Information Sheet No.

5
Engineering Drawings
Objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

1. Understand the meaning of the various lines used on engineering drawings
2. Recognize the various symbols used to convey information
3. Read and understand engineering drawings or prints

Introduction

Engineering drawing is the common language by which draftspersons, tool designers,

and engineers indicate to the machinist and toolmaker the physical requirements of a part.
Drawings are made up of a variety of lines, which represent surfaces, edges, and contours of a
workpiece. By adding symbols, dimension lines and sizes, and word notes, the draftsperson
can indicate the exact specifications of each individual part.

TYPES OF DRAWINGS AND LINES

To describe the shape of noncylindrical

parts accurately on a drawing or print, the
draftsperson uses the orthographic view or
projection method. The orthographic view shows
the part from three sides: the front, top, and
right-hand side (Fig-1). These three views
enable the draftsperson to describe a part or an
object so completely that the machinist knows
exactly what is required.
Cylindrical parts are generally shown on
prints in two views: the front and right side (Fig-
2). However, if a part contains many details, it
may be necessary to use the top, bottom, or left-
side views to describe the part accurately to the
machinist. Fig-1 Three views of orthographic project
make it easier to describe the details of a part

In many cases, complicated interior

forms are difficult to describe in the usual
manner by a draftsperson. Whenever this
occurs, a sectional view, which is obtained by
making an imaginary cut through an object, is
presented. This imaginary cut can be made in a
straight line in any direction to best expose the Fig-2 Cylindrical parts are generally shown in
interior contour or form of a part (Fig-3). two views.

A wide variety of standard lines are used

in engineering drawings for the designer to
indicate to the machinist exactly what is
required. (See table 1).

Fig-3 Section views are used to shows complicated interior forms

 Table 1 Common lines used on shop drawings
Example Name Description Use
Thick black lines approximately 0.30 Indicate the visible
Object lines in. wide (the width may vary to suit form or edge of an
a drawing size) object.
Indicate the hidden
Medium-weight black lines of .125
Hidden lines in. long dashes and .060 in. spaces.
contours of an
b object.
Thin lines with alternating long lines
Indicate the centers
and short dashes.
of holes, cylindrical
Center lines --long lines from .500 to 3 in. long
objects, and other
c --short dashes from .060 to .125 in.
sections
long, spaces .060 in. long.
Thin black lines with an arrowhead Indicate the
Dimension lines at each end and a space in the dimensions of an
d center for a dimension. object.
Thick black lines make up a series
of one long line and two short
Cutting-plane Show the imagined
dashes. Arrowheads show the line of
e lines sight from where the section is
section cut.
taken.
Fine, evenly spaced parallel lines at Show the surfaces
Cross section
45O. Line spacing is in proportion to exposed when a
lines the part size. section is cut.
f

DRAFTING TERMS AND SYMBOLS

Common drafting terms and symbols are used on shop and engineering drawings for
the designer to describe each part accurately. If it were not for the universal use of terms,
symbols, and abbreviations, the designer would have to make extensive notes to describe
exactly what is required. Some of the common drafting terms and symbols are explained in the
following paragraphs and examples.
 Limits (Fig-4) are the largest and the smallest permissible dimensions of a part (the
maximum and minimum dimensions).
Example: .751 largest dimension
.749 smallest dimension

Fig-4 Limits show Fig-5 Tolerance is the

the largest and permissible variation
smallest size of a part of a specified size.
 Tolerance (Fig-5) is the permissible variation of the size of a part. The basic dimension
plus or minus the variation allowed is given on a drawing.
Example: .750 +.001
─.003
The tolerance in this case would be .004 (the difference between +.001 oversize or ─.003
undersize).

 Allowance (Fig-6) is the intentional difference in the sizes of mating parts, such as the
diameter of a shaft and the size of the hole.

 Fit is the range of tightness between two mating parts. There are two general classes of
fits:
1. Clearance fits, whereby a part may revolve or move in relation to a mating part
2. Interference fits, whereby two parts are forced together to act as a single piece.
  Scale size is used on most shop or engineering drawing because it would be impossible
to draw parts to exact size; some drawings would be too large, and others would be too
small.
Scale Definition
Drawing is made to the actual size of the part, or full
1:1
scale.
Drawing is made to one-half the actual size of the
1:2
part
2:1 Drawing is made to twice the actual size of the part

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Although the metric system of measurement is the international standard of

measurement, the inch system is still widely used in the United States and Canada. Therefore,
it is important that the machinist understand both dimensioning systems to be able to work
in either system.

MANUFACTURING METHODS

The drawing should only define a part and not specify how the part is to be made or the
operations to produce the part. Generally only the hole diameter is shown without indicating
whether it should be drilled, reamed, bored, or produced by any other method.

BASIC DIMENSIONING

Dimensioning is used on working drawings to explain to the machinist the shapes and
sizes required to manufacture a part. The type of material for the part, the number of parts
required, and special notes are generally found in the title block of the drawing.

