The Use and Care
of
Drafting Equipment
Chapter 3
Sacramento City College
EDT 300/ENGR 306
EDT 300/306 - Chapter 3 - Use/Care of Drafting Equipment 1
Objectives
Learn to properly and efficiently use basic
drafting tools and equipment to produce
technical drawings.
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Basic Manual Drafting Equipment
Vocabulary • India ink
• Irregular curves
Acute angle
• Obtuse angle
Alphabet of Lines
• Opaque
Angle • Protractor
Circumference • Right Angle
Compass • Scales
• Symmetrical
Drafting Film
• T-Square
Erasing Shields
• Transparent
Inclined • Vellum
• Vertex
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Basic Manual Drafting Equipment
Drafting Board • Architect’s,
engineer’s and
T-Square or parallel-ruling straight edge or
metric scale
drafting machine • Irregular curve
Drawing sheets (paper, cloth, or film) instrument
• Drawing
Drafting tape set
• Brush
Drafting pencils
Black drawing ink
Pencil Sharpener
Technical pens
Erasing shield
Triangle, 45o and 30o-60o
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Basic Manual Drafting Equipment
Drawing tables and desks
Come in many different sizes and shapes
Can be used standing or sitting
Combination drafting table, desk and
regular office chair is the most comfortable
and efficient.
See Figure 3-3.
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Drawing Boards
Drawing sheet is taped to the drawing board.
Drawing boards usually measure:
9 x 12
16 x 21
18 x 24
Usually made of pine or basswood
Made to stay flat and so the guiding edge
will remain straight
Hardwood or metal strips are used on
some board edges to provide more durable
edges.
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T-Squares
AT-Square
is an instrument that consists of a head
that lines up with a true edge of the drafting
board and a blade, or straightedge, that
provides a true edge.
Most have plastic-edged wood or clear
plastic blades and heads of wood or
plastic.
If extreme accuracy is required, the T-
square may be made of stainless steel.
The blade must be very straight.
The blade must be attached securely to the top
surface of the T-head.
See Figure 3-4.
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Checking T-Square Accuracy
To check the accuracy of a T-square
On a clean sheet of paper, draw a sharp,
thin line along the drawing edge of the T-
square.
Then, turn the drawing sheet around and
line up the drawing edge of the T-square
with the other side of the line.
If the drawing edge and the pencil line do
not match, the T-square is not accurate
and should be replaced.
See Figure 3-5.
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Drafting Machines
Two kinds are in use
The arm or elbow type (Figure 3-6).
The track type (Figure 3-9).
The parallel bar type (Figure 3-9).
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Arm or Elbow Drafting Machine
The anchor and two arms hold a movable
protractor head with two scales.
The scales are normally at right angles to
each other.
The arms allow the scales to be moved to
any place on the drawing that is parallel to
the starting position.
Items are parallel when their edges are
exactly the same distance apart at all
points.
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Arm or Elbow Drafting Machine
Most industrial drafting departments and
many schools use drafting machines.
Drafting machines combine the functions of
the T-square, triangles, scales, and
protractor.
Allow you to draw more quickly and with
less work.
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Track-Type Drafting Machine
The track-type uses a horizontal guide rail at
the top of the board and a moving arm rail at
right angles to the top rail.
An adjustable protractor head and two
scales, usually at right angles, move up
and down on the arm
The scales may be moved to any place on
the drawing that is parallel to the starting
position.
This type of drafting machine is easy to
use on large boards or on boards placed
vertically or at a steep angle.
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Other Basic Tools
Triangles
Drafters use two types of triangles in
combination with the T-square to draw
lines at various angles.
Protractor
A protractor is an instrument that is used to
measure or lay out angles.
Parallel-Ruling Straightedges
Many drafters prefer this device to the
drafting machine.
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Other Basic Tools
Irregular Curves
Also called French curves
Used to draw noncircular curves
They are made of sheet plastic
Come in many different forms
Sets are made for ellipses, parabolas,
hyperbolas, and other special purposes.
Flexible curves
Curves which can be adjusted to complex
curves that may be difficult to draw with
other irregular curves.
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Drawing Media
Drawings are made on may different
materials.
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Paper
White, tinted, blue tint or pale green.
White is used for drawings which will be
photographed.
Light colored papers reduce eyestrain and
are less likely to soil.
Opaque drawing papers are used for
Permanent records
Master drawings.
Maps.
Any drawing that will be photographed.
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Tracing paper
Tracing paper
Is translucent drawing paper
Name was derived from the practice of first
making a drawing in pencil on opaque
paper, then “tracing” in ink on a sheet of
translucent paper.
Translucent papers allow “bluelines” or
copies to be made.
