ES 1

ENGINEERING
DRAWINGS
AND PLANS
ENGR. MARY CRIS L. AYING-TAMPOS

INSTRUCTOR
I. INTRODUCTION TO THE DESIGN PROCESS
One of the best ways to communicate one’s ideas is through some form of picture or
drawing. This is especially true for the engineer.

An engineering drawing is a subcategory of technical drawings. The purpose is to

convey all the information necessary for manufacturing a product or a part. Engineering
drawings use standardized language and symbols. This makes understanding the drawings
simple with little to no personal interpretation possibilities.

The main purpose of engineering drawing is to communicate to other engineers,

machinists, etc. Drawings do the communication best merely because a picture is worth a
thousand words. Giving all of the information needed to make the product and being
accurate in that information is the main goal.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Drawing instruments are used to prepare neat and accurate drawings for technical
and professional presentations of ideas. In greater extents, the accuracy of a drawing
depends on the quality of instruments being used to prepare them.

1. Drawing board 6. Compass

2. Drawing paper 7. Protractor
3. Drawing pencil 8. Drawing pen
4. T – square 9. Eraser
5. Triangles 10. French curve
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Drawing Table / Drawing Board
A drawing board should be made of softwood, usually straight grained basswood or
pine wood and should be constructed with cleats on both ends to prevent from warping and
splitting. The cleats also provide a smooth guiding edge for the T-square. Drawing board
must not be less than 18” x 24” but preferably 24” x 30”.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Drawing Paper
Drawing paper varies mainly in sizes depending upon the need of details and
specifications in a drawing. A 9” x 12” drawing paper is considered the appropriate size to
be used for basic drawing subjects for its availability and thickness.
Nowadays it is not limited to that size alone. Therefore, an 8.3” x 11.7” landscape A4
size with printed title block is acceptable to be used in drawing laboratory exercises.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE

Drawing Pencil
The accuracy and appearance of a drawing depend on the quality of the pencil used
to draw. The grade of a pencil lead is marked on the pencil. Medium-grade pencil or marked
HB denotes common pencil lead. Increase in hardness by value printed on the lead box,
such as 2H-9H. Softer pencils are marked as 2B-6B. A pencil marked 3B is softer than 2B
and pencil marked 4H is harder than 2H and so on. Beginning of a drawing may be made
with H or 2H. For lettering and dimensioning, H and HB pencils are used. Nowadays, a
mechanical pencil is widely used over wooden pencils for environmental concerns.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Drawing Pencil
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE

Drawing Pencil
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
T - Square
These are made of steel, hard rubber or wood, or combination of both. It is used to
project straight horizontal lines and serve as a base for triangles to project vertical/diagonal
lines or serves as a base for different templates.

Three kinds of T - Square

❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Operations
1. To place the T-square on the drawing table.
Flush the head of the T-square along the left edge or the top of the drafting table,
while the blade is laid across the table’s top, over the drawing paper.

A typical T-square placement on a drawing

table/drafting board
 ❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Operations
2. To draw horizontal parallel lines.
Slide the head in an upward and downward direction flushed on the edge of the
table. Hold the blade firmly to the table before projecting lines on the straightedge of the
blade and slide again to the desired position and project another line.

Horizontal lines using T-square

 ❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Operations
3. To serve as a base for the triangle or templates.
Place the triangle/template and laid on the straightedge of the blade of the T-square
and slide to the left and right direction.

T-square as base of triangles

❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Triangles
Triangles are used to complement with the T-square or straightedge to draw vertical
and inclined lines. They are usually made of celluloid or plastic and come in various sizes.
Triangles are named by the size of their acute angles. The commonly used triangles
are 45º x 45º and the 30º x 60º.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Operations
1. To project vertical lines.
Align one of the sides of the triangle having perpendicular or 90º angle to the
horizontal straightedge of a T-square to serve as the base, slide the triangle from left to right
to the desired position and project vertical lines.

