Engineering Drawing and Sketching

These drawing notes were developed by E. Blanco in the mechanical engineering department at
MIT, and subseqently modified by other MIT faculty and students. Original link
ishttp://pergatory.mit.edu/2.007/Resources/index.html

by Ernesto E. Blanco, David Gordon Wilson, Sherondalyn Johnson, and LaTaunynia

Flemings
http://www.me.umn.edu/courses/me2011/handouts/drawing/blancotutorial.html#isodrawing

Engineering Drawing Index

Isometric Drawing
Orthographic or Multiview Drawings
Dimensioning
Sectioning
Drawing Tools
Assembly Drawings
Cross-Sectional Views
Half-Sections
Sections of Objects with Holes, Ribs, etc.
More Dimensioning
Where to Put Dimensions

 Reference Dimensions
Dimension Center Lines
Introduction
One of the best ways to communicate one's ideas is through some form of picture or
drawing. This is especially true for the engineer. The purpose of this guide is to give
you the basics of engineering sketching and drawing.
We will treat "sketching" and "drawing" as one. "Sketching" generally means
freehand drawing. "Drawing" usually means using drawing instruments, from
compasses to computers to bring precision to the drawings.
This is just an introduction. Don't worry about understanding every detail right now just get a general feel for the language of graphics.
We hope you like the object in Figure 1, because you'll be seeing a lot of it. Before we
get started on any technical drawings, let's get a good look at this strange block from
several angles.
Figure 1 - A Machined Block

Isometric Drawing
The representation of the object in figure 2 is called an isometric drawing. This is one
of a family of three-dimensional views called pictorial drawings. In an isometric
drawing, the object's vertical lines are drawn vertically, and the horizontal lines in the
width and depth planes are shown at 30 degrees to the horizontal. When drawn under
these guidelines, the lines parallel to these three axes are at their true (scale) lengths.
Lines that are not parallel to these axes will not be of their true length.

Figure 2 - An Isometric Drawing

Any engineering drawing should show everything: a complete understanding of the

object should be possible from the drawing. If the isometric drawing can show all
details and all dimensions on one drawing, it is ideal. One can pack a great deal of
information into an isometric drawing. However, if the object in figure 2 had a hole on
the back side, it would not be visible using a single isometric drawing. In order to get
a more complete view of the object, an orthographic projection may be used.
Orthographic or Multiview Drawing
Imagine that you have an object suspended by transparent threads inside a glass box,
as in figure 3.
Figure 3 - The block suspended in a glass box

Then draw the object on each of three faces as seen from that direction. Unfold the
box (figure 4) and you have the three views. We call this an "orthographic" or
"multiview" drawing.
Figure 4 - The creation of an orthographic multiview drawing

Figure 5 shows how the three views appear on a piece of paper after unfolding the
box.
Figure 5 - A multiview drawing and its explanation

Which views should one choose for a multiview drawing? The views that reveal every
detail about the object. Three views are not always necessary; we need only as many
views as are required to describe the object fully. For example, some objects need
only two views, while others need four. The circular object in figure 6 requires only
two views.
Figure 6 - An object needing only two orthogonal views

Dimensioning
Figure 7 - An isometric view with dimensions

We have "dimensioned" the object in the isometric drawing in figure 7. As a general

guideline to dimensioning, try to think that you would make an object and dimension
it in the most useful way. Put in exactly as many dimensions as are necessary for the
craftsperson to make it -no more, no less. Do not put in redundant dimensions. Not
only will these clutter the drawing, but if "tolerances" or accuracy levels have been
included, the redundant dimensions often lead to conflicts when the tolerance
allowances can be added in different ways.
Repeatedly measuring from one point to another will lead to inaccuracies. It is often
better to measure from one end to various points. This gives the dimensions a
reference standard. It is helpful to choose the placement of the dimension in the order
in which a machinist would create the part. This convention may take some
experience.
Sectioning
There are many times when the interior details of an object cannot be seen from the
outside (figure 8).
Figure 8 - An isometric drawing that does not show all details

We can get around this by pretending to cut the object on a plane and showing the
"sectional view". The sectional view is applicable to objects like engine blocks, where
the interior details are intricate and would be very difficult to understand through the
use of "hidden" lines (hidden lines are, by convention, dotted) on an orthographic or
isometric drawing.
Imagine slicing the object in the middle (figure 9):
Figure 9 - "Sectioning" an object

Figure 10 - Sectioning the object in figure 8

Take away the front half (figure 10) and what you have is a full section view (figure
11).
Figure 11 - Sectioned isometric and orthogonal views

The cross-section looks like figure 11 when it is viewed from straight ahead.
Drawing Tools
To prepare a drawing, one can use manual drafting instruments (figure 12) or
computer-aided drafting or design, or CAD. The basic drawing standards and
conventions are the same regardless of what design tool you use to make the
drawings. In learning drafting, we will approach it from the perspective of manual
drafting. If the drawing is made without either instruments or CAD, it is called a
freehand sketch.
Figure 12 - Drawing Tools

"Assembly" Drawings
An isometric view of an "assembled" pillow-block bearing system is shown in figure
13. It corresponds closely to what you actually see when viewing the object from a
particular angle. We cannot tell what the inside of the part looks like from this view.
We can also show isometric views of the pillow-block being taken apart or
"disassembled" (figure 14). This allows you to see the inner components of the
bearing system. Isometric drawings can show overall arrangement clearly, but not the
details and the dimensions.
Figure 13 - Pillow-block (Freehand sketch)