Natural papers made strong and durable
are not very transparent.
Papers with high transparency are only
moderately durable.
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Vellum
Vellum
Istracing paper that has been treated to
make it more transparent.
Vellum provides strength, transparency,
durability (handling and folding) and
erasability without “ghosting”.
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Tracing Cloth
Tracing Cloth
Is finely woven cotton fiber material cloth
that has been sized with starch to provide
a surface that takes pencil and ink.
It comes in white for pencil tracings and
blue for ink.
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Tracing Cloth
TracingCloth
The working side is dull or frosted.
You can erase without damaging the
surface by using a soft rubber or vinyl
eraser.
Treatedto provide a good working surface
and good transparency.
Is
considerably more expensive than paper
media.
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Tracing Cloth
Tracing Cloth
Is subject to expansion and shrinkage.
The drawing should be completed all at
once.
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Mylar (Plastic Film)
Best qualifications for drawing media.
Best for longevity, dimensional stability, great
resistance to tearing, easy erasing with soft
eraser and high transparency.
Waterproof.
Will not become brittle with age.
Drawing surface is matte (dull and rough).
Other side is very smooth, and will not accept
graphite.
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Drawing Sheet Sizes
Drawing sheets follow standards set by
American National Standards Institute
(ANSI)
OR
International Standards Organization (ISO)
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ANSI Sheet Sizes
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
provides two sets of standards which are
commonly called the US Customary series.
Both are developed upward in size from
smallest to largest.
8.5 x 11 series
OR
9 x 12 series
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ANSI Sheet Sizes
Seriesbased on 8.5” x 11” sheet.
A - 8.5” x 11.0”
B - 11” x 17”
(keep the longest dimension (11); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 8.5 = 17)
C - 17” x 22”
(keep the longest dimension (17); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 11 = 22)
D - 22” x 34”
(keep the longest dimension (22); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 17 = 34)
E - 34” x 44”
(keep the longest dimension (34); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 22 = 44)
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ANSI Sheet Sizes
Seriesbased on 8.5” x 11” sheet.
A - 8.5” x 11.0”
B - 11” x 17”
C - 17” x 22”
D - 22” x 34”
E - 34” x 44”
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ANSI Sheet Sizes
Series based on 9” x 12” sheet.
A - 9” x 12.0”
B - 12” x 18”
(keep the longest dimension (12); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 9 = 18)
C - 18” x 24”
(keep the longest dimension (18); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 12 = 24)
D - 24” x 36”
(keep the longest dimension (24); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 18 = 36)
E - 36” x 48”
(keep the longest dimension (36); multiply the
smallest dimension by 2; 2 x 24 = 48)
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ANSI Sheet Sizes
Series based on 9” x 12” sheet.
A - 9.0” x 12.0” sheet.
B - 12” x 18”
C - 18” x 24”
D - 24” x 36”
E - 36” x 48”
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ISO Sheet Sizes
ISO Sheet sizes
are developed downward in size from a
base sheet with an area of about 1 square
meter.
(Remember that ANSI sizes are developed
upward)
Sheet sizes are based on a length-to-width
ratio of 1 to square root of 2.
Each smaller size has an area equal to one-
half the preceding size.
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Setting up a Drawing on the Drafting
Board
EDT 300/306 - Chapter 3 - Use/Care of Drafting Equipment 30
Fastening The Drawing Sheet To the Board
Place sheet at least 2” from left edge.
Place sheet at least 4” to 6” from the bottom
of the drawing table.
Lineup sheet horizontally with drafting
machine then place drafting machine over
paper to hold in place.
Use strips of tape or round “draft-dots” to
hold the sheet in place.
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Pencils
Pencil “lead” is made from graphite, a form of
the element carbon.
It also contains clay, and some resins to
hold it together
Graphite pencils have been used for more
than 200 years and are still the most
important kind.
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Pencils
Leadsused in drawing pencils are
manufactured by a special process designed
to make them strong and capable of
producing sharp, even density lines.
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Graphite Pencil Grades of Hardness
6B-softest and H-medium hard
blackest 2H-hard
5B-extremely soft 3H-hard, plus
4B-extra soft 4H-very hard
3B-very soft 5H-extra hard
2B-soft, plus 6H-extra hard, plus
B-soft 7H-extremely hard
HB-medium soft 8H-extremely hard, plus
F-intermediate 9H-hardest
between hard and
soft
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Choice of Pencil Hardness
The grade of pencil you used depends
On the kind of surface on which you are
drawing.
The roughness of the drawing media
Paper
Vellum
On how opaque (dark) and thick you want
the finished line to be.
