FUNDAMENTALS OF TECHNICAL DRAWING

Drawing is the art or technique of representing an object or outlining

a figure, plan or sketch by means of lines.
Drawing is a form of visual art in which a person uses various
drawing instruments or software to produce 2-D or 3-D objects.
Classes of Drawing
Artistic Drawings-drawings used to express philosophic or aesthetic
ideas or emotions, every artist draws things the way they appear to
him emotionally, two artists viewing the same object, each will
produce a drawing as he sees the object in his peculiar way.
Assembly Drawings : is presentation of the product or structure
put together, showing all parts in their operational positions. The
separate parts come to the assembly department after their
manufacturing processes are finished and in this department they are
put together according the assembly drawings.

Technical drawing/Drafting/Draughting is the act

anddisciplineof composingdrawingsthatvisually communicatehow
something functions or is constructed.
OR
-is type of drawing rendered to scale, that is used to communicate
direction and specifics to a group of people who are creating
something to explain how something works or how to build
something.
Technical drawing is essential for communicating ideas
inindustryandengineering, to make the drawings easier to
understand, people use familiarsymbols,perspectives,units of
measurement,notationsystems, visual styles, andpage layout.
A drafter, draftsperson, or draughtsman is a person who makes a
drawing (technical or expressive). A professional drafter who makes
technical drawings is sometimes called a drafting technician.
Professional drafting is a desirable and necessary function in the
design and manufacture of complex mechanical components and
machines. Professional draftspersons bridge the gap between
engineers and manufacturers and contribute experience and
technical expertise to the design process

The basic technical drawing procedure is to place a piece of paper

(or other material) on adrawing board, a slidingT-squareis then
placed on one of the sides, allowing it to be slid across the side of
the board and over the surface of the paper.

Basic Technical Drawing

Instruments

There are two types of computer-aided design systems used for the
production of technical drawings i.e.two dimensions("2D")
andthree dimensions ("3D").
2D CAD systems such asAutoCAD orMicro Station hasreplaced the
paper drawing discipline. The lines, circles, arcs, and curves are
created within the software. It is down to the technical drawing skill
of the user to produce the drawing though there is still much scope
for error in the drawing when producing first and third angle
orthographic projections, auxiliary projections and cross sections.
A 2D CAD system is merely an electronic drawing board, its greatest
strength over direct to paper technical drawing is in the making of
revisions; whereas in a conventional hand drawn technical drawing,
if a mistake is found, or a modification is required, a new drawing
must be made from scratch, the 2D CAD system allows a copy of the
original to be modified, saving considerable time. 2D CAD systems
can be used to create plans for large projects such as buildings,
aircraft etc but provide no way to check the various components will
fit together.

DRAWING UNITS
Linear Units
Linear units are used for drawing lines the variation of which, in
width and density, produce such effects as tone and shading. For the
most part you should not need to change the unit type.
Linear units categories are
a) Decimal
b) Architectural
c) Engineering
d) Fractional
e) Scientific
The units that can be used under the above categories
include:inches,feet,miles,millimeters,centimeters,meters,kilometers,
microinches,mils,yards,angstroms,nanometers,decimeters,dekamete
rs,hectometers,gigameters,astronomical and lightyears.

Unit Type

Description

Decimal

Metric or SI
units
Decimal value
raised to a
power
Feet and
decimal inches
Feet and
fractional
inches
Whole
numbers and
fractions

Scientific

Engineering
Architectural

Fractional

e.g. 1.5
Drawing Units
1.5000

e.g.1500
Drawing Units
1500.0000

1.5000E+00

1.5000E+03

0'-1.5000"

125'-0.0000"

0'-1 1/2"

125'-0"

1 1/2

1500

Units such as "Architectural" and "Engineering" are there mainly for

AutoCAD users in the USA where Feet and Inches are still in common
use

Linea rUnits Measure

10 millimeters
(mm) =

1 centimeter (cm)

10 centimeters =

1 decimeter (dm)

= 100 millimeters

10 decimeters =

1 meter (m)

= 1,000
millimeters

10 meters =

1 dekameter
(dam)

10 dekameters =

1 hectometer
(hm)

= 100 meters

Angular Units
Angular units are used to measure angles and arcs they include
degrees, minutes and seconds,radians,surveyor units and grads

Unit Type

Description

e.g. 12.5
Angular
Units

Decimal
Degrees

Metric units

12.500

180.000

Deg/Min/Sec

Degrees, Minutes
and Seconds

12d30'0"

180d0'0"

Grads

400 grads = 360

degrees

13.889g

200.000g

Radians

2 Pi radians = 360
degrees

0.218r

3.142r

Surveyor

Compass bearings

N 77d30'0" W
E

e.g.180
Angular Units

Types of Technical Drawing Lines

Technical drawing Lines are used for different purposes to provide
specific information for designers, manufacturers etc. looking at the
drawing. The person who will read drawings have to learn what they
mean. Line types are also a language type to communicate between
technical people.
Continuous Thick Line:used when drawing visible outlines,
visible edges, end of the Screws, general details, existing buildings
and landscaping in site plans.
Continuous Thin line:used to draw dimension/measure lines,
imaginary lines of intersection, projection lines, backside section
lines, short centre lines, outline of revolved sections in place , at
diagonal lines which are used to state plane surface, Leader lines
and Hatching lines.
Dashed Thin Lines: used to drawinvisible/hidden lines which
represents an invisible edges on the objects

Dashed Thin Lines with Dots:used to draw Axis lines of

symmetrical drawings, In front of section planes.

