb 03, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Measure first
by: Joe

Yes, first you would measure a distance on the actual piece of equipment;; preferably a long distance.

Then take the picture and attach it as an image in AutoCAD.

Scale the picture (image) in AutoCAD using the distance you measured on the piece of equipment.

Now when you measure the other distances in the AutoCAD drawing they should all be relative, within a certain accuracy of course.
Aug 05, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		answer to scaling
by: Anonymous

If the image is inserted into the drawing file, one can draw a line to the exact length of a portion of the part, by using the align tool.

Scaling can be achieved by designating a point on the image to the end point on the line drawn, then a second point.

Then at the command of selecting a 3rd point just enter, the scale option then comes up to which one must reply..yes and the image will be aligned and scaled to the line.

One can also use the scale reference option and also if the user has map...there is a command of rubber sheeting which is more accurate.

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