What Are the Different

Types of Technical
Drawings?
Before any serious design, build, or assembly project begins, the
technical drawing process ensures engineering plans are laid out
according to plan and with exacting precision. Doing so requires
knowledge of different types of technical drawings and how each
technical drawing is best suited for different projects. You need different
types if you’re designing a facility, car gear, or floor joist bracket to
mapping landscapes, 3D moulds, or the trademarked contours of a soda
bottle.

A comprehensive technical drawing also keeps stakeholders on the

same page while ensuring everyone involved in the project works from
exactly the same dimensions.

What are the different types of technical drawings? The formats differ
greatly from architecture technical drawing and the designs needed for
fabricating HVAC systems, doorknobs, or the intricate details of a watch.
The following is a brief but comprehensive overview of the different types
of technical drawings.
What Is a Technical Drawing?
Fundamentally, a technical drawing is a precise graphical form of
communication. As with any form of communication, it is a language,
and it's used to depict and convey the necessary components,
dimensions, measurements, and material properties of a finished
product. Done correctly, a finished technical drawing defines all
necessary information for a project's architecture, engineering, and
construction (AEC).

Technical drawing communicates ideas through spatial intelligence. This

is an innate human faculty, described by Harvard developmental
psychologist Howard Gardner as, "the ability to perceive the visual-
spatial world accurately and to perform transformations on those
perceptions."
Why Is There a Need for Different Types of
Technical Drawing?
Different engineering projects require unique formats and perspectives
to convey the necessary information to those tasked with the idea's
creation. These needs vary according to the product, from homes and
automobiles to sewing patterns, wiring or plumbing schematics, and
product fabrication for just about anything under the sun.
What Are the Branches of Technical
Drawing?
Technical drawing departs from other graphic illustration skills by
foregoing illustrative devices, such as vanishing points, that depict
objects from a single point in space. This creates an inexact, estimate-
based perspective, where neither dimensions, angles, nor distances can
be trusted exactly as depicted.

Most structural drawing, engineering design, and architecture drawing

products thus depend on isometric drawing and orthographic projection.
This is a perspective that aims to capture every measurable component
of an object or space. It aims to eliminate misinterpretation issues that
would otherwise occur with dimensional perspectives. To do so, it
requires the technical artist to imagine the object(s) being designed from
within a geometrical shape, most often a cube. Then they deconstruct it
into all views. Sometimes, it only requires one of those views (e.g., a
floor plan) to complete the necessary work.
What Are the Basic Types of Technical
Drawing?
When drawing even the most complex plans, knowing what basic type of
technical drawing to use is vital to keep the technical drawing project
cohesive. The general fields of technical drawing include:

 Isometric drawing: These drawings forego vanishing points and

single-point perspective. The objects are drawn correctly without
regard to dimension and relative sizes. They emphasise correct
proportions, even as they depict multiple sides in one view. This
sometimes results in a slightly simulated view that mildly distorts
angles to maintain exact lengths and other measurements. This
may necessitate auxiliary views to show each side as they truly
are.
 Orthographic projection: This is a flattened view of a single plane of
an object or area. Often suitable for maps and floor plans. Multi-
view orthographic projections comprise multiple separate flat views
in one drawing. Professionals frequently use these types of
technical drawings.
 Structural drawing: The backbone of all major technical projects
 Architectural drawing for ground-up construction
 Engineering design, or engineering drawing, includes multiple
layers within a single image. It provides an integrated overview of
every interoperating system.
 Working drawings: These depict particular portions of a design
during relevant stages of project development.

What Are the Different Types of Technical

Drawings?
Technical drawing differs almost entirely from artistic drawings, being
concerned with exactitude and development processes. Those
wondering what technical drawing is appropriate for their purposes must
select the right type of different technical drawing formats to ensure the
finished design print will depict all information necessary to create it.

