Engineering Drawing Tools and Techniques
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Novan HazardEngineering Drawing Tools and Techniques
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Introduction
Engineering drawing is a two dimensional representation of three dimensional objects. In general, it
provides necessary information about the shape, size, surface quality, material, manufacturing process,
etc., of the object. It is the graphic language from which a trained person can visualize objects.
Drawings prepared in one country may be utilized in any other country irrespective of the language
spoken. Hence, engineering drawing is called the universal language of engineers. Any language to be
communicative should follow certain rules so that it conveys the same meaning to everyone. Similarly,
drawing practice must follow certain rules, if it is to serve as a means of communication.
Role of Engineering Drawing
The ability to read drawing is the most important requirement of all technical people in any profession.
As compared to verbal or written description, this method is brief and clearer. Some of the applications
are: building drawing for civil engineers, machine drawing for mechanical engineers, circuit diagrams for
electrical and electronics engineers, computer graphics for one and all.
The subject in general is designed to impart the following skills.
1. Ability to read and prepare engineering drawings.
2. Ability to make free - hand sketching of objects.
3. Power to imagine, analyze and communicate, and
4. Capacity to understand other subjects:
Drawing Instrument and Aids
The Instruments and other aids used in draughting work are listed below:
1. Drawing board 2. Mini draughter 3. Instrument box
4. Set squares 5. Protractor 6. Set of scales
7. French curves 8. Drawing sheets 9. Pencils
10. Templates
Drawing Board
Until recently drawing boards used are made of well-seasoned softwood of about 25 mm thick with
a working edge for T-square. Nowadays mini-draughters are used instead of T-squares which can be
fixed on any board. The standard size of board depends on the size of drawing sheet size required.
Mini-draughter
Mini-Draughter
Mini-draughter consists of an angle formed by two arms with scales marked and rigidly hinged to
each other. It combines the functions of T-square, set-squares, scales and protractor. It is used for
drawing horizontal, vertical and inclined lines, parallel and perpendicular lines and for measuring
lines and angles.
Instrument Box
Instrument box contains 1. Compasses, 2. Dividers and 3. Inking pens.
(a) Sharpening and position of (b) Position of the lead leg to
compass lead draw larger circles
Fig. 1.2
Set of Scales
Scales are used to make drawing of the objects to proportionate size desired. These are made of
wood, steel or plastic.
Set of scales
Note: Do not use the scales as a straight edge for drawing straight lines.
These are used for drawing irregular curved lines, other than circles or arcs of circles.
French Curves
French curves are available in different shapes. First a series of points are plotted along the desired
path and then the most suitable curve is made along the edge of the curve. A flexible curve consists
of a lead bar inside rubber which bends conveniently to draw a smooth curve through any set of
points.
(a) French curves (b) Flexible curve
Templates
These are aids used for drawing small features such as circles, arcs, triangular, square and other
shapes and symbols used in various science and engineering fields.
Template
Pencil
Pencils with leads of different degrees of hardness or grades are available in the market. The
hardness or softness of the lead is indicated by 3H, 2H, H, HB, B, 2B, 3B, etc. The grade HB
denotes medium hardness of lead used for general purpose. The hardness increases as the value of
the numeral before the letter H increases. The lead becomes softer, as the value of the numeral
before B increases.
Pencil Leads
The selection of the grade depends on the line quality desired for the drawing. Pencils of grades
H or 2H may be used for finishing a pencil drawing as these give a sharp black line. Softer grade
pencils are used for sketching work. HB grade is recommended for lettering and dimensioning.
Nowadays mechanical pencils are widely used in place of wooden pencils. When these are used,
much of the sharpening time can be saved. The number 0.5, 0.70 of the pen indicates the thickness
of the line obtained with the lead and the size of the lead diameter.
Micro-tip pencils with 0.5 mm thick leads with the following grades are recommended.
Mechanical Pencil
HB Soft grade for Border lines, lettering and free sketching
H Medium grade for Visible outlines, visible edges and boundary lines
2H Hard grade for construction lines, Dimension lines, Leader lines, Extension lines, Centre lines,
Hatching lines and Hidden lines.
Use of french curves
Lettering and Dimensioning Practices
Introduction
Engineering drawings are prepared on standard size drawing sheets. The correct shape and size
of the object can be visualized from the understanding of not only its views but also from the
various types of lines used, dimensions, notes, scale etc. For uniformity, the drawings must be
drawn as per certain standard practice.
Drawing Sheet
The standard drawing sheet sizes are arrived at on the basic Principal of
x: y = 1: √2 and xy = 1 where x and yare the sides of the sheet. For example AO, having a
surface area of 1 Sq.m; x = 841 mm and y = 1189 mm.
Dimension, mm
Designation
Trimmed size
AO 841 x 1189
A1 594 x 841
A2 420 x 594
A3 297 x 420
A4 210 x 297
Drawing Sheet Formats
Title Block
The title block should lie within the drawing space at the bottom right hand comer of the sheet.
The title block can have a maximum length of 170 mm providing the following information.
