Types of Engineering Drawings

Reading Engineering Drawings

Why do Engineers need to be able to read drawings?

By the end of the lesson you will be able to:

• Identify an engineering drawing.

• Explain why engineering drawings are used.

You may also be able to:

• Determine whether hand or computer engineering drawings are better.

What will you learn?

Engineering drawings are detailed diagrams that show all the details and specifications required to produce an engineering product.  They are also known as technical drawings.

It is not simply an image. It is used to illustrate the size, shape, materials and any other information needed to create the object.  

Engineering Drawings

Fill in the Blank

Engineering drawings are also known as _________ drawings.

Unlike a 3D model, an engineering drawing offers a lot more specific information and requirements, including: 

• Dimensions

• Geometry 

• Tolerances

• Material type

• Finish

• Hardware

3D models are a good visual representation of components, but do not contain all the information that drawings do. 

Why Use Engineering Drawings?

Multiple Choice

In engineering drawings, components is another word for:

• Equipment to draw with

• Parts of the drawing

• The people who do the drawing

• The cost of the drawing

Multiple Choice

Why are engineering drawings better than 3D models?

• 3D models do not contain all the information that drawings do. 

• 3D models show more information than drawings do.

• 3D models are faster to make than drawings.

• 3D models are brightly coloured.

Engineering Drawings by Hand

Hand drawings are original. In the past, drafters sat at drawing boards and used devices such as pencils, pens, compasses, protractors and triangles to prepare a drawing.

Drawing by hand takes a long time and mistakes might have happened. The work is done by architects and engineers.

Hand drawings are cheap to produce;

• They have low cost equipment. 

• No new technology is required. 

• No yearly subscriptions are needed. 

Drag and Drop

Hand drawings are cheap to produce, they have:

​

Placeholder

cost equipment. 

No new ​

Placeholder

is required. 

No yearly ​

Placeholder

are needed. 

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Low

technology

subscriptions

expensive

High

advanced

Maintenance

renewals

Fill in the Blank

Hand drawn engineering drawings are _____ to produce.

Hand drawings are original. In the past, drafters sat at drawing boards and used devices such as pencils, pens, compasses, protractors, and triangles to prepare a drawing.

 

Drawing by hand not only takes more time, but mistakes might happen and delay the process.

 

Hand drawings require low-cost equipment (a drawing board, mini-drafter and pencils/eraser are much cheaper than a CAD package), require no new technology and no state-of-the-art computer.

 

They also require no yearly subscriptions. Unlike the CAD systems, there are no software update costs or operator training. This brings the overall cost down.

Engineering Drawings by Hand

Categorize

Options (6)

You need a lot of different equipment

You need to be good at drawing

It is slow and hard to correct mistakes or make changes

The equipment is cheap to buy

You do not need new technology or software updates

It is easy to train workers to use the equipment

Organize these options into the right categories

Advantages of Hand Drawing

Disadvantages of Hand Drawing

Engineering Drawings by Computer

Computer drawings can be of better quality and very accurate. The higher accuracy will lead to better designs and these better designs helps make manufacturing faster.

Computer drawings are easily saved and shared. The designs and drawings created by CAD can be easily saved and kept for future use and reference and they can be sent by email across the world.

These drawings are modified and reproduced more quickly. 

Modifying the CAD drawing is easy with all the tools available. They give the ability to create 3D CAD Models: CAD has the capability to transform an idea into a visible sketch in a matter of few minutes.

Dropdown

Computer drawings can be of better ​

Select answer

and very ​

Select answer

. The ​

Select answer

accuracy will lead to better ​

Select answer

and these better designs helps make manufacturing ​

Select answer

.

Categorize

Options (10)

Higher quality than hand drawings

Better accuracy than hand drawings

Makes manufacturing faster

Easily saved and shared

Can be sent by email across the world

Easier to make changes and modify

Staff training is needed to use the software

The software is expensive to buy or subscribe to

It takes longer to get good at using the software

You can lose work due to computer viruses or hacking

Organize these options into the right categories

Advantages of Computer Drawings

Disadvantages of Computer Drawings

Open Ended

Explain one reason why engineers might choose to create a CAD (computer aided design) engineering drawing, rather than a hand drawing.

(Remember, to explain you need to state a fact and then back it up with a reason)

Open Ended

Explain one advantage of creating an engineering drawing by hand.

(Remember, to explain you need to state a fact and then back it up with a reason)

Open Ended

Explain two reasons why engineers create engineering drawings.

(Remember, to explain you need to state a fact and then back it up with a reason)