 Structural drawing: Architecture technical drawing requires this

type of design. It's where the terms "blueprint" and "whiteprint"
come from (though these have been replaced with modern laser
printing techniques).
 Technical illustration: These are more stylistic and detailed
drawings, using colours, shading, 3D rendering, and other visual
elements. These usually are not needed in a technical drawing for
engineers but are useful for investors and promotional reasons
while still being technically accurate. Technical illustrations often
have a real-life setting made with freehand skills, vector graphics,
or 3D modelling programs.
 Mechanical drawing: The highly information-dense schematics
required by engineers and other specialists to apply the
appropriate mechanical equipment and techniques needed to
make the design a reality.
 Section view: This depicts cross-sections or single planes of a
perspective.
 Assembly drawing: These graphically take a product or device
apart, or "dissect" it. As a result, you can see each component
individually and as it fits into the wider assembly. Thus,
professionals commonly use the term "exploded view" to describe
assembly drawings.
 Computer aided design: Programs such as AutoCAD apply
designs directly to computer-controlled processes, such as CNC
machining and 3D printing.

What Is a Technical Drawing Used For?

Most generally, a technical drawing ensures that the painstaking
precision put into a structure or product's design informs the engineering
processes needed to create it. Used skilfully, different types of technical
drawings will translate directly to the finished item or construction
project.
For example, when you can produce prints and related documents
efficiently, it's easy to correlate an architecture technical drawing with a
list of required components and procedures. Called the finish schedule,
this easily converts the design into a list of action steps to coordinate.
The construction and engineering teams can use both documents to
easily and effectively collaborate and bring the original design to life in
full, accurate detail.

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Engineering Drawing Basics and Tips for
Beginners
October 14, 2022 / 10 minutes of reading

Engineering drawings are a collection of standardized language, symbols, and graphic patterns to
convey all the information needed to manufacture a product or part. It is the universal
“engineering technology language” in the world. Correctly creating and reading engineering
drawings is an essential ability for engineering technicians.

Engineering drawing is critical for effectively expressing your requirements to the manufacturer
and ensuring the final product matches your expectations. This article aims to walk you through
the engineering drawing basics and 8 crucial tips for creating better engineering drawings.

Table of Contents
 What is Engineering Drawing?
 Purpose of Engineering Drawing
 Applications of Engineering Drawing
 Types of Engineering Drawing
o Geometric Drawing
o Mechanical Engineering Drawing
o Civil Engineering Drawing
o Electrical & Electronics Engineering Drawing
 Methods of Making Engineering Drawing
 Basic Components of an Engineering Drawing
o Types of Lines in Engineering Drawing
o Types of Views
 Assembly Drawings
 Common Mistakes In Engineering Drawing
 8 Tips for Creating Engineering Drawing
 Conclusion
 References

What is Engineering Drawing?

Engineering drawing can be defined as a graphical language used by engineers and other
technical personnel associated with the engineering profession. It fully and clearly describes the
requirements for engineered items. Engineering drawing is a two-dimensional representation of a
three-dimensional object.

In other words, engineering drawing is the art of correctly representing a real or imaginary object
on paper. In this process, we would use some graphics, symbols, letters, and numbers with the
aid of engineering drawing instruments. The object can be buildings, roads, machines, circuits,
etc.
An engineering drawing provides all information about the object’s size, shape, surface type,
materials, etc. It can be used in building drawing for civil engineers, machine drawings for
mechanical engineers, circuit diagrams for electrical and electronics engineers, etc.

Purpose of Engineering Drawing

Generally speaking, it is tough and complicated to explain some specific engineering
requirements in words. In this case, an engineering drawing with good size and proper scale can
make it easier for the technician to understand and achieve the design intent.

A single part’s engineering drawing gives a visual depiction of the part’s structure,
dimensions, tolerances, and other requirements. A single-part drawing is frequently used as the
unit of processing in the manufacturing industry.

Besides, an engineer can use an assembly drawing to represent a machine or equipment

assembled from multiple parts to reach a particular function. Assembly drawings are frequently
used to confirm that the actual fabrication of individual parts fulfills assembly requirements.

