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Development of Surfaces
Introduction
A layout of the complete surface of a three-dimensional object on a
plane is called the development of the surface or flat pattern of the object.
The development of surfaces is very important in the fabrication of articles
made of sheet metal.
The objects such as containers, boxes, boilers, hoppers, vessels,
funnels, trays etc., are made of sheet metal by using the principle of
development of surfaces.
In making the development of a surface, an opening of the surface
should be determined first.
Every line used in making the development must represent the true
length of the line (edge) on the object.
The steps to be followed for making objects, using sheet metal are given below:
1. Draw the orthographic views of the object to full size.
2. Draw the development on a sheet of paper.
3. Transfer the development to the sheet metal.
4. Cut the development from the sheet.
5. Form the shape of the object by bending.
6. Join the closing edges.
Note: In actual practice, allowances have to be given for extra material required for
joints and bends. These allowances are not considered in the topics presented in this
chapter.
Methods of Development
The method to be followed for making the development of a solid depends
upon the nature of its lateral surfaces. Based on the classification of solids, the
following are the methods of development.
1. Parallel-line Development

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It is used for developing prisms and single curved surfaces like cylinders in
which all the edges / generators of lateral surfaces are parallel to each other.
2. Radial-line Development
It is employed for pyramids and single curved surfaces like cones in which
the apex is taken as center and the slant edge or generator (which are the true
lengths)as radius for its development.

Development of Prism
To draw the development of a square prism of side of base 30mm and height 50mm.
Construction (Fig.7.1)

1. Assume the prism is resting on its base on H.P. with an edge of the base parallel to
V.P and draw the orthographic views of the square prism.
2. Draw the stretch-out line 1-1 (equal in length to the circumference of the square
prism) and mark off the sides of the base along this line in succession i.e. 1-2,2-3,3-
4 and 4-1.

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3. Errect perpendiculars through 1,2,3 etc., and mark the edges (folding lines) I-A, 2-
B, etc., equal to the height of the prism 50 mm.
4. Add the bottom and top bases 1234 and ABCD by the side of any of the base edges.
Development of a Cylinder
Construction (Fig.7.2)
Figure shows the development of a cylinder. In this the length of the rectangle
representing the development of the lateral surface of the cylinder is equal to the
circumference ( πd here d is the diameter of the cylinder) of the circular base.

Development of a square pyramid with side of base 30 mm and height 60

mm.

Construction (Fig.7.3)
1. Draw the views of the pyramid assuming that it is resting on H.P and with
an edge of the base parallel to V.P.
2. Determine the true length o-a of the slant edge.

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Note:
In the orientation given for the solid, all the slant edges are inclined
to both H.P and V.P.
Hence, neither the front view nor the top view provides the true
length of the slant edge. To determine the true lehiter of the slant edge, say
OA, rotate oa till it is parallel to xy to the position.oa1. Through a1 draw a
projector to meet the line xy at represents the true length of
the slant edge OA. This method of determining the true length is also known
as rotation method.

3. with centre 0 and radius o1a1 draw an arc.

4. Starting from A along the arc, mark the edges of the base i.e. AB, BC, CD
and DA.
5. Join 0 to A,B,C, etc., representing the lines of folding and thus completing
the development.

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Development of Pentagonal Pyramid.

Construction (Fig.7.4)

1. Draw the orthographic views of the pyramid ABCDE with its base on H.P
and axis parallel to V.P.
2. With centre 0 of the pyramid and radius equal to the true length of the
slant edge draw an arc.

3. Mark off the edges starting from A along the arc and join them to 0
representing the lines of folding.

4. Add the base at a suitable location

Development of a Cone
Construction (Fig.7.5)
The development of the lateral surface of a cone is a sector of a circle.
The radius and length of the arc are equal to the slant height and
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circumference of the base of the cone respectively. The included angle of the
sector is given by (r / s) x 360°, where r is the radius of the base of the cone
and s is the true length.

Problem: A Pentagonal prism of side of base 20 mm and height 50 mm stands

vertically on its base with a rectangular face perpendicular to V.P. A cutting
plane perpendicular to V.P and inclined at 600 to the axis passes through the
edges of the top base of the prism. Develop the lower portion of the lateral
surface of the prism.
Construction (Fig.7.6)

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1. Draw the projections of the prism.

2. Draw the trace (V.T) of the cutting plane intersecting the edges at points
1,2,3, etc.
3. Draw the stretch-out AA and mark-off the sides of the base along this in
succession i.e., AB, BC, CD, DE and EA.
4. Errect perpendiculars through A,B,C etc., and mark the edges AA1, BBI'
equal to the height of the prism.
5. Project the points 11,21,31etc., and obtain 1,2,3 etc., respectively on the
corresponding edges in the development.
6. Join the points 1,2,3 etc., by straight lines and darken the sides
corresponding to the truncated portion of the solid.
Note:
1. Generally, the opening is made along the shortest edge to save time and
soldering.

