ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING

Line of Intersection
between Planes
(Plane Intersections)

By: W. M. Rada, MS Applied Math

ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Notes
1. Three methods of determining the line of intersection (LOI) of two planes
are:
– edge-view;
– two-view piercing point (cutting-plane); and
– two-view cutting-plane method (special cutting-plane).

2. All three methods' objective is to find two points to define the LOI.
3. When determining LOI, it is sometimes necessary to extend the “limits” of
the planes or to visualize them as such as the defining points of the LOI may
fall outside their given extents.
4. While the planes can be extended and the LOI as well, the latter is drawn up
to where the planes cut each other with their indicated limits in
consideration. Another way of saying that is that the LOI should lie in the
“area” common to both planes in a view.
5. The only instance that there is no LOI is when the two planes are parallel to
each other, or, they are considered limited in extents that they do not
intersect.
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Edge-View Method
Steps:
1. Draw edge view of one of the given planes.
2. In the edge view of the selected plane,
a. With one of the (usually) “boundary” lines in the other given plane selected,
determine its piercing point using the edge view method for piercing points,
with the other given plane. This is simply determining the intersection of the
boundary line, and the second plane projected as a line. The located point is
on the LOI.
b. Repeat the previous step but with the other boundary line of the first plane
against the plane as edge. The located point is the second point lying on the
LOI.
c. Connect these 2 piercing points to draw the line of intersection of the two
given planes.
3. Locate the LOI in the other views and complete them with correct visibility of
planes.
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Cutting-plane Method
1. The cutting-plane a.k.a. two-view piercing point method uses
only 2 views, and applies the two-view cutting-plane method of
finding piercing point twice, i.e, a cutting plane is made to pass
thru one line belonging to one of the given plane, its LOI with
the second given plane determined, and in turn, that LOI’s
intersection with that line thru which a (cutting) plane is made to
pass. Then the process repeats involving another line in the first
given plane against the second given plane.
2. A variation of this method is to have one cutting plane (CP) as
edge pass thru a line in one plane in a view, and to have another
CP as edge pass thru a line in the OTHER plane in the adjacent
view. Thus, the 2 CP’s pass thru 2 lines belonging to different
(given) planes.
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Line of Intersection
C P

Given two O

adjacent B

views of A M
planes ABC
and MNOP, N
HRP
determine FRP C N

LOI by B
M
cutting
plane
method. O

A P
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Line of Intersection
C P
Steps:
1. Starting with the top view
and applying cutting – plane O
method of PP twice (with
R S
the 2 CP’s as edges in this B
view), determine the
piercing points R & S of MP A
M
and NO resp., with plane
ABC.
HRP N
2. Project points R and S to the
FRP C N
other view, & connect them
with a straight line segment
B
in both views. Line RS is the M
S
required LINE OF
INTERSECTION between O
planes ABC and MNOP. R

3. Determine correct visibility

of the planes in all views.
A P
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING Establishing Correct Visibility
Determining visibility in TOP The Faster Method
view:
1. Project point x to FRP. P
2. Check which line the x’s C
projector intersects first. The x
line intersected first in the O
adjacent view, line MN/NS, is y
the part of plane MNOP that R
is visible in the top view. S B
Thus, portion MNSR is visible.
The other remaining portion A
of plane MNOP is M
automatically (generally
partially) hidden. Thus,
portion Rsyx is invisible, and HRP N
xyOP is visible as it is beyond FRP C N
the boundary line BC.
3. Repeat above steps if B
visibility is not completely M S
determined by using another
apparent intersection, say O
point y). R
Repeat similar steps for
determining visibility in FRP
(front view).
A P
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING The Views with Correct Visibility

C P

R S B

A
M

HRP N
FRP C N

M B
S

O
R

A P
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Special Cutting-Plane Method
1. The special cutting-plane a.k.a. two-view cutting-plane
method, uses 2 cutting planes: one intersects the given 2
planes at 2 LOI’s, and in turn, these 2 LOI’s intersect at a
point lying on the LOI of interest. Using the second cutting
plane similarly produces the second point on the LOI of
interest. With those 2 points, the LOI of interest is drawn.
2. The variation of the method is to introduce one of the
cutting planes in a view, and the other cutting planes
introduced in the adjacent view.
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Special Cutting Plane Method
Steps:
1. Draw 2 parallel lines
(representing the
cutting planes) in the E
top view. B
4 3 2 1
2. Label intersecting D
points as 1, 2,3,4 for 8 7 6 5
1 line and 5,6,7,8 for C
the other line. A F
HRP
3. Project points 1-8 to FRP B
the other reference F
plane.
D
O
4. Get the intersection A
of Lines 12 and 34,
this is point on the
C E
LOI of interest.
ES 1: ENGINEERING DRAWING
Special Cutting Plane Method

B E

P 4 3 2 1
D

8 7 6 5
Steps: C
F
5. Get the LOI HRP
A
intersection of
FRP
Lines 56 and 78, B
this is another F
point on the LOI D
of interest. O
A

6. Connect the 2
points to get the C E
line of
intersection.