Projecting vertical lines using T-square and

triangles
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE

Operations
2. Diagonal line projections.
Select a desired angle from the edge of the triangle and align one of its sides to the
horizontal straightedge of a T-square with the desired angles, such as 30º, 45º, 60º, 90º
and a combination of triangles for 15º and 75º both left and right directions when flipped.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Compass
A compass is used for projecting circles and arcs of circles.
One of the legs has a pointed needle fitted at the lower end
whereas the other end has adaptor for inserting pencil or drawing
pens. It is advisable to keep the needle end about 1mm long
compared to that of pencil end so that while drawing circles, when
the needle end is pressed it goes inside the drawing sheet by a
small distance.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE

Operations
1. To project an arc or circle.
Locate the center point for the circle/arc and
pin the needle point. Tilt the compass handle from
the needle tip at approximately 60º to the direction
of circle/arc to be drawn. Draw slightly with less
pressure on the pencil for guidelines and a single
hard stroke for final penciling of drawings.

A compass operation
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Protractor
Protractor is used to measure and lay off angles that cannot be measured with 45 x
45 x 90 degrees triangles and 30 x 60 x 90 degrees triangles. It is a semi-circular shape
divided into 180 equal equal parts, each of which is called a degree.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE

Operations
1. To locate an angle.
Locate the base point for your angle and
place the center of the protractor aligned to the
T-square for horizontal calibration. Locate the
desired angle and tic a point for reference. Using
a straightedge or triangles, project a line.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Drawing Pen
Drawing pens are disposable and substitute for
technical pens which are used for final layout of drawings.
They vary mainly in the thickness of their points for laying out
the different alphabet of lines required for technical and
mechanical drawings. The tip of the drawing pen is so delicate
it needs special attention during drawing operations. For safe
practice, always close the cap of the drawing pen every after
projection of any line (approximately 10-20 seconds). Ink
inside the pen may evaporate if the cap is open for a long
period of time, making the drawing pen useless. Required
points may vary from type of drawing that need to be created.
In most cases, drawing operations requires pen points of
0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 for reasonable quality of output.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
Eraser
Erasers are made of rubber or gum available in a variety of sizes and degree of d-
hardness. Eraser is used to remove mistakes while committing an error in a drawing. Eraser
is used to remove the extra lines; lines/marks drawn by mistake and to clear soiled spots on
the drawing.
❑ DRAWING INSTRUMENTS & THEIR USE
French Curves
French curves are used to draw irregular curved lines, which can not be drawn with a
compass. These are made of transparent celluloid or plastic and are available in various
shapes.
❑ TYPES OF LINES & LETTERS
❑ LETTERING
INTRODUCTION TO LETTERING
Lettering is considered “the written language of industry.” It is used as a form of
communication from one person to another by using symbols. As applied into drawing, it
gives more information and specifications about the drawing and serves as additional
notations. It is also considered as a bridge from the idea of one person to the other.

Skill in lettering is a basic requirement for a presentable drawing. One must be

exposed to the lettering activities to be oriented on the quality standard in printing letters.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
GOTHIC
Gothic letter is sometimes called “sans serif” and generally used for posters,
billboards, car cards, signs, and a lot more. Sans serif is the most simple and most readable
among the types of letter styles. It has a uniform stem.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
Two forms of Gothic letters:
1. Commercial Gothic.
It is printed with a heavy stem. It is used for advertisement purposes only.

2. Single-Stroke Gothic.
It is printed with a thin stem. It is used for engineering drawing purposes.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
ROMANS
These letters are not uniform. Each letter has pointed stem which is called “serif” and
generally used for magazines, newspapers, books, headings, formal letters, etc.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
Three classics of Roman letters:
1. Modern Roman.
It is printed in a single stroke using the speedball pen.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
Three classics of Roman letters:
2. Old Roman.
It is printed by means of layout form using the flexible lettering pen. The thickness of
the thin stem must be half from the thickness of the heavy stem.

