BASICS OF ENGINEERING

DRAWING

GEOMETRICAL
CONSTRUCTION
 INTRODUCTION

 Proceeding in this chapter, we shall deal with

problems on geometrical construction which are
mostly based on plane geometry and which are
very essential in the preparation of engineering
drawings.
1. BISECT A LINE AND AN ARC

 An arc is defined as a segment of the

circumference of a circle. Bisecting a line or an arc
means to divide them into two equal halves.
Geometrical method to bisect a line and an arc is
illustrated in the following problem.
 Bisect (a) an 80 mm long line and (b) a circular arc
AB.
2. PERPENDICULAR TO A LINE

 A perpendicular on a line subtends an angle of 90°

with it. It may be required to draw perpendicular
from a point lying either on the line or from a point
outside it.
Perpendicular from a Point on the Line

 Draw a perpendicular line to an 80 mm long

straight line AB, at a point P lying on the line at a
distance of 30 mm from the end A.
Perpendicular from a Point outside the
Line

 Draw a perpendicular to an 80 mm long line AB,

from a point P lying at a distance 50 mm from end
A and 60 mm from end B.
3. PARALLEL LINES

 The lines lying in a plane which never intersect

each other are called parallel lines.
 Draw a line parallel to a given straight-line AB
through a point 50 mm away from it.
 Choose any four points on a line (A, B, D, E)
4. ANGLE BISECTOR

 An angle bisector divides the given angle in two

equal halves. If the measurement of the angle is
known, the bisector can be drawn by
mathematically dividing the angle by two and
laying off the result with the help of a protractor.
Geometrical method for bisecting an angle with the
help of a compass is illustrated in the following
problem.
 Draw an angle of 75° and bisect it with the help of
a compass.
5. DIVIDE A CIRCLE

 Divide a 50 mm diameter circle into 12 equal

segments.
6. CIRCLE THROUGH THREE
POINTS

 Draw a circle passing through three points A, B

and C not lying in a straight line.
7. TANGENT TO A CIRCLE

 A tangent to a circle is a line that intersects the

circle at exactly one point. This intersection point is
called the point of tangency.
Tangent from a Point on the Circle

 It is well known that if a line is perpendicular to the

radius of a circle at its outer endpoint, then that
line is tangent to the circle.
 Draw a tangent to a circle of 50 mm diameter
through point P. The point P lies on the
circumference of the circle.
Tangent from a Point outside the
Circle

 Draw a tangent to a circle of 50 mm diameter

through point P. The point P is at a distance of 90
mm from the centre of the circle.
8. TANGENT TO TWO CIRCLES

 When the centres of two circles are at a distance

greater than the sum of their radius then there will
be four tangents common to the circles, two
exterior and two interior. If the circles touch each
other at a point such that the distance between the
centres is equal to the sum of their radius, then
there will be three tangents common to the circle,
two exterior and one through the point of contact.
If the circles intersect each other then there will be
two exterior tangents only. If the circles touch at a
point such that one of them lie within the other
then there will be only tangents at the point of
contact. The construction of exterior and interior
tangents common to two circles is illustrated in the
Cont…

 Draw exterior and interior tangents connecting two

circles of radii 25 mm and 40 mm having their
centres 100 mm apart.
9. ARC TO CONNECT LINES AND CIRCLES
TANGENTIALLY

 An arc of given radius can be used to connect two

non-parallel straight lines, a line and a circle or two
circles, tangentially.
Arc to Connect Two Straight Lines

 Draw an arc of 20 mm radius connecting two

straight lines inclined at 75° to each other.
Arc to Connect a Line and an
Arc/Circle

 Draw an arc of 20 mm radius to connect the

straight line AB and the arc CD of 60 mm radius.
The centre of the arc CD is at a distance 30 mm
from the line AB.
Arc to Connect Two Circles