Applications of Engineering Drawing

Engineering drawing is essential for technical people. Compared to verbal or written
descriptions, this method is brief and clearer. Engineering drawing is a critical part of almost all
engineering projects. We can find that engineering drawing serves many critical applications:

1. It is used in ships for navigation.

2. For manufacturing of machines, automobiles, etc.

3. For the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, dams, electrical and telecommunication
structures, etc.

4. For manufacturing electric appliances like TV, phone, computers, etc.

Types of Engineering Drawing

Engineering drawing can be grouped into 4 major categories: geometrical drawing, mechanical
engineering drawing, civil engineering drawing, and electrical & electronics engineering
drawing.
Geometric Drawing
Geometric drawing is the art of representing geometric objects on paper, such as rectangles,
squares, cubes, cones, cylinders, spheres, and so on. Geometric drawing can be divided into
plane geometrical drawing and solid geometrical drawing. Suppose the object has only 2
dimensions, i.e., length and breadth (as rectangles, squares, triangles, and so on). In that case, it
is called plane geometrical drawing. It is called a solid geometrical drawing if the object has 3
dimensions, i.e., length, breadth, and thickness/depth (as cubes, prism, spheres, cylinders, and so
on).

Mechanical Engineering Drawing

Mechanical engineering drawing is the art of representing mechanical engineering objects on
paper, such as machines, machine parts, and so on. Mechanical engineers use it to express
mechanical engineering works and projects for actual execution.

Civil Engineering Drawing

Civil engineering drawing is the art of representing civil engineering objects on paper, such as
buildings, roads, bridges, dams, etc. Civil engineers use it to express civil engineering works and
projects for actual execution.

Electrical & Electronics Engineering Drawing

Electrical & electronics engineering drawing is the art of representing electrical engineering
objects or electronic circuits on paper, such as motors, generators, transformers, wiring diagrams,
TV, phones, computers, etc. Electrical/electronic engineers use it to express electrical/electronic
engineering works and projects for actual execution.

Methods of Making Engineering

Drawing
Manual drawing and computer drawing are the two common methods of making engineering
drawings.

Manual drawing has been the primary engineering drawing method for the past few decades.
People would use various tools to draw by hand, such as drawing boards, paper, rulers, calipers,
round gauges, etc. But the manual drawing process is very tedious and unsuitable for
contemporary manufacturing in pursuit of efficiency.
Computer drawing is more popular with contemporary manufacturers. It eliminates the tedious
process of manual drawing and allows different versions of the design to be retained. Computer
drawing is commonly used in CAD (computer-aided design) software. You can use CAD to
create drawings from scratch. However, we recommend developing a 3D model and then making
the drawings from it. The programs generate the views with just a few clicks. You need to add
the dimensions, which saves time and effort.

Basic Components of an Engineering

Drawing
A single drawing includes several elements with quite a few variations to each of them. Let’s
take a closer look at the basic components of an engineering drawing so you can learn how to
read engineering drawings.

Types of Lines in Engineering Drawing

Take note that all of the lines on an engineering drawing are equal. Various options are available
for showing both hidden and visible edges of parts.

Continuous Line
The most common line type is a continuous line, often called a drawing line. It represents an
object’s physical boundaries. Simply put, a continuous line serves to draw the objects. The line
thickness varies. The inner lines are thinner, while the outer contour uses thicker lines.

Centre Line
The center line can show the parts with holes and symmetrical features. Symmetry can reduce
the number of dimensions in a drawing while also making it more visually appealing and easier
to understand for the reader.
Hidden Line
The hidden line is another type of line used in mechanical drawing. It can show something that
would not be otherwise visible on the drawing. For example, the hidden line can show the length
of an interior step on a part without using a section or cutout view.

Dimension & Extension Line

The extension line describes the object being measured. The dimension line contains two
arrowheads between the extension lines and the measurement above (or inside) the line.
Broken View Line
Using a broken view line means that a view has been broken. If you have a 3000mm long and
10mm wide part with symmetric qualities, using a break-out offers you all the information
without taking up as much space.