Figure 14 - Disassembled Pillow-block

Cross-Sectional Views
A cross-sectional view portrays a cut-away portion of the object and is another way to
show hidden components in a device.
Imagine a plane that cuts vertically through the center of the pillow block as shown in
figure 15. Then imagine removing the material from the front of this plane, as shown
in figure 16.
Figure 15 - Pillow Block

Figure 16 - Pillow Block

This is how the remaining rear section would look. Diagonal lines (cross-hatches)
show regions where materials have been cut by the cutting plane.
Figure 17 - Section "A-A"

This cross-sectional view (section A-A, figure 17), one that is orthogonal to the
viewing direction, shows the relationships of lengths and diameters better. These
drawings are easier to make than isometric drawings. Seasoned engineers can interpret
orthogonal drawings without needing an isometric drawing, but this takes a bit of
practice.
The top "outside" view of the bearing is shown in figure 18. It is an orthogonal
(perpendicular) projection. Notice the direction of the arrows for the "A-A" cutting
plane.

Figure 18 - The top "outside" view of the bearing

Half-Sections
A half-section is a view of an object showing one-half of the view in section, as in
figure 19 and 20.
Figure 19 - Full and sectioned isometric views

Figure 20 - Front view and half section

The diagonal lines on the section drawing are used to indicate the area that has been
theoretically cut. These lines are called section lining or cross-hatching. The lines are
thin and are usually drawn at a 45-degree angle to the major outline of the object. The
spacing between lines should be uniform.
A second, rarer, use of cross-hatching is to indicate the material of the object. One
form of cross-hatching may be used for cast iron, another for bronze, and so forth.
More usually, the type of material is indicated elsewhere on the drawing, making the
use of different types of cross-hatching unnecessary.
Figure 21 - Half section without hidden lines

Usually hidden (dotted) lines are not used on the cross-section unless they are needed
for dimensioning purposes. Also, some hidden lines on the non-sectioned part of the
drawings are not needed (figure 12) since they become redundant information and
may clutter the drawing.
Sectioning Objects with Holes, Ribs, Etc.
The cross-section on the right of figure 22 is technically correct. However, the
convention in a drawing is to show the view on the left as the preferred method for
sectioning this type of object.
Figure 22 - Cross section

Dimensioning
The purpose of dimensioning is to provide a clear and complete description of an
object. A complete set of dimensions will permit only one interpretation needed to
construct the part. Dimensioning should follow these guidelines.
1. Accuracy: correct values must be given.
2. Clearness: dimensions must be placed in appropriate positions.

3. Completeness: nothing must be left out, and nothing duplicated.

4. Readability: the appropriate line quality must be used for legibility.
The Basics: Definitions and Dimensions
The dimension line is a thin line, broken in the middle to allow the placement of the
dimension value, with arrowheads at each end (figure 23).
Figure 23 - Dimensioned Drawing

An arrowhead is approximately 3 mm long and 1 mm wide. That is, the length is

roughly three times the width. An extension line extends a line on the object to the
dimension line. The first dimension line should be approximately 12 mm (0.6 in) from
the object. Extension lines begin 1.5 mm from the object and extend 3 mm from the
last dimension line.
A leader is a thin line used to connect a dimension with a particular area (figure 24).

Figure 24 - Example drawing with a leader

A leader may also be used to indicate a note or comment about a specific area. When
there is limited space, a heavy black dot may be substituted for the arrows, as in figure
23. Also in this drawing, two holes are identical, allowing the "2x" notation to be used
and the dimension to point to only one of the circles.
Where To Put Dimensions
The dimensions should be placed on the face that describes the feature most clearly.
Examples of appropriate and inappropriate placing of dimensions are shown in figure
25.
Figure 25 - Example of appropriate and inappropriate dimensioning

In order to get the feel of what dimensioning is all about, we can start with a simple
rectangular block. With this simple object, only three dimensions are needed to
describe it completely (figure 26). There is little choice on where to put its
dimensions.
Figure 26 - Simple Object

We have to make some choices when we dimension a block with a notch or cutout
(figure 27). It is usually best to dimension from a common line or surface. This can be
called the datum line of surface. This eliminates the addition of measurement or
machining inaccuracies that would come from "chain" or "series" dimensioning.
Notice how the dimensions originate on the datum surfaces. We chose one datum
surface in figure 27, and another in figure 28. As long as we are consistent, it makes
no difference. (We are just showing the top view).
Figure 27 - Surface datum example

Figure 28 - Surface datum example

In figure 29 we have shown a hole that we have chosen to dimension on the left side
of the object. The stands for "diameter".
Figure 29 - Exampled of a dimensioned hole

When the left side of the block is "radiuses" as in figure 30, we break our rule that we
should not duplicate dimensions. The total length is known because the radius of the
curve on the left side is given. Then, for clarity, we add the overall length of 60 and
we note that it is a reference (REF) dimension. This means that it is not really
required.

Figure 30 - Example of a directly dimensioned hole

Somewhere on the paper, usually the bottom, there should be placed information on
what measuring system is being used (e.g. inches and millimeters) and also the scale
of the drawing.
Figure 31 - Example of a directly dimensioned hole

This drawing is symmetric about the horizontal centerline. Centerlines (chain-dotted)

are used for symmetric objects, and also for the center of circles and holes. We can
dimension directly to the centerline, as in figure 31. In some cases this method can be
clearer than just dimensioning between surfaces.