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Introduction to Engineering Graphics

When you are in engineering profession you create something what has never been. For an
effective change of ideas with others, an engineer must be proficient in the three means of
communication
 Oral and written
 Symbols associated with the basics sciences
 The graphic language Communication

Engineering design Communicate information clearly and independently of spoken language,

like Form, Proportions, Dimensions, Relationships and Material.

What is a Drawing?
The art of representing something by lines made on a surface with a pencil, pen, etc. A picture,
design, sketch, etc. thus made

What is Engineering Graphics?

Drawings for technical use: engineering and science. It’s a (relatively) exact method of
representing a 3-D object on a 2-D medium (paper). Represents design and specifications for
physical objects and data relationships.
A drawing drawn by an engineer having engineering knowledge for the drawing purposes is
an engineering drawing. It is meant for communicating his ideas, thoughts and designs to
others. Engineering drawing is a starting point of all engineering branches such as Mechanical,
Production, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Computer science, Chemical etc. It is spoken, read,
and written in its own way.

Importance of Graphics Language

The design department develops the ideas into a shape, which is communicated to the shop
floor by spoken or written words. The shop tries to comprehend the words and to fabricate
the shape on a pilot or experimental basis. This shape is sent back to the design department
where it is tried for its suitability. If it is not satisfactory whole sequence of operations
repeated. This method of developing new objects without the help of a graphic language
involves a lot of time and labor and lot of scope of errors also. So without drawings, it would
have been almost impossible to produce various engineering objects such as aircraft, the
automobile etc.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

An engineering drawing is a type of drawing that is technical in nature, used to fully and clearly
define requirements for engineered items, and is usually created in accordance with
standardized conventions for layout, nomenclature, interpretation, appearance, size, etc.
Engineering drawings are often referred to as “blueprints.”

Engineering drawing is the language of engineers. It is meant for communicating your ideas,
thoughts and designs to others. A drawing drawn by engineer, having engineering knowledge
for the engineering purposes is an engineering drawing. Like every language has its own rules
of grammar also Engineering drawing also has its theory of projections, its idioms in
conventional practices, and its punctuation in the types of lines, its abbreviations, symbols
and its descriptions in the constructions.

Difference between Artistic graphics and Engineering graphic

Freehand sketches are used by designers to transfer mental images to paper. Ideas are
constantly changing as new thoughts occur. Artist uses cursive writing to write anything on
drawing. It is often unreadable after sometime such drawings are called as artistic drawings.
Artistic ability is an asset but ability to sketch quickly and accurately to proportion is an
important skill for all technical workers.

Words cannot describe three dimensional technical design information accurately. Compared
with Verbal or Written Description, Drawings offer far better idea about the Shape, Size &
Appearance of any object or situation or location, that too in quite a less time. Quick 2D or
3D sketches clearly represent the shapes of objects and the thoughts of the designers. In short
2D or 3D views of an object with the purpose of manufacturing it is known as Engineering
Graphics.

A graphical language used by engineers and other technical personnel associated with the
engineering profession. The purpose of engineering drawing is to convey graphically the ideas
and information necessary for the construction or analysis of machines, structures, or
systems.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

List of Drawing Instruments

Before commencing the course of engineering drawing, it is essential that a student should
obtain the following drawing instruments. Following is the list of drawing instruments that
required making engineering drawings on paper with perfection.
1. Drawing Board 11. French Curves
2. Mini drafter 12. Drawing paper & drawing sheet
3. Set-squares (45° – 45° & 60° – 90°) 13. Drawing pencil
4. T-square 14. Sharpener
5. Protractor (180°, 360°) 15. Eraser
6. Scales 16. Drawing pins & clips
7. Roll & Draw 17. Drawing paper box
8. Compass (drafting) 18. Duster or handkerchief
9. Drawing Instruments Box 19. Erasing Shield
10. Circle Master 20. Drawing Sheet

1. Drawing Board

Drawing board is a desk or flat surface with proper dimensions used to support sheet and
make it flat and ready to for technical drawing. More recently engineers and draftsmen use
the drawing board for making and modifying drawings on paper with ink or pencil. Some
drafting tables incorporate electric motors to provide the up and down and angle adjustment
of the drafting table surface.

2. Mini Drafter

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It is an instrument used to draw geometrical shapes and figures with great precision. It does
not require any other instrument like scale or set squares. The mini-drafter is a versatile tool
and can be used to draw almost everything because the built in protractor allowed the
drawing of angles to the closest 5 minutes of one degree. Vertical and horizontal scales
reduced the need for triangles.
It can be used to draw parallel lines, perpendiculars, inclined lines of any degree with
unmatched speed. It consists of one long scale and one small scale and the scales are in 'L'
shaped which can be fit on any drawing board easily.

