TECHNICAL DRAWINGS

A drawing is a graphic representation of an idea, a concept or an entity which actually or potentially

exists in life. The drawing itself is 1 ) a way of communicating all necessary information about an
abstraction, such as an idea or a concept; or 2) a graphic representation of some real entity, such as a
machine part, a house, or a tool, for example. Drawing is one of the oldest forms of communication,
dating back even farther than verbal communication. Cave dwellers painted drawings on the walls of
their caves thousands of years before paper was invented. These crude drawings served as a means of
communicating long before verbal communications had developed beyond the grunting stage. In later
years, Egyptian hieroglyphics were a more advanced form of communicating through drawings. The old
adage "one picture is worth a thousand words" is still the basis of the need for technical drawings.

There are two basic types of drawings: artistic and technical. Some experts believe there are actually
three types: the two mentioned and another type which combines these two. The third type is usually
referred to as an illustration or rendering.

Artistic Drawings: Artistic drawings range in scope from the simplest line drawings to the most famous
paintings. Regardless of their complexity or status, artistic drawings are used to express the feelings,
beliefs, philosophies or abstract ideas of the artist. This is why the lay person often finds it difficult to
understand what is being communicated by a work of art. In order to understand an artistic drawing, it
is sometimes necessary to first understand the artist. Artists often take a subtle or abstract approach in
communicating through their drawings. This gives rise to the various interpretations often associated
with artistic drawings.

Technical Drawings: The technical drawing, on the other hand, is not subtle or abstract. It does not
require an understanding of its creator; only an understanding of technical drawings. A technical
drawing is a means of clearly and concisely communicating all of the information necessary to transform
an idea or a concept into reality. Therefore, a technical drawing often contains more than just a graphic
representation of its subject. It also contains dimensions, notes, and specifications. The mark of a good
technical drawing is that it contains all of the information needed by individuals for converting the idea
or concept into reality. The conversion process may involve manufacturing, assembly, construction, or
fabrication. Regardless of the process involved, a good technical drawing allows the conversion process
to proceed without having to ask designers or drafters for additional information or clarification. Figures
1-1 and 1-2 contain samples of technical mechanical drawings which are used as guides by the people
involved in various phases of manufacturing the represented parts. Notice that the drawings contain a
graphic representation of the part, dimensions, material specifications, and notes.
Illustrations or Renderings Illustrations or renderings are sometimes referred to as a third type of
drawing because they are not completely technical, neither are they completely artistic; they combine
elements of both, as shown in Figures 1-4. 1-5, and 1-6.
They are technical in that they are drawn with mechanical instruments or on a computer-aided drafting
system, and they contain some degree of technical information. However, they are also artistic in that
they attempt to convey a mood, an attitude, a status or other abstract, nontechnical feelings.

Types of Technical Drawings

Technical drawings are based on the fundamental principles of projection. A projection is a drawing or
representation of an entity on an imaginary plane or planes. This projection plane serves the same
purpose in technical drawing as is served by the movie screen in a theater. As can be seen in Figure 1-7 a
projection involves four components:

1 ) the actual object that the drawing or projection represents, 2 ) the eye of the viewer looking at the
object, 3) the imaginary projection plane (the viewer's drawing paper or the graphics display in a
computer-aided drafting system), and 4) imaginary lines of sight called projectors. Two broad types of
projection, both with several sub classifications. Are parallel projection and perspective (converging)
projection.

Parallel Projection: Parallel projection is subdivided into the following three categories: orthographic,
oblique, and axonometric projections. Orthographic projections are drawn as multiview drawings which
show flat representations of principal views of the subject, Figure 1-8.
Oblique projections actually show the depth of the subject, and are of two varieties: cabinet (half scale)
or cavalier (full scale) projections, Figures 1-9 and I- 10.

Axonometric projections are threedimensional drawings, and are of three different varieties: isometric,
dimetric, and trimetric, Figures l-l I, 1-12, and 1-13.
Perspective Projection

Perspective projections are drawings which attempt to replicate what the human eye actually sees when
it views an object. That is why the projectors in a perspective drawing converge. There are"three types
of perspective projections: one-point, two-point, and three-point projections, Figures 1-14, 1-15, and 1-
16.
Purpose of Technical Drawings: To appreciate the need for technical drawings, one must understand the
design process. The design process is an orderly, systematic procedure used in accomplishing a needed
design. Any product that is to be manufactured, fabricated, assembled, constructed, built or subjected
to any other type of conversion process must first be designed. For example, a house must be designed
before it can be built. An automobile must be designed before it can be manufactured. A printed circuit
board must be designed before it can be fabricated.

The Design Process The design process is an organized, step-by-step procedure in which mathematical
and scientific principles, coupled with experience, are brought to bear in order to solve a problem or
meet a need. The design procedure in which mathematical and scientific principles, coupled with
experience, are brought to bear in order to solve a problem or meet a need. The design process has five
steps. Traditionally, these steps have been

I ) identification of the problem or a need, 2) development of initial ideas for solving the problem. 3)
selection of a proposed solution. 4) development and testing of models or prototypes, and 5) developing
working drawings. Figure 1-17.

The age of computers has altered the design process slightly for those companies which have converted
to computer-aided design and drafting. For these companies, the expensive, time-consuming fourth step
in the design process — the making and testing of actual models or prototypes — has been substantially
altered, Figure I- 18. This fourth step has been replaced with three-dimensional computer models which
can be quickly and easily produced on a CAD system using the data base built-up during the first three
phases of the design process. Whether in the traditional design process or the more modern computer
version, in either case, working drawings are an integral part of the design process from start to finish.
The purpose of technical drawings is to document the design process. Creating technical drawings to
support the design process is called drafting. People who do drafting are known as drafters or drafting
technicians. The words "draftsman" or "draughtsman" are no longer used. In the first step of the design
process, technical drawings are used to help clarify the problem or the need. The drawings may be old
ones on file or they may be new ones created for the purpose of clarification. In the second step,
technical drawings - often in the form of sketches or preliminary drawings are used to document the
various ideas and concepts formed. In the third step, technical drawings — again, usually preliminary
drawings — are used to communicate the purposed solution.

If the traditional fourth step in the design process is being used, preliminary drawings and sketches from
the first three steps will be used as guides in constructing models or prototypes for testing. If the more
modern fourth step is being used, the data base built-up during documentation of the first three steps
can be used in developing three-dimensional computer models. In both cases, the final step is the
development of complete working drawings for guiding individuals involved in the conversion process.
Figure 1-20 is a working drawing documenting the design of a simple mechanical part. The drawing was
produced manually. Figure 1-21 produced on a CAD system.

Applications of Technical Drawings Technical drawings are used in many different applications. They are
needed in any setting which involves design, and in any subsequent form of conversion process. The
most common applications of technical drawings can be found in the fields of manufacturing,
engineering, architecture and construction, and all of their various related fields. Architects use
technical drawings to document their designs of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings,
Structural, electrical, and mechanical Heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing
engineers who work with architects also use technical drawings to document those aspects of the design
for which they are responsible. Surveyors and civil engineers use technical drawings to document such
work as the layout of a new subdivision, or the marking-off of the boundaries for a piece of property.
Figure 1-27.

Contractors and construction personnel use technical drawings as their blueprints in converting
architectural and engineering designs into reality. Technical drawings are equally important to
engineers, designers, and various other individuals working in the manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing engineers use technical drawings to document their designs. Technical drawings guide
the collective efforts of individuals who are concerned with the same common goal, Figures 1-31