Cutting Plane Line

The cutting plane line displays the cutout’s trajectory using a cutout view. Thanks to the A-A
cutting line, you can see that both types of holes are visible here.
Types of Views
An engineering drawing contains numerous types of views. These views all perform distinct
functions. Adding views should follow the same logic as dimensioning. Note that you should
only add a view that contributes to the overall comprehension of the design.
Orthographic View

The orthographic view is the core of an engineering drawing. An orthographic view or

orthographic projection is an approach to depicting a 3D object in 2D. As a result, a 2D view
must convey all information required for part manufacture. This approach of representation
allows for the avoidance of length distortion.

We can use 3 different views in a multiview drawing to convey all the information, such as the
front view, top view, and side view. It is conceivable that several extra views will be required to
display all of the information. However, less is more.
Isometric View
Isometric drawings depict three-dimensional parts. All vertical lines remain vertical, while
parallel lines are presented at a 30-degree angle.

The lengths of the vertical and parallel lines are true. Therefore, using a ruler and the drawing’s
scaling, you may easily measure the length from a paper drawing. The same is not true for
angled lines. With this type of view, engineers adhere to the dimensions instead of optical
illusions.
Section View
A section view can readily reveal some of the part’s characteristics that are not apparent at first
glance. The cross-section is preferable over hidden lines because it provides greater clarity. The
cross-hatching feature is a cross-sectional view indicator.

Detail View
The detail view provides a close-up of specific sections in a larger view. Detail view is ideal
when a huge part contains many vital dimensions in a small area. It is a good view of the
readability of measurements.
Cutout View
The cutout view has the same image used to show the section view. With one exception: the side
view contains cutouts. Cutouts can help decrease the number of distinct views on a single
drawing. As a result, we could easily delete the section view and add all required dimensions to
the cutouts.
Auxiliary View
The auxiliary view is an orthographic view to represent non-horizontal or non-vertical planes. It
displays inclined surfaces without distortions.
Dimensions
In some instances, CAD models may lack vital information, such as GD&T and geometric
dimensioning tolerances. The correct dimensions can guarantee the part a longer life with less
maintenance. While you may automatically fetch all dimensions via the measure button, adding
engineering tolerances requires manual intervention.
Information Blocks
Additional information is displayed in the little boxes in the bottom right corner. The title block
lists the author’s name, quantity, coating, part name, part number, scale, etc. These information
blocks may also contain material prices. It can be used better to understand all the parts of the
technical drawing.
Assembly Drawings
The following points will help you better design assembly drawings and make your project in the
machine shop more efficient.

 Keep in mind that these technical drawings aim to facilitate the assembly process.
 It should be clear where each part goes and how it is attached.
 Use tools like general dimensions, cuts, section views, numbered pieces, and detail views
(or close-ups).
 Make sure the bill of materials has accurate information regarding part numbers, names,
and quantities.
Common Mistakes In Engineering
Drawing
There are 4 common mistakes in engineering drawing:

1. Dimensions marking is messy, incomplete, omitted, and repeated.

(1) Avoid closed dimensions.

(2) You must directly mark the critical dimensions of the parts.

(3) Mark the size to make processing and measuring easier.

2. The placement of views is inaccurate, or they do not correspond with one another, and the
design intent is unclear.
3. If the workpiece with high dimensional accuracy requirements is not marked with dimensional
tolerances, it will cause significant machining errors, and the workpiece will be scrapped.

4. Parts’ technical requirements (such as form tolerances, dimensional tolerances, and surface
roughness) are not marked standardization.

8 Tips for Creating Engineering

Drawing
The following 8 tips will teach you how to create better engineering drawings that communicate
your critical needs for the parts while also saving you time and money.

Tip 1: Dimension Only Critical & Measurable Features.

All dimensions in CNC machining can be derived from the 3D model. As a result, you should
only include critical inspection dimensions and threading information on a 2D drawing.
Tip 2: Communicate Hole Tapping Needs with Thread Size & Depth.

Because thread depth is difficult to measure precisely, the depth call-out is always taken as a
minimum.