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Common Use of Harder Leads
The softer grades of lead
deposit more lead on the media and
produce more opaque lines.
However, many drafters continue to use the
harder grades because
they produce sharper lines and
do not smudge readily during drafting
process.
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Choice of Pencil Hardness
Examples
“Layout views on fairly hard-surfaced drawing
paper”.
4H or higher
Tracingpaper/finished views to be
reproduced.
H or 2H
Grades HB, F, H are sometimes used for
sketching, and for drawing arrowheads,
border lines.
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Choice of Pencil Hardness
The exact grade depends on the drawing and
the surface.
Very hard and very soft leads are seldom
used in drafting.
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Sharpening Pencils
EDT 300/306 - Chapter 3 - Use/Care of Drafting Equipment 39
Sharpening Pencils
To sharpen a wooden pencil,
Cut away the wood at a long slope (Fig 3-
17A) or
Use a drafter’s pencil sharpener
Sharpen the end opposite the grade mark
Leave about .38” to .5” exposed.
Shape the lead to a long conical point
Do this by rubbing the lead back and forth on a
sandpaper pad, while turning the pencil slowly.
Burnish the lead by rubbing on drafting paper.
Neversharpen a pencil over a drawing
board !
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Two Pencil Point Types
Conical
The conical point is used for general line
work and lettering.
It is shaped in a lead pointer
Wedge
Used for drawing ling straight lines
because it holds it point (edge) linger than
the conical point.
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Lead Holders
Are widely used by drafters
They hold plain sticks of lead in a chuck
that allows the exposed lead to be
extended to any length desired.
Generallyare shaped just like pencils
The lead is sharpened in a lead sharpener.
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Pencil Technique
EDT 300/306 - Chapter 3 - Use/Care of Drafting Equipment 43
Pencil Techniques
Lines
must ALWAYS be clean and sharp.
must be dark enough for the views to be
seen when standard line widths are used.
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Pencil Techniques
Pencilpressure
Too much
and you will groove the drawing surface
Not enough
the line will be too light and will be “fuzzy”.
Sufficientpressure must be used to fill the
drawing fibers with graphite.
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Pencil Techniques
PencilStrokes
More than one pencil stroke is required to
produce a line of proper density
The pencil MUST BE ROTATED as you
are drawing the line.
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Pencil Techniques
Develop the habit of turning the pencil
between your thumb and forefinger when
drawing a line.
Thiswill help
keep the line uniform and
keep the pencil point from wearing
unevenly.
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Erasers and Erasing
Use soft erasers
Vinyl type (only).
Pink/green erasers are too abrasive.
On film, only use a vinyl type of eraser.
On paper or cloth, erase across the direction
of the line.
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Erasing Procedure
Clean eraser by rubbing on a clean scrap of
paper.
With your free hand, hold the drawing
securely.
Rub soft vinyl eraser lightly back and forth
to erase detail or line.
For erasing deeply grooved pencil or ink lines,
place a triangle under the paper for backing.
Ifnecessary to protect details close by, use
an erasing shield.
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Eraser Shields
Use eraser shields to prevent accidentally
erasing nearby lines.
Erasing shields are made of metal, or plastic
and have openings of different sizes and
shapes.
Position the shield so only the part you wish
to erase appears in one of the openings on
the shield.
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Electric Erasers
Use care not to remain in one spot too long,
especially with film.
You can “polish” the film to the point that it
will no longer accept graphite.
Use only soft rubber or vinyl erasers.
A very gentle pressure avoids overheating the
drawing surface.
You can use a piece of thin gauge copper,
brass or aluminum sheet under the area to
be erased to help dissipate the heat and
reduce the possibility of damage to the
drawing.
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Neatness In Drafting
Neatness = Ability
The first impression is a lasting one.
Practice cleanliness from the start.
The primary source of “dirty” drawings is
smeared graphite
Sliding T-squares, triangles, shirt sleeves
and hands across drawings.
Lift tools off your work; do not slide!
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Neatness In Drafting
Wash your hands before starting, and
occasionally during drawing if your hands
tend to be oily.
Always wipe dust and dirt from instruments
with a soft cloth before starting to draw and
frequently during use.
Layout all views with a hard pencil first.
“Heavy-in” lines only when certain they are
correct.
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Neatness In Drafting
Remove graphite dust when it collects.
After each line is drawn, blow loose
graphite from the sheet.
Remove erasure dust with a brush, not your
hands!
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Neatness In Drafting
DO NOT slide instruments across drawing!
Lift the drafting machine prior to moving.
Sharpen pencils away from the drawing.
Maintainan orderly drawing area.
Keep only the tools you need on top of the
desk
Keep unused tools OFF THE SHEET!
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