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2. Stretch-out line is drawn in-line with bottom base of the front view to save
time in drawing the development.
3. AAI-AIA is the development of the complete prism.
4. Locate the points of intersection 11,21, etc., between VT and the edges of
the prism and draw horizontal lines through them and obtain 1,2, etc., on the
corresponding edges in the development
S. Usually, the lateral surfaces of solids are developed and the ends or bases
are omitted in the developments. They can be added whenever required
easily.
Problem: A hexagonal prism of side of base 30 mm and axis 70 mm long is
resting on its base on HP. such that a rectangular face is parallel to V.P. It is
cut by a section plane perpendicular to v.p and inclined at 300 to HP. The
section plane is passing through the top end of an extreme lateral edge of
the prism. Draw the development of the lateral surface of the cut prism.
Construction (Fig.7.7)
1. Draw the projections of the prism.
2. Draw the section plane VT.
3. Draw the development AAI-AIA of the complete prism following the stretch
out line principle.
4. Locate the point of intersection 11,21 etc., between VT and the edges of
the prism.

5. Draw horizontal lines through 11,21etc., and obtain 1,2, etc., on the
corresponding edges in the development.

6. Join the points 1,2, etc., by straight lines and darken the sides
corresponding to the retained portion of the solid.

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Problem: Draw the development of the lateral surface of the frustum of the
square pyramid of side of base 30 mm and axis 40 mm, resting on HP with
one of the base edges parallel to V.P. It is cut by a horizontal cutting plane at
a height of 20 mm.
Construction (Fig.7.8)

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1. Draw the projections of the square pyramid.

2. Determine the true length. o-a of the slant edge.

3. Draw the trace of the cutting plane VT.

4. Locate the points of intersection of the cutting plane on the slant edges
a1b1c1d1 of the pyramid.
5. With any point 0 as center and radius equal to the true length of the slant
edge draw an arc of the circle.
6. With radius equal to the side of the base 30 mm, step-off divisions on the
above arc.
7. Join the above division points 1,2,3 etc., in the order with the center of the
arc o. The full development of the pyramid is given by 012341.
8. With centre 0 and radius equal to oa mark-off these projections at A, B, C,
D, A. Join A-B,
B-C etc. ABCDA-12341 is the development of the frustum of the square
pyramid.
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Problem: A hexagonal pyramid with side of base 30 mm and height 75 mm

stands with its base on RP and an edge of the base parallel to V.P. It is cut by
a plane perpendicular to v.p, inclined at 45° to H.P and passing through the
mid-point of the axis. Draw the (sectioned) top view and develop the lateral
surface of the truncated pyramid.

Construction (Fig.7.9)

1. Draw the two views of the given pyramid and indicate the cutting plane.
2. Locate the points of intersection 11,21,31,41,51 and 61between the slant
edges and the cutting plane.
3. Obtain the sectional top view by projecting the above points.
4. With 0 as center and radius equal to the true length of the slant edge draw
an arc and complete the total development by following construction of
Fig.7.8.
5. Determine the true length 0I21}, 013\, etc., of the slant edges 0121, 0131,
etc.
Note:
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(i) To determine the true length of the edge, say draw a line parallel
to the base, meeting the true length line o-a at The length represents
the true length of

(ii) represents the true lengths as their top views (o1, o4) are
parallel to xy.
6. Mark 1,2,3 etc., along OA,OB,OC etc., corresponding to the true lengths
0111, 0121, 0131, etc., in the development.
7. Join 1,2,3 etc., by straight lines and darken the sides corresponding to the
truncated portion of the solid.
Problem: A cylinder of diameter of base 40 mm and height 50 mm is standing
on its base on HP. A cutting plane inclined at 45° to the axis of the cylinder
passes through the left extreme point of the top base. Develop the lateral
surface of the truncated cylinder.
Construction (Fig.7.10)

1. Draw the views of the truncated cylinder.

2. Divide the circle (top view) into an equal number of parts.

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3. Draw the generators in the front view corresponding to the above division
points.

4. Mark the points of intersection etc., between the truncated

face and the generators.

5. Draw the stretch-out line of length equal to the circumference of the base
circle.

6. Divide the stretch-out line into the same number of equal parts as that of
the base circle and draw the generators through those points.

7. Project the points a, b, c, etc., and obtain A, B, C, etc., respectively on the

corresponding generators 1,2,3 etc., in the development.
8. Join the points A, B, C etc., by a smooth curve.

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Reference:

K Venkata Reddy (Prof. and HOD of Mechanical Engineering Dept.

C.R. Engineering College, Tirupati-517 506). Textbook of
Engineering Drawing, Second Edition. BS Publications

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