Tip 3: Consolidate Call-outs If Multiples of The Same Feature Exist in A View.

Give a dimension to only one of the features in a view and name the dimension “#X DIM,”
indicating that the feature exists in the view X number of times. For example, “6X 10-38 TAP”
means 6 10-38 threaded holes in that view.

Tip 4: Communicate Assembly Intent of Crucial Features.

Provide an assembly drawing or instructions if the production involves the machining of an

entire assembly. You can also offer part numbers for your machinists to look up when you want
to install off-the-shelf hardware yourself.

Tip 5: Providing Part Numbers & Suppliers for Hardware Installation.

Provide the part number and supplier on the drawing if hardware installation is needed. Simply
noting “press-fit M4 dowel” provides no material information or machine shop dowel length.

Tip 6: No Need to Include Optional Secondary Operation Call-outs on the drawing.

If the post processes like polishing and anodizing are non-critical, requesting a separate price and
lead time is advisable. This way, you can know how much the additional cost and time.
Similarly, if you are uncertain about the type of material to use, leave the material off the
drawing to help prevent confusion in production.

Tip 7: Avoid Over-Dimension or Over-Tolerance on Your Designs.

Only a few features of a part are usually essential to its function, so you want the machinist to
focus more on these features. Over-dimensioning may lose key needs in the noise, therefore only
allocating tolerances to mission-critical features.

Tip 8: Tolerance Must Fall Within Standard Accuracy Levels.

It is essential to provide the appropriate level of tolerance for your material. Don’t require
tolerances below standard hand metrology tools’ accuracy capabilities. Consequently,
researching the started measurements is necessary for your preferred machine shop.

Conclusion
An engineering drawing depicts the information and requirements needed to produce a given
item or product. It is a graphical language that conveys thoughts and information, not just a
drawing.

Clear engineering drawing design helps your manufacturer produce a functioning and
aesthetically pleasing part that fulfills your needs. At LEADRP, our experienced engineers can
analyze all aspects of engineering drawings to ensure you always receive the highest quality
machined parts. Contact us now and get a free quote!

References
Engineering drawing – From Wikipedia.

Engineering Drawing Basics Explained – From Fractory.

About The Author

Engineering Department

LEADRP provides engineering, high-quality prototyping, and on-demand low-volume manufacturing

service with fast and exceptional customer support.

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Symbols: Need to Know for Dispelling

Uncertainty in Drawings
The following is a short list of symbols that normally appear on a Technical Drawing and need
understanding. We offer you our tips which we believe are useful for dispelling uncertainty by comparing
the symbol with its graphic representation.

Radius ‘R’

Radius can be for the inside and outside curved surface on the part. They are also used to show
the fillets given to strengthen the edges at connecting faces. A radius dimension is preceded by
an `R´. Arcs are also dimensioned on drawing with a radius. For Example, R6 means the circle
has a radius of 6mm.
Spherical Radius ‘SR’

The abbreviation 'SR' is used to denote the radius of a spherical surface. For example, if a
spherical surface is labeled as 'SR30', it means that its radius is 30 millimeters.

Diameter ‘Ø’

A diameter dimension is represented on a drawing with the ‘Ø’ symbol preceding the value as shown in
the below figure. Circles on a drawing are dimensioned with a diameter. For example, Ø80 means that the
diameter of a circle is 80mm.

Spherical Diameter ‘SØ’

‘SØ’ is used to represent the diameter of a spherical surface. For Example, SØ30 means the
spherical surface has a diameter of 30mm.
Square ‘□’

The symbol ‘□’ is used to show the square section of a part. For example, □20, means it is a
square section with each side of 20mm.

Thickness ‘t’

The letter ‘t’ is used to denote the thickness of the sheet metal part. For example, t2.5 means the sheet
metal part is 2.5mm thick.
45-Degree Chamfer ‘C’

The letter ‘C’ is used to show the chamfer of 45°. For example, C3, means a chamfer of 3mm width and
45° angle.

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