Plot Scale Numbering Question

[erosing]

I feel like I should know this, but this is the first time I've seen it outside of Shelley's books. What exactly does the 10/6, 13/6, 16/6, etc signify? I know the diamonds are at foot markers, in this case every 3 feet. But I can't make sense of the 10/6 etc. I get that it's on 18" centers but the numbering doesn't make sense to me. Why does 1/6 fall on the first increment of 18, but 4/6 falls on the third? Why is it in 6ths?

 

[sk8rsdad]

My guess would be 10' 6", 13' 6", etc. which would be 18" along and halfway between the diamond markers.

 

[mikeydoesstuff]

10/6 would be 10-6 would be 10'6"

 

[derekleffew]

I neither like it, nor approve. 10/6 is a sloppy method of denoting 10-6, or more accurately 10'-6".
Further,
1) not every unit hangs on 18" centers, and
2) just as many electrics are hung with units splitting center: 9", 2'-3", 3'-9", 5'-3",... .
3) I've always just marked the scale: ...4'R, 2'R, CL, 2'L, 4'L, 6'L...

 

[SteveB]

Not getting why 10/6 is a no-no but 10-6 is OK.

Neither is the correct version of a measurement, so to be fair neither is acceptable and we should all use 10'-6"

Shelly's VW symbol set has other scale types, but I don't think the R or L designations is one of them.

Trouble is that using 10'-6" gets really time consuming to have to type, even cut and paste doesn't help, as well until this OP I've never had anybody not understand 10/6, maybe as my folks see it all the time, so an east coast thing maybe ?

I do use this scale as a general reference, but also have my Vectorworks/Lightwright data interchange set up so LW dumps the distance L or R of C/L on a hang card/sheet, so the electrician gets a note at each unit of "10'-9" as required.

 

[lightingbug]

Hey Steve, that sounds intriguing. How do you have your VW/LW setup that it shows L/R of Ctr. That would totally help in a couple of cases I have to deal with. I tried figuring it out in LW and I am going to assume that you would use Focus L/R field but I couldn't see how it would read that and/or print it out.

 

[SteveB]

You don't even need to deal with it as a VW/LW exchange as the VW file always has a field for X value.

On my hang sheet, I created a label legend that shows X value. I use that legend for the fixtures, not needing channel or color in this instance (which I turn off in classes)

. X location is one of the fields you can select to add to a LL. Then just position as needed.

This is also a field that can be imported/exported to LW so if you choose to do some position editing, it's easier in LW then in VW, in my experience.

 

[erosing]

Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks all! Not my favorite method, but it works I guess.