What are Scale Rules? We all used a measuring rule when we were at school, sometimes it was just to draw straight lines on a piece of paper or to measure an object we were given to study. If we were give the task of drawing an object to it's correct size we could use the measurements on the rule to draw it to scale, that is draw it in the correct dimensions. The drawing would usually be drawn to full size, so if the object measured say 50mm, we would draw a line with a length of 50mm. But what if the object was bigger than the piece of paper and we could not make the drawing fit? We would then need to draw the object in a different scale so that it would fit onto the paper. Perhaps we could make it half size so that if the object was 300mm long we would draw it at 150mm long, we have still drawn the object 'to scale'

Depending upon the size of the object, there are many scales that are used to produce drawings, from small engineering components which be drawn larger than they really are, to large buildings which have to be drawn at a scale to fit on the drawing. Scale Rules are therefore available with many different scales and are produced in metric and imperial versions. Typically an Architects Scale Rule will have a range of scales from 1:1 which is full size, to say 1:2500 which means that 1mm on the drawing represents 2500mm, or two and a half metres, on the building or other large object.

There are many types of Scale Rulers varying from a simple flat rule similar to our school ruler, to professional quality Architects Oval Scale Rules which have a slight curve on both sides so that they are easier to pick up and also so that ink is not smudged if they are used for drawing a line. An Oval Scale Rule would normally have four scales on each side and is available in two lengths, 150mm (6") and 300mm (12"). Triangular Scale Rules are preferred by some designers as they make it easy to identify the scales and also easier to find and to pick up.

To purchase a professional quality Scale Rule you may need to visit a drawing equipment retailer or a specialized office equipment stationer. Alternatively you can look out for the many suppliers of building and engineering materials who often offer them as Promotional Scale Rules with their company logo and details printed on them. They make excellent gifts as they are regularly used and have a prominent place on the desk of the user, in their brief case or even in their pocket.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) may have replaced the drawing boards in many offices but drawings still need to be printed for issuing to the people who are producing the product or structure. Scale Rules are used by most of the people involved with the project, from the architect, engineer or designer to the project managers and the builder or craftsmen who are responsible for the final result. Where would we be without our Scale Rules?

Alan Jones is a Marketing Consultant with a design and engineering background.

For more information and images on a full range of Promotional Scale Rules go to http://www.scalerules.com.au

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