 Two circles of 25 mm and 35 mm radii have their

centres 100 mm apart. Draw an arc to connect both
these circles tangentially, the radius of which is (a)
50 mm and is internal to both the circles, (b) 100
mm and is external to both the circles and (c) 100
mm and internal to the circle of 25 mm radius and
external to the circle of 35 mm radius.
12. ARC TO CONNECT LINE AND POINT

 Draw an arc to connect a straight line AB

tangentially at point Q and a point P lying at a
distance 65 mm from the line AB.
13. CIRCLE TO CONNECT ANOTHER CIRCLE AND
A POINT

 Draw a circle of 60 mm diameter and mark a point

P 70 mm away from its centre. Draw another circle
which passes through the point P and is tangential
to that circle at point Q.
14. POLYGONS

 Polygons are defined as a closed curve consisting

of a set of line segments connected such that no
two segments cross. The straight line segments
that make up the polygon are called its sides or
edges and the points where the sides meet are the
polygon’s vertices. The simplest polygons are
triangles, quadrilaterals (four sides) and
pentagons.
 A polygon with all sides equal is equilateral. One
with all interior angles equal is equiangular. Any
polygon that is both equilateral and equiangular is
a regular polygon (e.g., equilateral triangle,
square). Construction of regular polygons is
required in making drawing of engineering parts
Construction of Regular Polygons (General Methods)

 Regular polygons can be drawn with the help of

protractor taking internal angle of the polygon
equal to or external angle equal to
, where n is the number of sides of the polygon.
General method for construction of a regular
polygon is illustrated in the following problem.
 Draw a regular pentagon and a regular heptagon of
40 mm sides, using general method.
Cont…

 Method I
Construction of a Regular Hexagon

 Draw a regular hexagon of 40 mm sides, keeping a

side (a) vertical (b) horizontal.
Inscribe polygon in a circle

 Inscribing a regular polygon in a circle is to draw the

maximum size of polygon in the circle. It is possible
only if all the vertices of the polygon touch the
circumference of the circle. The simplest way to
inscribe a polygon of n-sides is to divide the circle
into n-equal parts (with the help of a protractor)
using the radial lines from the centre as shown in
Figs. below (a) to (f). Join the points of the
circumference of the circle and obtain the required
polygon. The set-squares can be used to make 120°,
90°, 60° and 45° angles and therefore can be used to
draw an equilateral triangle, square, regular
hexagon and regular octagon.
Cont…
General Method to Inscribe a Polygon

 General method to inscribe a regular polygon in a

circle with the help of a compass is illustrated in
the following problem.
 In a circle of 70 mm diameter, inscribe (a) a regular
pentagon and (b) a regular heptagon.
Cont…
Circumscribe Polygon to a Circle

 Circumscribing a regular polygon on a circle is to

draw the minimum size of the polygon bounding
the circle. This is only possible when all the sides of
the polygon meet the circle tangentially. First
divide the circumference of the circle into n
number of equal parts using radial lines as shown
in Fig. below (a) to (f). A protractor may be used
for the purpose. Draw tangents to the circle where
these radial lines meet the circle. These tangents
make the required polygon.
Cont…
Inscribe a Number of Equal Circles Inside a Given Circle

 In a given circle of 70 mm diameter, draw four

equal circles such that each touches the given
circle and the other two circles.
Inscribe n Equal Circles in n Sided Regular Polygon

 Inscribe inside the polygon same number of circles

as number of sides of the polygon, such that each
circle touches one side of the polygon and two
other circles. Consider polygon as (a) a pentagon of
40 mm side, (b) a hexagon of 40 mm side.
Cont…
Same Number of Equal Circles Outside as the Number of
Sides in a Regular Polygon

 Draw outside a regular polygon, the same number

of equal circles as number of sides of the polygon,
such that each circle touches one side of the
polygon and two other circles. Consider polygon as
(a) a pentagon of 15 mm side, (b) a hexagon of 15
mm side.
Cont…
 EXAMPLES

 Redraw the C-clamp shown in Fig. below.

Cont…

Redraw the hook shown in Fig. below.

Cont…

 Redraw the rocker arm shown in Fig. below

Cont…
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END