Definition & Types of Technical Drawing (PDF Download Available)

This article defines technical drawing (drafting or projection) and uses different images to illustrate the meaning, and types of technical drawing widely taught in schools and practiced in industries. The eBook/technical drawing PDF document for this article is available for free download at the end of the article. Both the article and eBook discuss the following topics:

• 1.0  Definition of technical drawing

• 2.0 Types of technical drawing: parallel projection (orthographic: first angle, and third angle; oblique: cavalier, and cabinet; axonometric: isometric, dimetric, and trimetric), and perspective projection (1-point, 2-point, and 3-point)

• 3.0  Objectives of technical drawing

• 4.0  Purpose of technical drawing

• 5.0  Application of technical drawing

1.0 Definition of technical drawing

What is Technical Drawing? 

Technical drawing can be defined as the elaborate graphic representation of an object, concept, or idea through a universal language or code of practice that uses scales, graphic symbols, dimensions, and perspectives, with the aid of either drawing equipment/tools, freehand, or computer-aided design (CAD).

Technical drawing is used in many professions (engineering, architecture, manufacturing, construction, estate management, etc.) to draw or draft ideas and different views of physical objects like drainages, culverts, septic tanks, incinerators, houses, etc. Drawing—either artistic or technical—is one of the oldest forms of communication and is believed to be older than verbal communication. Generally, there are two types of drawings: artistic drawing, and technical drawing:

Artistic drawing

Artistic drawing is the type of drawing that is abstract because its meaning is in most cases unique to its creator or the person/artist who creates it. In order to understand the meaning of an artistic drawing, one has to understand the artist’s point of view or motivation for producing a particular artistic drawing.

Sometimes, it is necessary to understand an artist in order to understand their artistic drawing because artists often take a unique/abstract approach when communicating through their drawings. This type of approach gives rise to various interpretations when their drawings are exposed to public view.

Regardless of how complex artistic drawings may appear, they express the clear feelings, beliefs, philosophies, and ideas of the artists who create them. Artistic drawings are generally freehand drawings or drawings created without the use of drawing instruments/tools.

Technical drawing

Technical drawing, on the other hand, is the type of drawing that is not abstract because everyone who uses it, understands it, owing to the obvious fact that universally or widely accepted drawing instruments/tools must be employed in creating it (i.e., the drawing). In order to understand a technical drawing, one does not necessarily have to understand what its creator has in mind; rather, one needs to have a good understanding of the symbols, perspectives, scales, and universally accepted tools, codes, and conventions that are used in creating or producing technical drawings.

In addition to the previously stated definition of technical drawing, we can also state that technical drawings clearly, precisely, and concisely communicate all the important information they convey in their respective graphic forms that adhere to universally accepted codes of practice which use tools, dimensions, notes, symbols, and specifications.

Technical drawing can be done manually on paper, or technologically on computers. When any idea or object is drawn on a computer, it is said to be drafted by computer-aided design (CAD). One major advantage of using CAD is that revisions can be easily and speedily carried out on any draft.

Any student, architect, engineer, etc., must understand the theory behind projections, dimensioning, and conventions if they wish to become proficient in drafting and interpreting drafts. It is very important for people to understand manual (traditional) drawing/drafting before exposing themselves to CAD softwares because understanding manual drawings would make it easier to use CAD.

2.0 Types of technical drawing

Technical drawings are constructed on the basis of the fundamental principles of projection. There are two main types of projection used to create 11 types of technical drawing or 13 types of engineering drawing: parallel projection, and perspective projection. Note that each projection has various categories which will be illustrated a bit further below.

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A projection is any drawing, draft, or representation of an idea or object that is carried out after considering views from various imaginary planes. Projections, which are quite similar to the direct views that one can see on televisions, can be used to represent actual objects if the following are employed:

• the eye of the viewer looking at the object.

• an imaginary plane of projection as dictated by the direction of the eye(s) of the viewer.

• projectors or imaginary lines of sight.

The theories behind projection have been widely used to draft 3-dimensional objects on 2-dimensional media such as papers and computer screens. The theory of projection is based on two variables:

• line of sight.

• plane of projection: plane from which images can be projected—depending on the axis.

Figure 1: Lines of sight: parallel, and perspective projections

 

Figure 2: Planes of projection: parallel, and perspective projections

2.1   Parallel projection

Parallel projection is the type of projection in which the lines of sight or projectors are parallel to each other, and also perpendicular to the planes of objects or images. Parallel projection can be categorized or divided into orthographic, oblique, and axonometric projections.

(1) Orthographic projection

Orthographic projection (or drawing) is the type of projection in which 3-dimensional objects are represented in 2 dimensions by projecting planes (consisting of 2 major axes) of objects so that they are parallel with the plane of the medium they are projected on.