2. Modified Roman.
Similar to Modern Roman, it is printed in a single stroke using the speedball pen.
However, this style must be printed in the absence of serif.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
TEXT/OLD ENGLISH
This type of lettering is used for diploma, certificates, bibles, land titles, citations,
greetings, and some wedding invitations.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
SCRIPT/COPPERPLATE
It is considered as an artistic letter for wedding invitations, certificates, diplomas,
greetings, invitation, and Christmas cards.
TYPES OF LETTER STYLES
ITALIC
Most letter styles can be italicized except Old English and are used in headings of
newspaper columns, sign advertisements.

Gothic Italic:

Roman Italic:
 LETTERING GUIDELINES
1. Cap line – the top most limits of all uppercase letters and ascending lowercase letters.
2. Waist line – central stem limits for letters E, F, H, P, and B and top most limits for normal lowercase
letters.
3. Knee line – the limits for lowercase a and e letters.
4. Base line – the limits for all uppercase letters and normal lowercase letters.
5. Drop line – lower limits for all descending lowercase letters.
 CLASSIFICATIONS OF LETTERS
1. Uppercase letters. This refers to the letters which are printed in capital form. It has three guidelines
such as cap line, waist line, and base line.
2. Lowercase letters. These are the letters which are printed in small letters. It should print with the
use of four guidelines such as cap line, waist line, base line, and drop line.
 STRENGTH OF LETTERS
1. Lightface. This refers to the letters which are printed with a thin stem.

2. Boldface. This refers to the letters which are printed with a heavy stem.
 PROPORTIONS OF LETTERS
1. Normal. This proportion is applied when there is normal space. The letter is printed in the normal
size.

2. Compressed/Condensed. This particular proportion should be applied only when space is limited.
The letters are printed with closer distance and its width is narrower than the normal size.

3. Extended. This proportion is applied when there is more space. The width of the letter is wider than
the height.
 SPACING OF LETTERS
1. Visual spacing. The spacing using the type and strokes of letters in a word or phrase.

2. Mechanical spacing. The equal gap between letters without looking at the strokes of letters.
 CENTERING OF TITLES
1. Trial-and-error. The method used when the letters are sketched first on the area.

2. Scratch paper. The method used if there are extra papers used for lettering and transferred on the
area.
 REQUIREMENTS IN LETTERING
1. Legibility. The capacity of the strokes to be readable by any person.
 REQUIREMENTS IN LETTERING
2. Ease and rapidity of execution. The ability to execute the strokes without difficulty.
 REQUIREMENTS IN LETTERING
3. Uniformity. The quality and proportions of letters accordingly to each other.
 REQUIREMENTS IN LETTERING
4. Balance. The stability of letters to each stroke and to each other.
 ASPECTS OF UNIFORMITY
To achieve the best in lettering, one has to understand the following aspects:

1. Height of letters. Letters vary in height depending on their importance in a presentation, such as
titles and sub-titles.
2. Proportion of letters. Learn the proportion of letters as to its stability and balance – for example
in letters B and E the lower part is wider than the upper part.
3. Inclination of letters. Formal letters need not be inclined, but if it is necessary to emphasize
something, make sure they have uniformity in their inclinations.
4. Spacing of letters. Visual spacing is better than mechanical spacing for it looks balanced and
equal in gaps. The ideal spacing of letters is letter “I”.
 ASPECTS OF UNIFORMITY
To achieve the best in lettering, one has to understand the following aspects:

5. Spacing of words. The ideal spacing of words is letter “O”.

6. Strength of letters. The thickness of the stem of letters must also be proportionate to its height
and importance.
7. Type of letter style. The styles that fit to the presentations must be carefully selected for its
specific purpose.
8. Classifications of letters. Capital letters are sometimes used for titles and headings.
 PRINCIPLES APPLIED TO
LETTERING
Good lettering adheres to several principles and techniques:

1. Honor legibility and consistency above all else.

2. Use guidelines (actual or imagined) to ensure uniformity. Never letter without guidelines.
3. Emphasize the beginning and end of all strokes, and overlap them slightly where they meet, just
as in drawing lines.
4. Give horizontal strokes a slight upward tilt. If they slope downward, the letters will look tired.
5. Give curved strokes a balloon-like fullness.
6. Give careful attention to the amount of white space between letters. A letter E, for example, will
need more space when following a letter I than when coming after an S or T.
 POINTERS IN MAKING LETTERS

