Engineering Drawing Tool Kit

Every new idea or design starts with drawing basic layout or sketch on a paper, whether designing a simple pencil or complicated skyscraper. And when it is done following proper procedure and certain rules it is termed as Engineering Drawing or Engineering Graphics.

Engineering Drawing

Engineering drawing is the systematic way of representation of ideas or objects on a plain paper by means of different lines and shapes using certain tools in proper size, shape and dimensions.

Lets look at some of the basic tools that must be in the Engineering Drawing tool kit.

1. Pencil - Pencil is defined as a instrument you use for writing and drawing. Pencil is made up of solid graphite and clay mixture core with a wooden protective casing and comes in different colors, sizes and grades.

Pencil Grading chart

Grades of Pencil

9H, 8H, 7H, 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B

where:

H - Hardness

F - Firm

B- Blackness

The more the H is, more is the clay content in it and more is the hardness. And Pencil appears light.

As the B increases, graphite content increases so is softness and pencil becomes darker.

2. Engineering Compass - A compass is a drawing instrument used for making circles and arcs. Compass can be used to measure distance as well. Compass is usually made up of steel or plastic.

Small Compass: Used for radius less than 50 mm.

Large Compass: Used for radius greater than 20 mm.

3. Divider - Divider comes in the shape same as of compass but it is used to divide circles, arc and lines into equal or proportional parts rather to draw them.

4. Mini Drafter - Mini Drafter is a combination of T Square, Set Square and Protractor. Mini Drafter is used to draw parallel line, inclined lines, angles effectively with ease.

You may find a bit difficulty while working with mini drafter initially but once you learn to use it, it can really be helpful and saves lots of your precious time.

5. Set Square - Set Square is a drawing instrument in a triangular shape with one angle of 90° Set Square is used to draw lines and angles.

30° - 60° Set Square - Used to draw lines at angles 30°, 60° and 90°

45° - 45° Set Square - Used to draw lines at angles 45° and 90°.

Also with the help of combinations of set squares we can draw lines at 15° interval like 15°, 30°, 45° and so on.........

6. T Square - T Square is made up of 2 parts base and blade. T Square is used to draw parallel and perpendicular lines and that too with proper measurements.

Consideration point while using T Square is that blade must be parallel to the edge of paper.

7. French Curve - French curve is a drawing template used to draw smooth curves of different radii. French curve is usually made of plastic or metal.

8. Protractor - Protractor usually comes in the shape of English alphabet 'D' (semicircular shape) and made of transparent plastic. Protractors are used for angle measurements.

Full circle of 360° version is also used.