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Ellipse - Technical Drawing - 2020

An ellipse is a closed curve where the sum of the distances from any point on the curve to two fixed points (foci) is a constant. It has a major axis and a minor axis, and is shaped like a circle that has been squashed into an oval. There are several methods for constructing an ellipse, including the auxiliary circle method and rectangle method, both of which involve dividing axes into parts and connecting points to construct the elliptical shape.

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567 views4 pages

Ellipse - Technical Drawing - 2020

An ellipse is a closed curve where the sum of the distances from any point on the curve to two fixed points (foci) is a constant. It has a major axis and a minor axis, and is shaped like a circle that has been squashed into an oval. There are several methods for constructing an ellipse, including the auxiliary circle method and rectangle method, both of which involve dividing axes into parts and connecting points to construct the elliptical shape.

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Shawn
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Technical Drawing

Loci
(Ellipse)

Ellipse
A closed curve, the locus of a point such that the sum of the distances from that point to two
other fixed points (called the foci of the ellipse).

An ellipse is defined by two points, each called a focus.

An ellipse looks like a circle that has been squashed into an oval. Like a circle, an ellipse is a type
of line.

Parts of the Ellipse

The longest distance is called the major axis. The shortest distance is called the minor axis. The
two points marked F are called Foci.

Type of Ellipse
1. Auxiliary circle method
2. Rectangle methods
3. *Trammel Method
Constructing an Ellipse (Auxiliary Circle Method)
Steps:
1. Draw the minor axis AB 70 mm, and the
major axis CD 120 mm at angles.
2. Using both axes as diameters draw two
concentric circles.
3. Divide the circumference of the outer
circle into twelve equal parts and join the
division points to the centre of the
concentric circles.
4. From these points on the outer circle draw
vertical lines, and draw horizontal lines
from corresponding points on the inner
circle to meet the vertical lines. These
points of meeting are points on the ellipse.
Join with a smooth curve.

Constructing an Ellipse (Rectangle Method)


Steps:
1. Draw AB and CD 70 mm and
120 mm respectively.
2. Through A, B, C and D draw
the rectangle EFGH.
3. Divide CD into any number of
equal parts (says 12). Also
divide EF and HG into the
same number of equal parts
(12). Number the division
points as shown.
4. Join A to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 on
EC and HD. Similarly join B
to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 on CF and
DG.
5. From A draw lines through 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5 on CO and OD to
meet corresponding lines B-1,
B-2, B-3, B-4 and B-5. Also
draw lines from B through 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5 on CO and OD to
meet corresponding lines A-1,
A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5. The
points of meeting are points on
the ellipse. Join them with a smooth curve.
Note: For the purpose of clarity, the full construction is only shown for the top left hand
part.

Reference

Bankole. A, Bland.S (1991). Plane and Solid Geometry. Pearson Edition, Book 1.
(Published) by Longman Group UK Limited 1991. Set in 10/1pt Helvetica Printed in
Malaysia, VVP.

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