UNIT-1

What is Engineering Drawing?

In engineering drawing, engineering related objects like buildings, walls, electrical
fittings, pipes, machines etc. are represented with specifications like size, shape,
materials etc.

Importance of Engineering Drawing

Drawing plays vital role in the engineering and construction works. The drawing
requires no language any one can read it. So, drawings of other countries structures
can also be studied easily.

The drawing improves the imagination and new inventions can be developed. The
estimate for the project can be done using the details provided in the drawing.

Instruments Used in Engineering Drawing

The instruments used in engineering drawing are:

 Drawing sheet

 Drawing board

 Mini drafter

 T square

 Compass

 Divider

 Set squares

 Clinograph

 Protractor

 French curves

 Templates

 Pencils
 Eraser

Drawing Sheet
Drawing sheet is a white paper on which an object is drawn which is available in
various sizes. The sheet used for engineering should be of good quality. It should be
white in color with uniform thickness with must resist the easy torn of paper. The
surface of sheet must be smooth.

Drawing Sheet Type Dimensions (Length X Width) (mm)

A0 841 X 1189

A1 594 X 841

A2 420 X 594

A3 297 X 420

A4 210 X 297

A5 148 X 210

Drawing Board
Drawing board is generally made of soft wood and it is in rectangular shape. It is
used to support drawing sheet, so, the size of board is made according the size of
the drawing sheet.

The wood portions are joined by tongue and grove type joint to prevent cracks. At
the edge of board, straight ebony edge is provided for the T-square usage.

Different types of drawing boards and their sizes according to IS classification are
listed below.

Type of Drawing Board Length X Width X Thickness (mm)

D0 1500 X 1000 X 25

D1 1000 X 700 X 25
 D2 700 X 500 X 15

D3 500 X 350 X 15

Mini Drafter
Mini drafter is an instrument which can be used for multiple functions in drawing. It
contains two arms which is adjustable to required angle and at the end of the lower
arm a scale set is attached.

The scale set contains two scales connected perpendicular to each which cannot be
separated. This instrument is fixed to the drawing board at one edge with the help
of screw provided for the drafter.

Mini drafter is used for drawing horizontal lines, vertical lines, inclined lines, angles,
parallel lines, perpendicular lines etc.

T-Square
T square is used to draw horizontal and vertical lines on drawing sheet. It made of
wood or plastic and in T shape. The vertical part of T is called as blade and
horizontal part of T is called as head.

The edge of head is uniform level and attached to the edge of the board. The
working edge is used to draw lines anywhere on the sheet by moving the
instrument top to bottom.
Compass
Compass is used to draw an arc or circle with known dimensions on engineering
drawing. It is generally made of steel and consists two legs. One leg contains needle
at the bottom and other leg contains a ring in which a pencil is placed.

The needle tip is placed at the respected point and pencil tip is adjusted to the
height at least 1mm just above the tip of the needle. The gap is nothing but the
paper thickness.

Divider
The divider looks like a compass, but the difference is the two legs of divider are
provided with needles. This is used to divide a line or curve into equal parts. It is
also used to check the measurements.
Set Squares
Set squares are used to draw lines with an angle between them. In most of the
structures, 30, 45, 60 and 90-degree lines are most common. So, set squares make
the work easier for this type of drawings.

Generally, set squares are of two types. One is 45 degree set square and another
one is called as 30 – 60 degree set square. Both are required in the drawing. 45 set
square has a side of 25 cm while 30-60 set square has 25 cm length on one side.

Clinograph
Clinograph is an instrument used to draw parallel lines to the inclined lines. It
contains one adjustable wing or strip which can be adjusted to required angle. So, it
can be termed as adjustable set square.
Protractor
Protractor is used to draw and measure the angles of lines in the drawing. It is
transparent and made of plastic. It is in the shape of semi-circle, and the edge of
semi-circle part consists reading with one-degree accuracy.

The bottom line joins the 0o to the 180o. The center of this bottom line is marked as
“O” or “C” from which the angles are measured.

French Curves
French curves are made of plastic and they are in irregular shapes. Sometimes the
drawing requires irregular curves or shapes or arcs which cannot be drawn using
compass. In that case French curves are suitable.