1. Title of the drawing.
2. Drawing number.
3. Scale.
4. Symbol denoting the method of projection.
5. Name of the firm, and
6. Initials of staff, who have designed, checked and approved.
Drawing Sheet Layout
The layouts of a drawing sheet used are as suggested below;
General features of a drawing sheet. Below shows a layout suggested for class work
Folding of Drawing Sheets
Lines
Just as in English textbook the correct words are used for making correct sentences; in
Engineering Graphics, the details of various objects are drawn by different types of lines. Each
line has a definite meaning and sense to convey.
The following are types of lines and their applications:
• Visible Outlines, Visible .Edges : Type 01.2 (Continuous wide lines) The lines drawn to
represent the visible outlines/ visible edges / surface boundary lines of objects should be
outstanding in appearance.
• Dimension Lines: Type 01.1 (Continuous narrow Lines) Dimension Lines are drawn to
mark dimension.
• Extension Lines: Type 01.1 (Continuous narrow Lines)
• There are extended slightly beyond the respective dimension lines.
• Construction Lines: Type 01.1 (Continuous narrow Lines)
Construction Lines are drawn for constructing drawings and should not be erased after
completion of the drawing.
• Hatching / Section Lines: Type 01.1 (Continuous Narrow Lines)
Hatching Lines are drawn for the sectioned portion of an object. These are drawn inclined at
an angle of 45° to the axis or to the main outline of the section.
• Guide Lines: Type 01.1 (Continuous Narrow Lines)
Guide Lines are drawn for lettering and should not be erased after lettering.
• Break Lines: Type 01.1 (Continuous Narrow Freehand Lines)
Wavy continuous narrow line drawn freehand is used to represent break of an object.
• Break Lines : Type 01.1 (Continuous Narrow Lines With Zigzags)
Straight continuous ~arrow line with zigzags is used to represent break of an object.
• Dashed Narrow Lines: Type 02.1 (Dashed Narrow Lines)
Hidden edges / Hidden outlines of objects are shown by dashed lines of short dashes of equal
lengths of about 3 mm, spaced at equal distances of about 1 mm. the points of intersection of
these lines with the outlines / another hidden line should be clearly shown.
• Center Lines: Type 04.1 (Long-Dashed Dotted Narrow Lines)
Center Lines are drawn at the center of the drawings symmetrical about an axis or both the
axes. These are extended by a short distance beyond the outline of the drawing.
• Cutting Plane Lines: Type 04.1 and Type 04.2
Cutting Plane Line is drawn to show the location of a cutting plane. It is long-dashed dotted
narrow line, made wide at the ends, bends and change of direction. The direction of viewing is
shown by means of arrows resting on the cutting plane line.
• Border Lines
Border Lines are continuous wide lines of minimum thickness 0.7 mm
Types of lines
Types of lines and their applications
LETTERING
Lettering is defined as writing of titles, sub-titles, dimensions, etc., on a drawing.
Importance of Lettering
To undertake production work of engineering components as per the drawing, the size and other
details are indicated on the drawing. This is done in the form of notes and dimensions.
Main Features of Lettering are legibility, uniformity and rapidity of execution. Use of drawing
instruments for lettering consumes more time. Lettering should be done freehand with speed.
Practice accompanied by continuous efforts would improve the lettering skill and style. Poor
lettering mars the appearance of an otherwise good drawing.
Single Stroke Letters
The word single-stroke should not be taken to mean that the lettering should be made in one stroke
without lifting the pencil. It means that the thickness of the letter should be uniform as if it is
obtained in one stroke of the pencil.
Vertical letters are preferred for easy and fast execution, instead of sloped letters.
Lettering in drawing should be in CAPITALS (i.e ., Upper-case letters) . Lower-case (small) letters
are used for abbreviations like mm, cm, etc.
Guide Lines
In order to obtain correct and uniform height of letters and numerals, guide lines are drawn,
using 2H pencil with light pressure. HB grade conical end pencil is used for lettering.
Procedure for Lettering
1. Thin horizontal guide lines are drawn first at a distance ' h' apart.
2. Lettering Technique: Horizontal lines of the letters are drawn from left to right. Vertical,
inclined and curved lines are drawn from top to bottom.
3. After lettering has been completed, the guidelines are not erased.
The characteristics of lettering as: (see next Figure for annotations)
h (height of capita) letters),
ci (height of lower-case letters),
c2 (tail of lower-case letters),
c3 (stem of lower-case letters),
a (spacing between characters),
bl & b2 (spacing between baselines),
e (spacing between words) and
d (line thickness),
Lettering
Vertical Lettering
Inclined Letters
The following are some of the guide lines for lettering;
1. Drawing numbers, title block and letters denoting cutting planes, sections are written in 10
mm size.
2. Drawing title is written in 7 mm size.
3. Hatching, sub-titles, materials, dimensions, notes, etc., are written in 3.5 mm size.
4. Space between lines = 3/4 h.
5. Space between words may be equal to the width of alphabet M or 3/5 h.
6. Space between letters should be approximately equal to 1/5 h. Poor spacing will affect the
visual effect.
EXAMPLE IN LETTERING
Write freehand the following, using single stroke vertical CAPITAL letters of 5 mm (h) size
Below: Example of Linograph alphabet lettering stencil template to be used when
lettering using Technical pens (inking)
TECHNICAL PENS: INKING
Set of technical pens