Orthographic projection can also be defined as the type of projection in which views are taken on different planes of objects and drawn (or represented) in 2 dimensions as illustrated by the principal views shown in the figures below:

Figure 3: Three major views in orthographic projection

Figure 4: Six general views in orthographic projection

There are two types of orthographic projection: first-angle projection, and third-angle projection:

In first angle projection (i.e., European/international system) the front view is placed at the top of a medium (paper, computer screen, etc.) along with the right side view which is placed at the left side of the front view, while the left side view is placed at the right side of the front view, and the plan (T) is placed alone beneath the front view.

In third angle projection (i.e., American system) the plan (T) is placed alone at the top, while the front view is placed beneath the plan, and the right side view is placed at the right side of the front view, while the left side view is placed at the left side of the front view. (Note that third-angle projection is more popular than first-angle projection.)

Figure 5: First angle, and third angle projections

If you would like to read more details about orthographic projection or drawing, click here.

(2) Oblique projection

Oblique projection is the type of projection in which an object is drawn in 3 dimensions, with each of the 3 dimensions (or major planes) consisting of two lines (or major axes: either xy, or yz, or xz) perpendicular to each other (i.e. 90°), and one of the 3 planes parallel to the plane of paper, or computer screen, etc.

In addition, one of the 3 planes is projected at either 30°, 45°, or 60° to the x-axis. Oblique projection is of 2 types: cavalier and cabinet projection, respectively.

Figure 6: Oblique projection: cavalier, and cabinet projections

In cavalier projection, one of the 3 planes is drafted to represent a plane of an object “according to a given scale”, while in cabinet projection, one of the 3 planes is drafted to represent half of a plane of an object “according to half of a given scale”. A scale is any ratio (examples: 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000, etc.) of the size of an object on paper to the actual size of the same object in real life.

Figure 7: Oblique projection of objects expressed in their respective orthographic views

(3) Axonometric projection

Axonometric projection is the type of projection that consists of three-dimensional drawings in which each of the 3 major axes (x, y, and z) of an object is drawn perpendicular to each other by either 30°, 45°, or 60°, and no plane of the object is drawn parallel to the plane of the medium—paper, computer screen, etc. Axonometric projection/drawing can be categorized into three types: isometric, dimetric, and trimetric projections.

How to Use Section Lines & Do Sectioning in Technical Drawing

Isometric projection is a method of projection/drawing in which the edges of 3-dimensional objects are represented by 3 axes perpendicular to each other and inclined to each other by 120° on the plane of media—paper or computer; also, 2 of the 3 axes are inclined at either 30°, 45°, or 60° to any imaginary x-axis on any medium. 

In dimetric projection, 2 angles between any 2 major axes are unequal, while in trimetric projection, the 3 angles between the 3 major axes are unequal. Two different angles are required to construct 2 planes of objects in dimetric projections, while 3 different angles are required to construct 3 planes of objects in trimetric projections.

Figure 8: Isometric, dimetric, and trimetric projections

2.2   Perspective projection

Perspective projection is the type of projection in which objects appear smaller as their distances from an observer increases: objects’ dimensions along a line of sight appear shorter than they actually are.

There are 3 types of perspective projections: 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point projections. One-point perspective projections consist of 1 vanishing point, while 2-point and 3-point perspective projections consist of 2 and 3 vanishing points, respectively.

A vanishing point is a point of convergence where all lines of sight meet.

Figure 9: One-point perspective projection

 

Figure 10: Two-point perspective projection

 

Figure 11: Three-point perspective projection

3.0 Objectives of technical drawing

The general objectives of studying technical drawing include the following:

• to develop skills in using universally accepted tools, symbols, scales, and conventions to draw any visible object or invisible idea on paper, and computer.
• to understand orthographic and isometric projections and employ them in drafting/drawing ideas and objects using both projections, respectively.
• to understand and interpret technical drawings, sketches, and working drawings.
• to develop the ability to use imagination to observe, visualize and draft objects, ideas, or concepts.
• to develop the ability to produce clean, accurate, neat, and informative drawings in a moderate amount of time.
• to develop the ability to take on any projects and draw environmental health science, civil, and environmental engineering objects/structures.

4.0 Purpose of technical drawing

To draft and design objects or structures, and assess how they would appear in real life after they are manufactured, fabricated, assembled, constructed, or built. For example, houses, septic tanks, drainages, etc., must be designed and assessed before they are built.

5.0 Application of technical drawing

Technical drawings have wide applications in any field in which planning and designing are required, such as architecture, manufacturing, engineering, construction, environment, estate management, etc.

Sanitarians, surveyors, environmental scientists, and civil/environmental engineers use technical drawings to supervise the construction of layouts, structures, objects, and boundaries for various types of properties (houses, etc.).

Technical drawings are also used in situations where ideas/designs for objects and structures need to be modified, and different 2-dimensional views need to be assembled into 3-dimensional views.

Generally, technical drawings are used by a variety of professions, including but not limited to:

• engineers
• architects
• contractors
• inventors
• technicians
• teachers
• etc.

Thank you for reading.

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You may also read 11 Types of Technical Drawing for more detailed information.