3. Set-squares (45° – 45° & 60° – 90°)

A set square is an object used in engineering and technical drawing, with the aim of providing
a straightedge at a right angle or other particular planar angle to a baseline. These set squares
come in two usual forms, both right triangles: one with 90-45-45 degree angles, the other
with 30-60-90 degree angles. Sets square were aligned to draw angles in 15 degree
increments.

4. T-square

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A T-square is a technical drawing instrument used by draftsmen primarily as a guide for

drawing horizontal lines on a drafting table. T-squares and drawing boards were used for
many years to create accurate drawings. Paper or cloth material was aligned with the T-
square and held in place with tacks or tape. Skill was required to keep all the tools in place
while drawing.
It may also guide a set square to draw vertical or diagonal lines. Its name comes from its
resemblance to the letter T. The top of the T-square hangs off of the drafting table and is
called the head; the blade is the part that stays on the drafting table. The T-square usually has
a transparent edge made of plastic which should be free of nicks and cracks in order to provide
smooth, straight lines.

5. Protractor (180°, 360°)

A protractor is a square, circular or semicircular tool, typically made of transparent plastic, for
measuring angles. Most protractors measure angles in degrees (°). Radian-scale protractors
measure angles in radians. Semi-circular protractor is of 180° and full circle protractor is of
360°. More advanced protractors, such as the bevel protractor, have one or two swinging
arms, which can be used to help measure the angle.

6. Scales (Ruler)

A ruler, sometimes called a rule or line gauge, is an instrument used in geometry, technical
drawing, printing and engineering/building to measure distances and/or to rule straight lines.
The scales are available in plastic, wooden and steel material. Generally steel rule is used to
draw engineering drawings.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

7. Roll & Draw

Roll & Draw is most handy instrument for making charts & parallel lines at super-fast speed.
It is also popular as “A draftsman's best friend”. Furthermore, it is a multipurpose drawing
instrument that lets you measure in centimeters and draw quadrants, squares, circles, angles,
crosshatching, and vertical and horizontal parallel lines, quickly and easily.

8. Compass (Drafting)

A compass is a technical drawing instrument that can be used for inscribing circles or arcs. A
typical compass is consists of two legs. One pencil lead is added to a leg and a tip point to
pivot on paper is provided to another leg. Drafting compass is available in different variants
that can be selected as per drawing requirement.

9. Circle Master

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

Circle Master is very helpful template type drawing instruments which helps to draw circles
of different radius at high speed. It eliminates use of compass as circle of fixed radius can be
drawn. It is a flat plate or circular plate with different sized holes punched at surface as shown
in figure. If you want to draw circle of radius other than circle radius punched then it is
required to use other drafting instrument as radius of circle cannot adjusted. Circle masters
are best for small diameter circles.

10. French Curves

A French curve is a template made out of metal, wood or plastic composed of many different
curves. It is used in manual drafting to draw smooth curves of varying radii. The curve is placed
on the drawing material, and a pencil or other implement is traced around its curves to
produce the desired result.

11. Drawing Paper & Drawing Sheet

The standard sizes of sheets according to I.S.I. are A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5. Drawing sheet
of size 594 X 420 i.e. A2 size is generally used by engineering students as it is very handy and
easy for drawing work in class. Sizes comply with metric or U.S. standards.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

12. Drawing Pencil (Lead pencil or mechanical pencil, wooden pencil)

Softer (Darker) B Harder (Lighter)

H
2H
3H
4H
5H
6H
7H
8H
9H
9B
8B
7B
6B
5B
4B
3B
2B

F
HB

A mechanical pencil is a pencil with a replaceable and mechanically extendable solid pigment
core called a lead. It is designed such that the lead can be extended as its point is worn away.
Drawing pencil comes in wooden material too that are useful to draw sketches in shades.
0.5MM fine lead pencils have become popular replacing the thicker wood and lead holder
type leads. Thicker leads are stronger but require frequent sharpening. Select the lead
hardness which suits the film or paper being used.

13. Sharpener
A pencil sharpener is a device for sharpening a pencil's writing point by shaving away its worn
surface. It is mostly used when wooden pencil is selected to draw sketches as used writing
point of wooden pencil may blur the drawing that results in black damage to paper.

14. Eraser

An eraser is used for removing pencil markings on paper or sheet. It is very helpful in removing
unnecessary line of drawing by rubbing it on unwanted lines and points.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

15. Drawing pins & clips

Drawing clips are used to hold drawings on drawing boards which remove sheet movement
while working. They are inserted and removed by hand, hence the terms "thumbtack" and
"push pin" is also used. The term drawing pin comes from their being used to hold drawings.

16. Duster or handkerchief

Duster or handkerchief is often used to clean paper on which drawing is going on. Maximum
dust is possible when you use eraser to erase something on paper. The duster is very helpful
at that time as removal of dust from hand leads to more black spots on drawing paper.

