Engineering Graphics, Class 10

Points, Lines and Planes

Mohammad I. Kilani
Mechanical Engineering Department
University of Jordan
 Introduction

„ Points, lines and planes are the basic

geometric elements used in three-
dimensional spatial geometry, called
descriptive geometry.

„ An understanding of how to locate

and manipulate these elements in
their simplest form is basic to the
graphical analysis of problem
encountered in a number of
engineering applications, including
intersections, developments and
others.
 Points in space

„ A point is a theoretical location in

space having no dimension. A
point in space may be defined by
its coordinates from a fixed
reference. P = (x,y,z).

„ In descriptive geometry, we use

plane sheets of paper to solve
three dimensional problems
graphically. To be able to
represent spatial point on the
plane of the paper, we use the
glass box concept.
 Projection of a point

„ Given a point P = (x,y,z), projecting P into the planes of the glass box shows
its x and z coordinates in the front plane, its x and y coordinates in the top
plane and its y and z coordinates in the profile plane. Unfolding the glass box
provides a complete description of the point’s location in the 3D space.
 The Folding Line

„ The folding line is the intersection between two projection planes

„ The folding line TF between the top and the front views is the intersection of the
horizontal and frontal planes. Folding line FR, between the front and the right-
side views is the intersection of the frontal & the right side planes.
 Point projection constraints

„ Since the x coordinate of a point

appears in both the frontal view and
the top view, its projections in those
two views must be horizontally
aligned.

„ Since the z coordinate of a point

appears in both the frontal view and
the right side view, its projection in
those two views must be vertically
aligned.

„ Since the y coordinates of a point

appears in both the top view and the
right side view, the distance of the
projections from the folding lines
must be the same.
 Projection of a Point

„ Note that any two of the glass box

projections are sufficient to
completely describe the three
independent coordinates of a point in
space.

„ In descriptive geometry, only the

projections of the point are usually
shown. The coordinate lines are
shown here for illustration purposes.

„ Given the projection of a point in two

of the planes, its projection in the
third plane can easily be determined.
 Finding the missing projection of a point

„ Given the top and the

right side projections
of a point, the front
projection is found by
erecting
perpendiculars to the
T
TF and FR folding
lines. The frontal
projection is at the
intersection of the two
perpendiculars.
 Finding the missing projection of a point

„ Given the frontal and

the top projections of a
point, the right side
projection is found by
dropping a
perpendicular to the FR
folding line from the
frontal projection, and
measuring a distance
from the FR folding line
equal to the distance of
the top projection from
the TF folding line.
 Finding the missing projection of a point

„ Given the frontal and the

right side projections of a
point, the top projection
is found by dropping a
perpendicular to the TF
folding line from the
frontal projection, and
measuring a distance
from the TF folding line
equal to the distance of
the right side projection
from the FR folding line.
 Moving the folding lines

„ Moving the profile projection plane will result in moving the FP folding line. The
equality of the distance y in the top and right side views is not affected.

„ You may place the folding lines at any convenient location, provided the equality
relationship between corresponding distances is respected.
 The folding line in auxiliary views

„ In auxiliary views, the

positions of the folding lines
depend upon the positions of
the planes of the glass box
with respect to the point.

„ The distance y is the same in

all of the auxiliary views
 The folding line in auxiliary views

„ Given two views, the projection of a point in any auxiliary view can be
easily determined by using the two following rules:
„ In any two consecutive views, the projections are aligned with the
perpendicular to the folding lines.

„ In any three consecutive views, the distance of the projection from the folding
line in the first view is equal to the distance of the folding line in the third view
 Locating a point in an auxiliary view (skip-a-view rule)

„ Based on the two previous rules,

the location of a point in an
auxiliary view can be determined
given its projection in two views

„ Extend projection lines into the

auxiliary views that are
perpendicular to the folding lines.

„ Transfer the distance of the point

from the fold line in the preceding
view to locate its projection in the
new view.

„ The preceding method is called the

skip-a-view rule. This rule has
very useful applications in
descriptive geometry
 Line projection

„ A line is the straight path

between two points

„ The projection of a line

into the front, top and
right side planes is
defined by the projection
of its endpoints onto
these planes.

„ When a line is projected

into a projection planes
it appears foreshortened
(shorter length), unless
it is parallel to the
projection plane. In this
case, it appears in its
true length.
 Point’s visibility (front and back)

„ The front view by itself does not tell which point is in the front. This must be
deduced from the top and right side projections.

„ The point in the front appears closer to the TF folding line in the top projections,
and closer to the FR folding line in the right side projection. In the example
shown, point b is in front of point a.
 Point’s visibility (up and down)

„ The top view by itself does not tell which point is in the top. This must be
deduced from the front and right side projections.

„ The point in the top appears closer to the TF folding line in the front projections,
and closer to the TR folding line in the right side projection. In the example
shown, point b is on top of point a.
 Point’s visibility (right and left)

„ The right side view by itself does not tell which point is to the right. This must
be deduced from the front and top projections.

„ The point to the right appears closer to the FR folding line in the front
projections, and closer to the TR folding line in the top projection. In the
example shown, point b is to the right of point a.
 Point’s visibility (General Rule)

„ In general, the closer a point’s projection is to the folding line in certain view,
the more “priority in visibility” it has in the adjacent view.
 Horizontal principal lines

„ Principal lines are parallel to at least

one of the principal projection planes.
A horizontal principal line is parallel to
the horizontal (top) projection plane.

„ A horizontal principal line appears in

true length in the horizontal (top)
view.

„ A horizontal principal line appears

parallel to the TF folding line in the
front view and parallel to the TR
folding line in the right side view.
 Frontal principal lines

„ A frontal principal line is parallel to

the frontal projection plane, and
appears in true length in the frontal
view.

„ A frontal principal line appears parallel

to the TF folding line in the top view
and parallel to the FR folding line in
the right side view.
 Profile principal lines

„ A profile principal line is parallel to the

profile (right side) projection plane,
and appears in true length in the right
side view.

„ A frontal principal line appears parallel

to the FR folding line in the front view
and parallel to the TR folding line in
the top view.
 Principal lines (General rules)

„ A principal lines is parallel to at least one of the principal projection planes

„ A principal line appears in true length in the principal projection plane to which it is
parallel, and appears parallel to the folding line in the adjacent views.

„ A line will appear in its true length in a view taken such that that the fold line is
parallel to the current projection (True length rule).
 Perpendicular lines

„ A line that is perpendicular to one of

the principal projection planes will
appear as a point in that plane. This
projection is called a point view or an
end view of the line.

„ A perpendicular line will be a

principal lines for all the projection
planes normal to the plane on which
it is perpendicular, and will appear in
true length in those projection
planes.
 Rule 1: The alignment rule

„ The projections of a point in two consecutive views are aligned with respect to the
normal to the folding line.
 Rule 2: Skip-a-view

„ The distance between the projection of a point and the folding line is equal
in any two views in three consecutive views with one view skipped
 Rule 3: True length of line

„ A line will appear in its true length in a view taken such that that the fold line is
parallel to the current projection.
 Rule 4: Point view (end view) of line

„ If a line appears as a point view in a plane, it will appear in its true length in all
planes normal to that plane.
 Rule 5: Visibility

„ The closer a point’s projection is to the folding line in certain view, the more
“priority in visibility” it has in the adjacent view.