What is Technical Drawing?

The use of technical drawings is an example of how a picture is better than a thousand words. While just using text to relate information and ideas can be boring, technical drawings can easily transfer information to make it more understandable. Technical drawings are common in fields including architecture, electronics, plumbing and just about any field where facts and figures are used. Besides being neat, technical drawings should be as accurate as possible as errors can result in expensive mistakes.

Identification

Technical drawings use graphics to show details. In other words, they convert ideas into physical form. Also known as drafting, technical drawing is done using a two-dimensional or three-dimensional depiction.

Types

The four types of projections used in technical drawings include isometric, perspective, orthographic and oblique drawings. Usually, they're done with for businesses and industries, using rulers, compasses, computers and other drafting supplies.

Isometric Drawings

Isometric drawings show an object from the front, as well the right and top. Lines are all drawn to scale. This type of drawing shows an object's three-dimensional view, with the width and depth drawn at angles of 30 degrees.

Perspective Drawings

Perspective Drawings pertain to how objects appear to human eyes, with the distant objects drawn smaller. This technical drawing is used more by artists than engineers, as it isn't drawn to scale. In other words, it's drawn based on what's seen rather than reality.

Orthographic

Three-view drawings are known as orthographic drawings and are probably the most common working drawings. Orthographic drawings give projections of an object's front, its right side and top. These three elevations are drawn on the same paper, placing the top view directly over the front view, as well as the right-side view above and to the right side of the front view.

Oblique Drawings

Oblique drawings, which are considered the easiest drawing, also show an object's three-dimensional view. Although an object's width is drawn with a horizontal line, its depth can be drawn from any angle.

Uses of Technical Drawings

Construction drawings are made for defining engineering items and are made with standardized conventions for layout and appearance reasons such as line styles and typefaces. Technical illustrations use illustrations to communicate visually technical information, usually for a nontechnical audience. Cutaway drawings are technical illustrations where surface items of three-dimensional model are removed selectively to make internal features visible without total sacrifice to the outer context. An exploded view drawing shows how parts fit together in an assembly. Patent drawings are technical renderings of patent inventions, showing the nature of the invention. It shows all the invention's features and must adhere to certain rules of the patent office.

Resources

• Resources for Technical Drawings