Generally French curves are more suitable for small curves and for long curves
splines are used.
Drawing Templates
Templates are nothing but plastic or wooden boards which contains spaces of
several shapes or letters. Non-dimensional shapes or variety font letters are drawn
by using templates which makes drawing easier and perfect.

Pencils
Pencil is used to draw on the paper. Any type of pencil is not suitable for drawing.
There are some limitations, the drawing appearance should be very neat and
understandable.

Every line of the drawing should indicate its importance. It depends upon the
hardness of pencil.

Based on the hardness quality pencils are classified into 18 grades and they are

Grade of Pencil Hardness of Pencil

 9H Hardest

6H, 5H, 4H Extremely Hard

3H Very hard

2H Hard

H Moderately hard

F Firm

HB Medium hard

B Moderately soft and black

2B Soft and black

3B Very soft and black

4B, 5B, 6B Very soft and very black

7B Softest

Out of the above 18 grades of pencils, following grades are used in engineering
drawings.

Grade of Pencil Used to Draw

 3H Construction lines

2H Dimension lines, center lines, sectional lines, hidden lines

H Object lines, lettering

HB Dimensioning, boundary lines

Eraser
Eraser is used to remove the lines or spots which drawn by mistake or with wrong
measurements. The eraser used should be of good quality and soft. It should not
damage the paper while erasing.
Paper Holders
When the drawing sheet is placed on the board it may not be in fixed position. To fix
the drawing sheet to the board paper holders are used.

Generally used paper holders are thumb pins, spring clips, stick tapes etc. Care
should be taken while removing the clips or tapes otherwise the sheet may tore.

Line types
 SCALES

Usually the word scale is used for an instrument used for drawing straight lines. But
actually in Engineer’s language scale means the proportion or ratio between the
dimensions adopted for the drawing and the corresponding dimensions of the
object. It can be indicated in two different ways. Example: The actual dimensions of
the room say 10m x 8m cannot be adopted on the drawing. In suitable proportion
the dimensions should be reduced in order to adopt conveniently on the drawing
sheet. If the room is represented by a rectangle of 10cm x 8cm size on the drawing
sheet that means the actual size is reduced by 100 times.

Representing scales: The proportion between the drawing and the object can be
represented by two ways as follows:

a) Scale: - 1cm = 1m or 1cm=100cm or 1:100

b) Representative Fraction: - (RF) = 1/100 (less than one) i.e. the ratio between
the size of the drawing and the object.

There are three types of scales depending upon the proportion it indicates as

1. Reducing scale: When the dimensions on the drawing are smaller than the
actual dimensions of the object. It is represented by the scale and RF as
Scale: - 1cm=100cm or 1:100 and by RF=1/100 (less than one)

2. Full scale: Some times the actual dimensions of the object will be adopted on
the drawing then in that case it is represented by the scale and RF as
Scale: - 1cm = 1cm or 1:1 and by R.F=1/1 (equal to one).

3. Enlarging scale: In some cases when the objects are very small like inside parts
of a wrist watch, the dimensions adopted on the drawing will be bigger than the
actual dimensions of the objects then in that case it is represented by scale and RF
as
Scale: - 10cm=1cm or 10:1 and by R.F= 10/1 (greater than one)

Note: The scale or R.F of a drawing is given usually below the drawing. If the scale
adopted is common for all drawings on that particular sheet, then it is given
commonly for all figures under the title of sheet.

1.7 Types of Scales and their constructions:

.
This should be generally of 15 to 20 cms length.
The various types of scales used in practice are 1. Plain scales, 2. Diagonal
scales, 3. Vernier scales, 4. Comparative scales and 5. Scale of chords.

1.7.1 Plain Scales: Plain scales read or measure upto two units or a unit and its
sub-division, for example centimetres (cm) and millimetres (mm). When
measurements are required upto first decimal, for example 2.3 m or 4.6 cm etc. It
consists of a line divided into number of equal main parts and the first main part is
sub-divided into smaller parts. Mark zero (O) at the end of the first main part. From
zero mark numbers to the main parts or units towards right and give numbers to
the sub-divisions or smaller parts towards left. Give the names of the units and sub-
units below clearly. Indicate below the name of the scale and its R.F clearly.

The construction of the plain scale is explained below by a worked example.