1. A drawing can be excellent in most aspect and yet be considered poor because of improper
lettering.
2. To achieve excellence in lettering, it needs constant correct practice.
3. Use style that appeals to you more and you can make most easily.
 ❑ FREEHAND LETTERING
TECHNIQUES

Lettering is the creation of hand-drawn letters applied to an object or surface. A technique

is the process of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an
artistic work or a scientific procedure. In technical drawings, lettering is used to provide titles,
dimensions, notes, and other details to a freehand sketch. It adds detail to the basic ideas and
concepts of a freehand sketch. A freehand sketch is the initial transfer of an idea from an
engineer’s abstract idea into a 2D and/ or 3D working drawing.
 ❑ FREEHAND LETTERING
TECHNIQUES
Freehand lettering is drawing or executing legible letters without the assistance of tools:
guides, measurement tools, and other aides. In design and drafting freehand lettering is typically
drawn in “Gothic” style with the following characteristics:

❖ Consistent/constant line thickness

❖ “Straight Gothic” (vertical strokes perpendicular to the baseline) or “inclined Gothic” (vertical
strokes at about 70 to 75º).

Standard lettering techniques require use of the appropriate pencil. Pencils ideal for
lettering are grades H, HB, and F. These choices are “in the middle” in terms of softness and
hardness.
 ❑ FREEHAND LETTERING
TECHNIQUES
Freehand Lettering Technique Tips
TIP 1: Determine the angle that works best and practice drawing letters and numbers while
rotating the pencil at an angle.
TIP 2: Practice using the arm and wrist rather than moving fingers. Movement of the fingers
tends to create arcs rather than straight lines.
TIP 3: Freehand lettering is accomplished with a pulling rather than a pushing motion of the
pencil. Pushing tends to curve lines in a forced direction.
TIP 4: Each line or arc of the letter or the number is completed in a single stroke. For example:
❖ An uppercase “A” is drawn in three strokes.
- The first stroke starts from the top center of the “A” down to the left.
- The second stroke is drawn from the top center of the “A” down to the bottom right.
- The third stroke is straight across the center of the two drawn lines.
 ❑ FREEHAND LETTERING
TECHNIQUES
Freehand Lettering Technique Tips

❖ An upper and lower case “O” takes two strokes and, with practice, one stroke.
- The stroke for the left side of the arc is from a top starting point to the bottom.
- The second stroke is drawn from the top starting point around the right to the bottom.
- With some practice you can make an “O” in one stroke.

TIP 5: To achieve the desired line thickness takes practice. Beginners must practice until they
“feel” how much pressure to apply to the lead to achieve the desired line thickness.
 ❑ FREEHAND LETTERING
TECHNIQUES
Freehand Lettering Technique Tips
TIP 6: Height-to-width ratio is an important consideration in freehand lettering. All the letters for
technical drawings should be consistent: none visibly thinner or wider than the other letters or
numbers.
- Condensed letters are narrow compared to their height.
- Extended letters are wide compared to their height.

TIP 7: Spacing of letters and numbers is critical to ease of reading. Most letters have equal
spacing in a word. The amount of background space (white space between strokes) and the letters
itself (black strokes) have equal spacing in a word. Balancing the perceived spacing of letters and
numbers can be difficult. Some letters and numbers do not appear to occupy exactly the same space
or have the same “spread” as other characters in the line. There are times the line may appear
unbalanced. Learning to visually space different letters takes practice.
 FREEHAND LETTERING
EXERCISES
From the given guidelines on different types of lettering, reconstruct the following lettering on the
worksheet provided. (Use H, F, or HB pencil.)

1. Single-Stoke Gothic Letters and Numbers

2. Italic Single-Stoke Gothic Letters and Numbers

The term single stoke or one stoke does not mean that the entire letter is made without lifting the
pencil. But the width of the stroke is the width of the stem of the letter.
❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
“Any person can learn to letter if he is persistent and intelligent in his efforts.” While it is true that
“Practice makes perfect,” it must be understood that practice alone is not enough; it must be
accompanied by continuous effort to improve.

