Conceptual Sketches

• When you first get

an idea for
something you want
to build you may
draw it roughly,
without using
instruments or
accurate scales.
This is called a
conceptual sketch.
 Types of Drawings
All Drawings

Artistic Technical

Sketches Diagrams Drawings

(conceptual) (design & technical) (technical/engineering)

simulated
perspective

Diagram Diagram Oblique Isometric Multi view

(design plan) (technical) projection projection orthographic

Less technical More technical

• A conceptual sketch…
– Allows an idea to be
expressed quickly in graphic
form
– Is prepared free-hand (without
drawing instruments)
– Is not done to scale, but it
respects the rules of technical
drawing as much as possible,
and is made roughly
proportional to the object
represented.
Technical Drawings
• Serve as a reference
to workers, architects
or machinists.
• When you are ready
to design the details,
you make a technical
drawing, done with
more detail and more
accuracy.
 Difference:
• Sketch: made without drafting tools...
Just pencil and paper. Scale is
approximate, not accurate, but the sketch
should still look like the object.
• Drawing: made with drafting tools...
Ruler, set squares, protractor and
compass. Scale should be accurate and
the drawing carefully made.
 A technical drawing…

Presents all the information necessary for the object’s construction.

Is made with great precision,
Requires the use of rulers, compass and protractor or drafting software.
Is done to scale, and respects the proportions of the object represented.
Respects conventions in the mode of the representation.
representation
 Basic Lines (part 1)
Visible Represents the Thick Draw the visible
object edges
(Object) Line outline
with these lines
Hidden Line Shows hidden Medium Draw hidden
edges with
details dashed
these
Construction Used during Fine Faint lines,
sometimes
Line drafting
coloured
Dimension Used to indicate Fine, Dimension &
8cm extension lines
Line a dimension with arrows
go together!
Extension Used with a Fine 8 cm

Line dimension line Near arrows

Center Shows center or Fine

(Axial) Line symmetry With dash in
middle
 Basic Lines (part 1)
Ghost Line Shows possible Fine Sometimes in
other color
movement dashed

Cutting Position of a Thick Used only if you

plan to draw a
plane line cross-section With arrows
cross section
Hatched Surface of a Fine Show where it
is solid (section
Lines cross-section
view only!!)
Long Break Shows that a Fine Used only for
large objects
line is shortened With zig-zag

Short break Object shortened Medium

or cut away With curve
(cutaway)
Attaches a comment
Leader Line Points to Fine or angle or
something With bent dimension to an
arrow object.
Technical Drawing of Fighter Plane
(Isometric Projection, exploded view)
Technical drawings can represent things…

as simple as a spoon,

or…

Technical Drawing of a spoon

Multi-view, Orthographic projection
• as complex as a space ship

Photograph of Mercury Spacecraft

Technical Drawing of Mercury Spacecraft, Top View, Orthographic

 Technical Drawing of Mercury Spacecraft, Isometric Projection

 Projections
• Perspective projections
• Multi-view projections
• Isometric projection
• Oblique projection
 Vanishing Point

True Perspective
• Objects drawn in true perspective
look realistic.
• They have “vanishing points”
where straight lines seem to
converge Vanishing Points
• They can have one, two or three vanishing
points, depending on how much the artist
wants to work.
• But in true perspective, objects far
away will be drawn smaller than
nearby objects… not a good idea
in technical drawing!
Vanishing Points
More True Perspective Drawings
 Isometric Projection
(a simulated perspective drawing style)

• Isometric (or simulated

perspective) drawings
look at first like
perspective drawings…
• But the lines don’t
converge. There are no
vanishing points and
distant objects are the 60˚
Represents 90˚
same size as nearby
ones.
• Right angles in isometric
projections are usually
represented by 60° or Represents 90°

120° angles.
 Orthographic Projections
• Orthographic projections “flatten” one view of
the object onto a sheet of paper, while
retaining the correct proportions (angles and
dimensions)
• Maps are an example of orthographic
projection (a top view)
• The trouble with orthographic projections is
that one view usually isn’t enough.
• Maps and floor-plans are exceptions, where one top-
view is often enough.
 Orthographic Projection
(Multi-view)
• Draws an object as it
would be seen from
several different
directions
• The views are “flat”,
with all angles shown
correctly and all
measurements to
scale.
 Comparing Projections
• Perspective drawings look nicer
when used by an artist, but…
• Isometric, oblique and multi-view
drawings give more accurate
information when used in
Oblique
technical drawing.
• Isometric drawings show accurate
dimensions, but distorted angles.
• Oblique drawings give accurate
dimensions for one side only.
• Orthographic (multi-view) are the Orthographic
(multi-view)
best choice for most technical
drawing.
 Comparison of Projections
Projection Used for Tested on

Orthographic Drafting, maps, floor plans Yes

(top view)

Orthographic Technical drawings, Yes

(multi-view)
drafting, conceptual
sketches (sometimes)
True Perspective Artistic drawing, conceptual No
(one, two or three point) sketches
Isometric Conceptual sketches, Yes
(simulated perspective) technical drawings (sometimes)
Oblique Conceptual sketches No
(simulated perspective)
An Isometric Drawing
300 means 300mm
unless another unit is
specified
Dimensioning

A Toy Truck

How to label
an angle.

Ø means diameter
(R would be
radius)

How to label small

dimensions.
Dimensioning
Dimensions can also be
shown on isometric
drawings, but you have to
be a bit more careful.
Also, you should only
show the most important
dimensions on an
isometric drawing.
 A Circuit Diagram
– Doesn’t show what the circuit looks like, but
tells an electrician how its all connected.
 Basic Lines to Know
• Visible(or object)
• Hidden
• Construction
• Centre
• Dimension and extension
• Cutting Plane
• Hatching
• Leader (or reference)
 Geometric Lines to know
• Horizontal (straight)
• Vertical (straight)
• Oblique
• Ellipse (and circle)
• Curve