17. Erasing Shield

An erasing shield helps to do a cleaner job of erasing. Each time the eraser crosses an edge, it
creates a fresh eraser surface.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

BIS-SP 46 Standards
In Brief About BIS – SP 46 Standards of Engineering Drawings & Other Commonly Used
Standards in Engineering Drawing Practice. The BIS-SP 46 – 1988 is the standard which is for
“Engineering Drawing Practice for Schools & Colleges”. And used in the educational institution
for engineering drawing or graphics. It was recently revised as SP – 46 – 2003. Other than this
the following standards are commonly used in engineering drawing practice:
 IS 1444:1989 DRAWING BOARD SPECIFICATION
 IS 15021:2001 PROJECTION METHODS
 IS 3221:1966 DRAWING INSTRUMENTS
 IS 10713:1983 SCALES IS 10714:2001 LINES
 IS 9609:2001 LETTERING
 IS 11669:1986 DIMENSIONING
 IS 10711:2001 SIZE & LAYOUTS OF DRAWING SHEETS

Types of Lines used in Engineering Graphics

Engineering graphics is subject full of lines. Not a single engineering drawing is possible
without use of line types. There are different line types for different purposes. All the types
of lines with its symbol and applications discussed here.

Table for types of Lines used in Engineering Graphics as per given below.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

Type Illustration Application

A – Continuous Thick Visible Outlines

Dimension Lines,
Leader Lines
B – Continuous Thin Extension Lines
Projection Lines
Hatching Lines
C – Continuous Thin- Irregular Boundary Lines,
Wavy Short Break Lines
D – Short Dashes
Hidden Outlines & Edges
Medium
Centre Lines
E – Long Chain Thin Locus Lines
Line of Symmetry
F – Long Chain Line Thick
At Ends And Thin Cutting Plane Lines
Elsewhere
To Indicate Surfaces
G – Long Chain Thick Which Are To Receive
Additional Treatment
H – Ruled Line & Short
Long Break Lines
Zigzag Thin

Order of Priority for coinciding line

If two or more lines of different types coincide, the order of priority should be observed:
(i) Visible outlines and edges (Continuous thick lines, type A),
(ii) Hidden outlines and edges (Dashed line, type D),
(iii) Cutting planes (Chain thin, thick at ends and changes of cutting planes, type F),
(iv) Centre lines and lines of symmetry (Chain thin line, type E),
(V) Projection lines (Continuous thin line, type B).

Layout of drawing sheet?

The selection of suitable scale and allotment of proper space for margin, title block, parts list,
revision panel, folding marks etc. on the drawing sheet is known as layout of drawing sheet.
Layout of the drawing on the drawing sheet is necessary in order to make its reading easy and
speedy. The title blocks, parts list etc will provide all the required information.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

Title block for Sheets

The title block should contain at least the following information.
 Name of the college (institution)
 Name of sheet (title of drawing)
 Name, Semester and Enrollment no. of the student
 Scale
 Drawing number
 Symbol denoting the method of projection
 Date of starting, checking and End of drawing

Lettering
Writing of titles, sub titles, dimensions, scale and other details on a drawing by the alphabets
A, B, C,…….Z and numbers such as 1, 2, 3……0 etc is called lettering. It is an important feature
of engineering drawing. The ability to letter freehand with speed, neatness, and beauty of
form, uniformity and legibility is a skill very much desired by all engineers. HB and H grade
pencils sharpened to a conical point should be used for lettering. To keep the stroke of the
letters uniform, the pencils should be rotated between the thumb and fingers while lettering.
Hard pencils such as 2H or 3H should be used to draw guidelines.

Single stroke letters-single stroke means that the width of the straight or curved lines that
form the lettering is equal to that of the stroke of a pen or pencil. These are the simplest form
of letters generally used in engineering drawings. Generally the word single stroke means that
the letter should be made without lifting the pencil. Gothic (thick) letters are used for ink-
drawings.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

Types of lettering:
i. Vertical letters
a. Capital (upper case) letters
b. Small (lowercase) letters
ii. Inclined letters (inclination of 75° is recommended with the horizontal))
a. Capital letters
b. Small letters

Size of letters is designated by the height of Capital letters. Standard heights for lettering are
3.5, 5, 7 and 10mm. Different sizes of letters are used for different purposes.
 Main title — 7 or 10mm
 Sub-titles — 5 or 7mm
 Dimensions, notes etc. - 3.5 or 5mm

Dimensioning
The art of writing the various sizes or measurements on the finished drawing of an object is
known as dimensioning. The notation of dimensioning consists of dimension lines, extension
lines, arrow heads, dimension figures, notes, symbols etc.
 Importance of Dimensioning

Dimensioning expresses all the sizes and other information necessary to define the object. It
must be done with due regard to manufacturing processes and inspection requirements. The
dimensioning also includes expression of tolerances necessary for the correct functioning of
the part given to be assembled.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

Methods of Dimensions with Example Drawing

To show dimensions of all parts of drawing is mandatory for engineer. All lines in drawing
would have length, width or radius to indicate. The use of proper dimensioning method will
tends to full marks for correct drawing. Now let us discuss methods of dimensioning in brief.
There are two Methods of Dimensions. (1) Uni-directional System (2) Aligned System.

