"Scale" precision not good enough

[jgb]

I need to scale (about center and uniform) a sub section of a solid object many different times to different scale factors in relation to an external object, in order to define a range of solid volumes to feed a dynamic calculation on an EXCEL spreadsheet.

The problem is the precision in SU scaling is .01% and my scale efforts jump to only those intervals.

I need a precision of (at least) .001% to get close to my external reference points.

I CANNOT scale up the object 10X to accomplish this, as my external reference is lost.

I have tried to put an artificial reference line(s) into the object to scale to, but I still cannot snap to that line if it lies between (say) .01% and .02%, nor can I estimate the exact scale and type it in.

My question is...... Is it possible to increase the scale precision to .001%

[Dave R]

I was able to scale in between by snapping the scale handle to the intersection of two guidelines with no problem. The scale factor displays as ~1.01 but it is indeed snapping to the intersection.

[Box]

Try adjusting the Precision of your units in the model info.

[jgb]

@dave r said:

I was able to scale in between by snapping the scale handle to the intersection of two guidelines with no problem. The scale factor displays as ~1.01 but it is indeed snapping to the intersection.

Part of the problem is the shape of the object is not uniform, although it is flat. So, the scale handles do not fall on any part of the selection perimeter.

HOWEVER You gave me an idea that almost works perfectly, at least within an acceptable error.

I needed to scale the thickness at one end of a tapered tube with a tapered thick skin from about .45inch down to .250inch (and to other thicknesses as well). The tube is about 8 feet in diameter (but squarish in shape) so the thickness changes are minute in comparison.

I added a short line from the objects scalable (inside surface) perimeter down to where a scale handle is located. I then laid a guide line offset by that length from where the scaling should end up.

I selected the perimeter and the tiny line then scaled (centered and uniform) down to the offset guideline.

I got as close as .252inch after a few tries, good enough.

Now, I gotta do that about 10 different times with different thicknesses.

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As for setting units, Model Info does not provide for setting scale precision, as it does for lines and angles.

But still, is there any way to up the scale precision?

I tried Fredos scale, but it didn't help, mainly I guess, due to my lack of fully knowing how to use that tool.