INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL DRAWING

What is Technical Drawing? The Design Process

Technical Drawings are the graphics and documentation • For most designers the first step in any design
(notes and specifications) used by manufacturers to project is to clearly define the need that the
fabricate electronic and mechanical products, and by design will fill and what parameters the design
construction professionals to produce architectural must meet in order to be considered a success.
structures (houses and buildings) and civil engineering Many designers refer to this step in the design
projects (roads, dams, bridges). process as problem identification.

• the ideation, or brainstorming, step of the

process. During this step, multiple solutions to
the design problem may be generated in the
form of free-hand sketches, formal CAD
drawings, or even rendered three-dimensional
models. The preliminary designs are shown to
the client to see if the design is in-line with the
client’s expectations. Meeting with the client
allows the designer to further define the client’s
Other terms often used to describe the creation of needs and expectations. These meetings are
technical drawings are: also an opportunity for a designer to educate
the client about other, possibly better, solutions
• Drafting to the design problem.
• Engineering graphics
• engineering drawings • After the client decides on a design that meets
• and cad (computer Aided Design) the parameters set out in the first step, the
designer begins preparing design inputs that
Technical drawing is not a new concept, there is
clearly define the details of the design project.
archeological evidence suggesting that humans first
Design inputs may include free-hand sketches
began creating crude technical drawings several
with dimensional information, detailed notes,
thousand years ago.
or even CAD models.
Through the ages,
Free-hand drawing
architects and designers,
including Leonardo Da
Vinci, created technical
drawings. But a French
mathematician named
Gaspard Monge is
considered by many to be
the founder of modern
technical drawing. Monge’s thoughts on the subject,
Geometrie Descriptive (Descriptive Geometry),
published around 1799 became the basis for the first
university courses.

What is Descriptive Geometry?

Formal CAD drawing
Descriptive geometry deals with manually solving
problems in three-dimensional geometry by generating Most drafters use CAD software to prepare the
two dimensional views drawings. CAD allows drafters to produce drawings
much more quickly than traditional drafting techniques.
The first English-language
text on technical drawing, CAD software can range in price from several hundred
Treatise on Descriptive dollars per station to thousands of dollars per station
Geometry, was published in depending on the software CAD allows drafters to
1821 by Claude Crozet, a create drawings more quickly than traditional drafting
professor at the United techniques
States Military Academy.
When the drafter is finished preparing the technical to help organize and reference the different parts of the
drawings, the designer, or in some cases a “checker”, drawing set.
reviews the drawings carefully for mistakes. If mistakes
Company or Organization Information: The title block
are found, or if the design has been revised, the drafter
often includes information about the company,
will make the necessary corrections or revisions to the
organization, or project associated with the drawing,
drawings.
such as the company name, logo, address, and contact
When the entire set of construction drawings is details.
finalized, the drafter and designer(s) will put their
Notes and Disclaimers: Any relevant notes, disclaimers,
initials in an area of the drawing called the title block.
or specific instructions related to the drawing may be
included in the title block. This can provide additional
guidance or clarify specific aspects of the drawing.

Sheet Size: The size of the paper that the drawing is

plotted on should be included for reference

CAREER PATHS IN TECHNICAL DRAWING

ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTERS

• Architectural drafters work with architects and

designers in the preparation of drawings used in
construction industries. These drawings may
include floor plans, elevations and
construction details. Some architectural
drafters specialize in residential architecture
(houses) while others may specialize in
commercial architecture (buildings and
Title Block apartments) or structural drafting (steel
buildings, concrete structures).
A title block in drafting serves as a standardized section
of a drawing that contains important information about
the drawing itself, such as the title, author, date, scale,
and other relevant details. Its purpose is to provide
essential information for easy identification,
organization, and communication of the drawing. Here's
what typically should be present in a title block:

Parts of title Block

Title: The title of the drawing, which provides a brief

description or name of the project, component, or
system being represented. MECHANICAL DRAFTERS

Drawing Number: A unique identifier assigned to the • Mechanical drafters work with mechanical
drawing, often used for referencing and indexing engineers and designers to prepare detail and
purposes assembly drawings of machinery and
mechanical devices. Mechanical drafters are
Revision History: A section that documents any revisions usually trained in basic engineering theory as
made to the drawing, including revision number, date, well as drafting standards and manufacturing
and a brief description of the changes. This allows users techniques. Drafters may be responsible for
to track the evolution of the drawing and ensures specifying items on a drawing such as the types
everyone is working with the latest version. of fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws) needed to
assemble a mechanical device or the fit
Author/ Drafter: The name or initials of the person who
between mating parts
created the drawing. This helps identify the responsible
individual for the drawing's content.

Date: The date when the drawing was created or

revised. It helps in tracking the timeline of the drawing's
development and serves as a reference for its currency.

Scale: The scale indicates the proportional relationship

between the size of objects on the drawing and their
actual size in the real world. It ensures accurate
representation and measurement of objects.

Sheet Number: If the drawing consists of multiple

sheets, each sheet should have a unique sheet number
AERONAUTICAL OR AEROSPACE DRAFTERS ELECTRONICS DRAFTERS

• Aeronautical or Aerospace drafters prepare • create schematic diagrams, printed circuit

engineering drawings detailing plans and board artwork, integrated circuit layouts, and
specifications used in the manufacture of other graphics used in the repair and
spacecraft and aircraft. These drafters often manufacture of electronic (semiconductor)
split their duties between mechanical drafting devices.
and electrical/electronic drafting and are
sometimes referred to as Electro/Mechanical
drafters

PIPELINE DRAFTERS AND PROCESS PIPING DRAFTERS

• Pipeline drafters and Process Piping drafters

prepare drawings used in the construction of oil
refineries, oil exploration and production
industries, chemical plants, and process piping
CIVIL DRAFTERS AND DESIGN TECHNICIANS systems like those used in the manufacture of
semiconductor devices
• Civil drafters and Design technicians prepare
construction drawings and topographical maps
used in civil engineering projects. Civil projects
may include roads, bridges, and water and
waste-water systems. Civil drafters may also
work for Surveying companies creating site
plans and plats for new sub-divisions.

If you are interested in working in the technical drawing

field, develop good work habits while you are in school.

Set high standards for your work, strive to create

ELECTRICAL DRAFTERS outstanding drawings for your portfolio and be able to
explain how the drawings in your portfolio were created
• Electrical drafters prepare diagrams used in the
and why.
installation and repair electrical equipment
and the wiring of buildings. Electrical drafters Come to class prepared and on time, meet your
create documentation for systems ranging from deadlines, and try to impress your instructors with
low-voltage fire and burglar alarm systems your work habits and attitude because often the
installations to high-voltage electrical recommendation of a current, or former, instructor
distribution networks. will determine whether or not you get a job.