Chain Thin with Thick Ends:used to draw cutting planes and the
trace at section planes,

Continuous Thin Zigzag Line:It is used when free hand lines are
drawn by tools

Free Hand Line: draws Limits of partial and interrupted views and
sections

I; and J;Parts situated in front of the cutting planes, outlines of

adjacent parts, Censorial Lines, to state center of gravity

Application of the Technical Drawing

Lines

Technical Drawing Lettering

Technical lettering is used for writing or forming letters of titles,
sub-titles, dimensions, scales and other details in technical drawing.
It is used to describe, or provide detailed specifications for an object
with the goals of legibility and uniformity, styles are standardized
and lettering ability has little relationship to normal writing ability.
Writing of titles, dimensions, notes, and other important particulars
on a drawing is called lettering. Lettering is an important part of a
drawing. However accurate and neat a drawing may be drawn, its
appearance is spoiled and sometimes, its usefulness is impaired by
poor lettering. Lettering should, therefore, be done properly in clear,
legible and uniform style.
The main aim of lettering is to provide brief but clear information
which is not easily conveyed by the drawing.Distinct and uniform
letters and figures are not only less likely to be misinterpreted but
they alos improve the apperance of the finished drawing.
Either inclined or vertical lettering is permissible but only one style
should be used throughout a drawing.The emphasis therefore should
always be laid on uniformity in height,propotion,strength of lines and
spacing of words to ensure a legible and a pleasant appearance

Examples of various types and sizes of appropriate letters and

figures

Single Stroke Vertical

Gothic Lettering- vertical
letter having thickness of
each line of alphabet or
numerals etc. Same as the
single stroke of a pencil

Single Stroke Inclined

Gothic Lettering- single
stroke letter inclined at
75to the Horizontal

Double Stroke Vertical

Double Stroke Inclined Gothic
Gothic Lettering- Vertical
Lettering -Double stroke gothic
letter drawn by double
when inclined at an angle of 75.
Stroke of pencil with uniform

Roman Lettering
-lettering in which all the
letters are formed by thick
and thin elements.
It may be vertical or
inclined or inclined. It can
be written with a chisel
pointed Pencil or D-3 type
Speed Ball Pen.

Free Hand Lettering- writing of

alphabets without the use of
drawing instruments and in free
hand. It may be vertical or
Inclined Gothic Lettering

Methods of Technical Drawing lettering

Freehand lettering is done without the assistance of tools, to
regulate lettering height, commonly 3mm ( in), guidelines are
drawn. The letters to be drawn, though freehanded, should be stable
and graceful. In some cases stability is impossible Most freehand
lettering is done in a "gothic" style, i.e., with a constant line
thickness; either "straight gothic", with vertical strokes perpendicular
to the baseline, or "inclined gothic", with vertical strokes at about
75
Mechanical lettering is done using tools such as lettering guides,
templates, or using a small mechanical pantograph. InMechanical
Lettering, standard uniform characters that are executed with a
special pen held in a scriber and guided by a template. Mechanical
lettering does not normally require the use of lettering guidelines.
You will use mechanical lettering principally for title blocks and notes
on drawings, marginal data for special maps, briefing charts, display
charts, graphs, titles on photographs, signs, and any other time that
clear, legible, standardized lettering is required. One of the most
popular types of mechanical lettering sets is the LEROY lettering
Modern drawings are lettered with computer-aided design software

Symbols and Abbreviations

The main purpose of symbols and abbreviations is to eliminate too
many notes. This enables one to make clear drawings which are
easy to read. The use of recognized symbols and abbreviations on a
drawing can enable the maximum information to be contained
within the drawing in a clear and legible manner with the minimum
of effort.

Types Of Shapes and Plane Geometry Figures

Angles
a.

Acute angle-ananglethat measures less than ninety degrees but

more than zero degrees

b.

Obtuse Angle-ananglethat measures more than 90 degrees but

less than 180 degrees

c.

Right Angle -an angle of 90, as in a corner of a square or at the

intersection of two perpendicular straight line

d.

Reflex angle-ananglemeasuring greater than 180 degrees and

less than 360 degrees

Triangles
e.

Equilateral triangle- atrianglein which all three sides are equal.

Equilateral trianglesare also equiangular; that is, all three
internal angles are also congruent to each other and are each 60.

f.

Isosceles Triangle. a triangle with two equal sides and the angles
opposite the equal sides are also equal

g.

Scalene triangle-atrianglewith all sides of different lengths. No

sides are equal and no angles are equal

Parallelograms
a.

Square-a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angle

b.

Rectangle-a plane figure with four straight sides, which adjacent sides are
unequal and four right angles.

c.

Rhombus- a parallelogram with opposite equal acute angles, opposite equal

obtuse angles, and four equal sides.

d.

Parallelogram- a four-sided plane with opposite sides parallel and equal in

length and opposite angles are equal.

e.

Trapezoid-four-sided quadrilateral that has two sides that are parallel and two
sides that are not parallel.

f.

Trapezium-with straight sides and NO parallel sides

Regular Polygons
A regular polygon has sides of equal length, and all its interior angles are of equal size

POLYGON

NO.OF
SIDES

Hexagon

OCtagon

INTERIOR
ANGLE

EXTERIOR
ANGLE

Interior
Angle =
180 -60
=120

Exterior
Angle =
360/ 6 =
60

Interior

Exterior

3D
SHAPES