1. Aligned System

In aligned system, the dimensions shall be placed parallel to and above the dimension lines,
preferably in the middle and not by interrupting the dimension lines. Here the dimensions
can be read from the bottom or from the right side of the drawing.

2. Unidirectional System

In this system dimensions shall be horizontally placed so that they can be read from the
bottom of the drawing sheet. Here the dimension lines may be interrupted preferably near
the middle for the insertion of dimensions.

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General Rules for Dimensioning

A neat drawing is not only required to achieve full marks in technical drawing but several rules
for dimensioning must be followed.
1. Standard sizes of letters and figures should be used.
2. All dimensions should be specified in mm. The use of mm should be avoided by giving
a general note “All dimensions are in mm”.
3. As far as possible dimensions should be placed outside the views.
4. Dimension lines should not run in the direction included in the hatched area.
5. Dimensions should be taken from visible outlines rather than from dashed lines.
6. Dimensions should be given from a base line, a centre line, an important hole, or a
finished surface which may be readily established.
7. Dimensions should be quoted only once in one view.
8. Overall dimensions should be placed outside the intermediate dimensions.
9. Dimensions should be placed outside a sectional view.
10. Zero should precede the decimal point when the dimension is less than unity.
11. Dimension line should not cross. Also dimension lines and extension lines should not
cross.
12. When there are several dimension lines, the shorter dimension should be nearer the
view.
13. Leaders should not be drawn curved or made free hand.
14. Do not use outlines for dimensions.
15. Same method of dimensioning should be used for all dimension lines.

Dimensioning of circle diameter

Dimensioning of Angle

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Construction of Various Angles

Most inclined lines are drawn at standard angles using the 45° x 45° triangle and the 30° x 60°
triangle. In addition to drawing angles of 90°, 45°, 30°, and 60°, triangles can be combined to
draw angles of 15° increments.

Some Examples of Various angles

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Geometric Shapes
Triangle: A triangle is a plane figure bounded by three straight lines and containing three
angles.
Quadrilateral – A quadrilateral is a plane figure bounded by four straight lines and containing
four angles.
Polygon – A polygon is a plane figure bounded by more than four straight lines and containing
more than four angles.
Regular polygon – A regular polygon is a plane figure in which all the sides and angles are
equal.
Irregular polygon – An irregular polygon is a plane figure in which all the sides and angles are
not equal.

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Engineering Graphics 0. Introduction to Engineering Drawing

Geometric Shapes

(2𝑛 − 4) 900 360

Interior Angle for polygon = = 180 −
𝑛 𝑛

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Various Geometric Shapes

Some important Geometric Terms

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Universal Method of Polygon

Universal method to draw polygons is very popular and very legendary technique to draw
different shapes like triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon etc.

Procedure:
Step-1 First draw a line AB of the dimension equal to the side of a polygon. i.e., 50 mm.
Step-2 Then draw a perpendicular bisector of the line AB and draw it of sufficient length.
Step-3 Draw a perpendicular line BC from B of the length equal to the line AB.
Step-4 Connect the two points A & C by a straight line. i.e., AC
Step-5 Draw an arc by the center B and radius equal to AB between the points A & C.
Step-6 Mark the point 4 at the intersection of line ‘AC with the perpendicular bisector.
Step-7 Mark the point 6 at the intersection of the arc AC with the perpendicular bisector.
Step-8 Find out the midpoint of between the points 4 & 6 mark it as a point 5.
Step-9 Mark points 7 & 8 at the distance equal to 4-5 or 5-6 in sequence.
Step-10 Draw a triangle ABC by connecting the line AC & BC at point 6.
Step-11 Draw circles by taking the points 4,5,6,7,8 as center points and divide the respective
circles with the compass measurement equal to the distance of the line AB. i.e., 50 mm.
Step-12 Connect the divided points of respective circles in sequence with straight lines to get
respective polygons. Like Square, Pentagon, Hexagon, Heptagon and Octagon.

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Engineering Graphics & Design 0. Introduction to Engineering Graphics

Practice Exercises
Bisect a line Bisect an angle

Divide line into any equal parts Construct an angle of 60

Construct an angle of 30 Construct an angle of 90

Divide circle in to 8 equal parts Divide circle into 12 equal parts

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