ED 240: ENGINEERING DRAWING

INTRODUCTION
Engineering drawing is a means of communication. “Communication” usually connotes writing
and speaking, because they are more commonly employed in the course of everyday life. Writing
and speaking, however, are insufficient to communicate design ideas. For one thing, the many
languages around the world tend to inhibit written and verbal communication. It is more
effective to transmit and receive design intent through drawings, sketches, pictures, graphs, etc.
Graphic communication is clear, precise and unambiguous, conveying the same meaning
anywhere in the world. This is increasingly important as the world develops into a global
economy.

DRAWING INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR USES

Drawing Instruments are used to prepare neat and accurate Drawings. To a greater extent, the
accuracy of the Drawings depends on the quality of instruments used to prepare them. The
following is the list of Drawing Instruments and other materials required.
a) Drawing Board
b) T-Square
c) Set Squares
d) Protractor
e) Drawing Set
f) Drawing Sheet
g) Drawing Pencils
h) Drawing Pins/Clips/Tape
i) French curves
Drawing Boards: A drawing board is rectangular in shape as shown in Figure 1. One of the
edges of the board is used as a working edge, on which the T-square is made to slide. It should,
therefore be perfectly straight.

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(a) (b)

Figure 1: Drawing boards

If the left edge of the drawing table top has a straight edge and if the surface is hard and smooth,
a drawing board then becomes unnecessary and the same drawing table can be used as a board
provided the drawings are fastened on it with a drafting tape and it is also recommended to have
a back-up sheet placed between the drawing and the table top.
The sheet should be placed close to the left edge of the drawing board, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Working in this area makes the T-Square easier to handle and reduces the likelihood of error
because of T-Square “swing.” The drawing sheet should be far enough from the bottom of the
board about 100 mm. to ensure firm support for the head of the T-Square when you are drawing
at the lower part of the sheet. After aligning the drawing sheet, smooth out any wrinkles and
fasten the four corners with short strips of drafting tape.

Figure 2: Attachment of sheet to the drawing board

T-Squares: Figure 3 shows a T-Square. It is a technical drawing instrument used by draftsmen
primarily as a guide for drawing horizontal lines on a drafting table. It is made of a long strip
called the blade, fastened rigidly at right angles to a shorter piece called the head or the stock.
The upper edge of the blade and the inner edge of the head are working edges and must be
straight, as shown in Figure 3. The working edge of the head must not be convex or the T-square
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will rock when the head is placed against the board. The blade should have transparent edges and
should be free of nicks along the working edge.

Figure 3: T-Square
To test the working edge of the head, see if the T-square rocks when the head is placed against a
straight edge, such as a drawing board working edge that has already been tested and found true.
If the working edge is not straight, the T-square should be replaced. To test the working edge of
the blade, draw a sharp line very carefully with a hard pencil along the entire length of the
working edge; then turn the t-scale over and draw the line again along the same edge. If the edge
is straight, the two lines will coincide; otherwise, the space between the lines will be twice the
error of the blade. It is difficult to correct a crooked T-square blade, and if the error is
considerable, it may be necessary to discard the T-square and obtain another.
Set squares: Set squares are generally made from Plastic or celluloid material. Figure 4 shows a
45 Set square and a 30-60 Set Square. They are triangular in shape with one corner, a right
angle triangle. They are used for drawing all straight lines except the horizontal lines which are
usually drawn with the T-square. Vertical lines can be drawn with T-square and the set square. In
combination with the T-square, lines at 30° or 60° angle with vertical or horizontal lines can be
drawn with 30°-60° set square and at 45° with 45° set square. The two set squares used
simultaneously along with the T-square will produce lines making angles of 15°, 75°, 105° etc.
Parallel straight lines in any position, not very far apart, as well as lines perpendicular to any line
from any given point within or outside it, can be drawn with the two squares.

Figure 4: Set squares

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Protractor: It is flat and circular or semi-circular in shape. The commonest type of protractor is
semi-circular and of about 100mm diameter. Its circumferential edge, graduated to 1° divisions,
is numbered at every 10° interval and is readable from both ends, as shown in Figure 5. The
diameter of the semi-circle is called the base of the protractor and its center point is marked by a
perpendicular line.

Figure 5: Protractor
The protractor is used to draw or measure such angles as cannot be drawn using a set square.
Also, a circle can be divided into any number of parts by means of a protractor.

Drawing Set: It consists of the following:

a) Large size compasses,
b) Large size divider,
c) Small size bow pen, bow divider, and
d) Lengthening bar

Drawing sheet:

They are available in many varieties and good quality paper with smooth surface should be
selected for Drawings which are to be preserved for longer time. Recommended sizes of
Drawing Sheets are given below:

Drawing Pencils: The accuracy and appearance of a Drawing depends on the quality of Pencil
used to make it. The grade of a Pencil lead is marked on the Pencil. HB denotes medium grade.
Increase in hardness is shown by value put in front of H such as 2H, 3H etc., Softer pencils are
marked as 2B, 3B, and 4B etc. A Pencil marked 3B is softer than 2B and Pencil marked 4B is
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softer than 3B and so on. Beginning of a Drawing may be made with H or 2H. For lettering and
dimensioning, H and HB Pencils are used. The final fair work however, may be done with harder
pencils like 3H and upwards. For freehand sketching, where considerable erasing is required to
be done, soft-grade pencils such as HB should be used.
Standards for line quality usually will govern the selection. For instance,
 6H is used for light construction line.
 4H is used for re-penciling light finished lines (dimension lines, center lines, and
invisible object lines)
 2H is used for visible object lines
 F and H are used for all lettering and freehand work.

Grade of pencil (lead) and their application

Drawing Pins/clips/ tape: These are used to fix the drawing sheet on the Drawing board.
Compass: Figure 6 shows a compass. It is used for drawing circles and arcs of circles. The
compass has two legs hinged at one end. One of the legs has a pointed needle fitted at the lower
end whereas the other end has provision for inserting pencil lead. Circles up to 120mm diameters
are drawn by keeping the legs of compass straight. For drawing circles more than 150 mm
radius, a lengthening bar is used. It is advisable to keep the needle end about 1mm long
compared to that of pencil end so that while drawing circles, when the needle end is pressed it
goes inside the drawing sheet by a small distance (approximately 1mm).

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Figure 6: Compass
Dividers: Dividers are used to transfer measurements, to step off a series of equal distances, and
to divide lines into a number of equal parts. To transfer measurements on a drawing, set the
dividers to the correct distance, and then transfer the measurements to the drawing by pricking
the drawing surface very lightly with the points of the dividers. To measure off a series of equal
distances on the line, set the dividers to the given distance. Then step off this distance as many
times as desired by swinging the dividers from one leg to the other along the line, first swinging
clockwise 180 degrees, then counterclockwise 180 degrees, and so on. Figure 7 shows an
example of a divider.

Figure 7: Divider
French Curves: Drawing mechanical curves other than circles or circular arcs generally requires
the use of an irregular or French curve. An irregular or French curve is a device for the
mechanical drawing of curved lines and should not be applied directly to the points or used for
purpose of producing an initial curve. French curves are made in various shapes, such as the one
shown in Figure 8. Some set squares also have French curves set in their middle.

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Figure 8: French curves

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