There are three necessary steps in learning to letter:

1. Knowledge of the proportions and forms of the letters, and the order of the strokes.
2. Knowledge of composition – the spacing of the letters and words.
3. Persistent practice, with continuous effort to improve.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING

GUIDE LINES
Extremely light horizontal guidelines are necessary to regulate the height of letters. In addition,
light vertical or inclined guidelines are needed to keep the letters uniformly vertical or inclined.
Guidelines are absolutely essential for good lettering, and should be regarded as a welcome aid,
not as an unnecessary requirement.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
GUIDE LINES

Make guidelines light, so that they can be erased after the lettering has been completed. Use a
relatively hard pencil such as a 4H to 6H, with a long, sharp, conical point.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
A. Guidelines for Uppercase/Capital Letters
On working drawings, capital letters are commonly made 3 mm high, with the space between
lines of lettering from 3/5 to the full height of the letters. The vertical guidelines are not used to
space the letters (as this should always be done by eye while lettering), but only to keep the
letters uniformly vertical, and they should accordingly be drawn at random.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
A. Guidelines for Uppercase/Capital Letters
A guideline for inclined capital letters is somewhat different. The spacing of horizontal guidelines
is the same for vertical capital lettering. The American Standard recommends slope of
approximately 68.2º with the horizontal and may be established by drawing a “sloped triangle”,
and drawing the guidelines at random with T-square and triangles.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING

B. Guidelines for Lowercase Letters

Lowercase letters have four horizontal guidelines, called the cap line, waist line, base line, and
drop line. Strokes of letters that extend up to the cap line are called ascenders, and those that
extend down to the drop line, descenders. In spacing guidelines, space “a” may vary from 3/5 to
2/3 of space “b”.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING

The term single stoke or one stoke does not mean that the entire letter is made without lifting the
pencil. But the width of the stroke is the width of the stem of the letter.

Order of Strokes
They are necessary to have legible and accurate letter styles. Study the slope of each letter with
the order and direction of the strokes forming it. The proportion of height and width of various
letters must be known carefully to letter them perfectly.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
The I-H-T Group
o The letter I is The Foundation Stroke.
o The top of T is drawn first to the full width of the square and the stem is started accurately at its
mid point.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
The L-E-F Group
o The L is made in two strokes.
o The first two strokes of the E are the same for the L, the third or the upper stroke is slightly
shorter than the lower and the last stroke is the third as long as the lower
o F has the same proportion as E
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
The V-A-K Group
o V is the same width as A, the A bridge is one third up from the bottom.
o The second stroke of K strikes stem one third up from the bottom and the third stroke branches
from it.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
The M-W Group
o are the widest letters
o M may be made in consecutive strokes of the two verticals as of N
o W is made with two V’s
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
The O-Q-C-G Group
o The O families are made as full circles and made in two strokes with the left side a longer arc
than the right.
o A large size C and G can be made more accurately with an extra stroke at the top.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
The D-U-J Group
o The top and bottom strokes of D must be horizontal, fail line to observe this is a common fault
with beginners.
o U is formed by two parallel strokes to which the bottom stroke be added.
o J has the same construction as U, with the first stroke omitted.
 ❑ TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING
The P-R-B Group
o The number of strokes depends up on the size of the letter.
o The middle line of P and R are on centerline of the vertical line.
 LETTERING EXERCISES
From the given guidelines on different types of lettering, reconstruct the following lettering on the
worksheet provided. (Use H, F, or HB pencil.)

1. Single-Stoke Gothic Letters and Numbers

2. Modern Roman Letters and Numerals
3. Italic Single-Stoke Gothic Letters and Numbers
4. Italic Modern Roman Letters and Numerals
5. Script Letters and Numbers
6. Italic Letters and Numbers
7. Old English/Text Letters and Numbers