W E 1.1 A 3 cm long line represents a length of 4.5 metres. Extend this

line to measure upto 30 metres and show on it units of metre and 5 metre.
Show the length of 22 metres on this line. Fig 1.10

i) The scale has to represent metre and 5 metres, hence it is a Plain scale.

ii) Given that 3cm represents 4.5metres or 450cm, Hence 1cm represents
450/3=150cm, hence scale is 1cm=150cm or 1:150: R.F=1/150

iii) Maximum length to read is 30metres; Length of the scale is 20cm. i.e.
(1/150)x30x100 = 20cm

Construction:
Draw a straight line of 20cm length and divide into 6 equal parts.
Divide again first part into 5 equal parts. Give numbers as shown. To represent 22
metres, take 4 main parts to represent 20 metres and 2 small parts to represent
2metres. Give names as A and B so that the distance between A and B is 22 metres
as shown.
Note: Assume height of the plain scale as 1 cm.

Construct a plain scale of 1:5 to show decimeters and centimeters and to read upto
1 metre. Show the length of 7.4 decimetres on it.
i) The scale has to represent decimetre and 1/10 of decimeter.

ii) Given that the scale is 1:5 that is R.F=1/5

iii) Maximum length to read is 1 metre; Length of the

scale=(1/5)x1x100=20cm

Construction:
Draw a straight line of 20cm length and divide into 10 equal parts.

Divide again first part into 10 equal parts. Give numbers as shown. To
represent 7.4 decimetres, take 7 main parts to represent 7 decimetres and
4 small parts to represen0t 0.4 decimetres. Give names as A and B so that
the distance between A and B is 7.4 decimetres as shown.

Diagonal Scales:

Diagonal scales are used to read or measure upto three units.

For example: decimetres (dm), centimetres (cm) and millimetres (mm) or

miles, furlon
gs and yards etc. This scale is used when very small distances such as 0.1
mm are to be accurately measured or when measurements are required
upto second decimal.

For example: 2.35dm or 4.68km etc.

Small divisions of short lines are obtained by the principle of diagonal

division, as explained below:

Principle of diagonal scale: To divide a given line AB into small divisions in

multiples of 1/10 its length for example 0.1AB; 0.2AB etc. as shown in
Procedure:
i) Draw AB of given length

ii) At one end, say at B draw a line perpendicular to AB.

iii) Mark 10 equal divisions by taking some convenient length starting

from B and ending with C.

iv) Give numbers from 9, 8, 7----1 as shown.

v) Join C to A and from 9 to 1, draw parallels to AB, cutting AC at 9′, 8′,

------ 1′ etc.

vi) From the similar triangles 1′1C, 2′2C ------- 9′9C and ABC,
C5=(1/2)BC=0.5BC and 5′5=(1/2)AB=0.5AB. Similarly 1′1=0.1AB, 2′2=0.2AB
etc

Thus each horizontal line below AB will be shorter by (1/10)AB, giving

lengths in multiples of 0.1AB

: An area of 144 sqcm on a map represents an area of 9 sqkm on the field.

Find the [Link] the scale for this map and draw a diagonal scale to show
kilometers, hectametres and decameters and to measure upto 5
kilometres. Indicate on the scale a distance of 3 kilometres, 5 hectametres
and 6 decametres or 3.56km.

The area on the map is 144 sqcm and the area on the field is 9 sqkm.

Take square root on both sides. Then 12cm=3 km or Scale is 1 cm= 0.25km or
2.5x104 cm; RF=1/(2.5x104)
Length of the scale to read upto 5 km is RF X 5 km= 1/(2.5x10 4) X 5x105 =20cm

Construction:

Draw a line AB of 20 cm and construct a rectangle on it, by taking AD 5cm

as shown. Divide AB into 5 equal parts and number them from second part
starting with 0 to 4 towards right side to indicate kilometers (km). Divide
0A into 10 equal parts, each part represents a hectametre (hm). Divide AD
into 10 equal parts, each part represents one decametre (dam). Join
diagonals as shown.
To mark 3.56km, take it as sum of 3.50km and 0.06km. On the plain scale
take 3.5km and on the diagonal at 5 upto 6 parts diagonally which is equal
to 0.06km, giving a total of 3.56km as shown by MN.

Note: Assume the height of the diagonal scale AD as 5cm for dividing it
into 10 equal parts conveniently.