DIMENSIONING TOLERANCES

Each dimension on a drawing should have a tolerance to define the accuracy of a specific
operation or the part. Common machine trade practice show the tolerance on dimension as a
+ or ─ unit of the last digit—for example:
> .12 (two decimal places) indicate a tolerance of ± .010in.
> .345 (three decimal places) indicate a tolerance of ±.001in.
> .6789 (four decimal places) indicate a tolerance of ± .0001 in.
Whenever tolerance varies from these examples, it may be shown as specific limits (high
or low) for a dimension, or as plus or minus tolerancing.

INCH DIMENSIONS

 Fractional sizes—for example, ½ in.—are stated to two decimal places (such as .50 in.),
indicates it is not a critical size.
 Whole dimensions are shown with a minimum of two zeros to the right of the decimal
point—e.g., 5.00 in., not 5 in.
 No zero is used to the left of the decimal for any value of less than 1 in—for example,
.36 in., not 0.36 in., and .625 in., not 0.625 in.
 Sizes that are critical dimensions are shown in three or four decimal places and, where
necessary, the tolerance or limit dimensions are included.

METRIC DIMENSIONS

 A zero must be used to the left of the decimal for all sizes less than 1 millimeter—for
example, 0.35 mm, not .35 mm.
  Where the dimension is a whole number, no decimal point or zero follows the number—
for example, 4mm, not 4.0 mm.
 Where the dimension is larger than the whole number by a decimal fraction, the last
digit to the right of the decimal point is not followed by a zero—for example, 6.5 mm,
not 6.50 mm.

Symbols

Some of the symbols and abbreviations used on shop drawings indicate the surface finish, type
of material, roughness symbols, and common machine shop terms and operations.

A few of the common symbols used in this book are a follows:

angularity countersink
basic dimension depth/deep
between diameter
conical taper perpendicularity
counterbore/spotface R radius

Countersink, counterbores, and spotfaces can be shown on drawings by abbreviations

for dimension symbols, with the symbols being preferred. Samples of some common symbols
in use are shown in the following figures.

All points on the All points on the

indicated surface must indicated surface must
lie a single plane, lie in a perfect cylinder
within the specified around a center axis,
tolerance zone. within the specified
tolerance zone.

All points on the

indicated surface must
lie a straight line in the All points on any full
direction shown, within slice of the indicated
the specified tolerance surface must be on its
zone. theoretical two-
dimensional profile, as
defined by basic
dimensions, within the
specified tolerance
zone. The profile may
If the indicated surface or may not be oriented
is sliced by any plane with respect to daturns.
perpendicular to its
axis, the resulting
outline must be a
perfect circle, within
the specified tolerance
zone.
All points on the indicated
surface must lie on its
theoretical three- Each circular element
dimensional profile, as of the indicated
defined by basic surface is allowed to
dimensions, within the deviate only the
specified tolerance zone. specified amount from
The profile may or may not its theoretical form
be oriented with respect to and orientation during
datums. 360° rotation about
the designated datum
axis.

The entire indicated

surface is allowed to
All points on the
deviate only the
indicated surface, axis,
specified amount from
or line must lie in a
its theoretical form
single plane exactly 90o
and orientation during
from the designated 360° rotation about
datum plane or axis,
the designated datum
within the specified
axis.
tolerance zone.

All points on the If the indicated surface is

indicated surface or sliced by any plane
axis must lie in a perpendicular to the
single plane at exactly designated datum axis,
the specified angle every slice’s center of
from the designated area must lie on the
datum plane or axis, datum axis, within the
within the specified specified cylindrical
tolerance zone. tolerance zone (controls
rotational balance)

The indicated
All points on the feature’s axis must be
indicated surface or located within the
axis must lie in a specified tolerance
single plane parallel to zone from its true
the designated datum theoretical position,
plane or axis, within correctly oriented
the specified tolerance relative to the
zone. designated datum
plane or axis.
 DIMENSIONING SYSTEMS

Dimensions are used on prints to give the distance between two points, lines, planes, or
some combination of points, lines, and planes.
> The numerical value gives the actual measurement (distance).
> The dimension line indicates the direction in which the value applies.
> The arrow heads indicate the points between which the value applies.
The decimal system, used for machine shop and computer numerical control work, uses
only decimal fractions for all dimensional values. In computer numerical control work, two
types of dimensioning are used:
1. Incremental system where all dimensions are given from a previously known point.
2. Absolute system where all dimensions or positions are given from a fixed zero or
origin point.

Common machine shop abbreviations

CBORE Counterbore P Pitch
CSK Countersink R Radius
DIA Diameter Rc Rockwell hardness test
Ǿ Diameter RH Right hand
HDN Harden THD Thread or threads
L Lead TIR Total indicated runout
LH Left Hand TPI Threads per inch
mm Millimeter UNC Unified national coarse
NC National coarse UNF Unified national form
NF National fine

SURFACE SYMBOLS

Surface finish is the deviation from the nominal surface caused by the machining
operation. Surface finish includes roughness, waviness, lay, and flaws and is measured by a
surface finish indicator in microinches (µin.).

The surface finish mark, used in many cases, indicates which surface of the part must
be finished. The number in the √¯¯¯ indicates the quality of finish required on the surface (Fig-
8). In the example shown in Fig-7, √¯¯¯ the roughness height or the measurement of the finely
spaced irregularities caused by the cutting tool can not exceed 40 µin.

Fig-7 Surface finish symbols Fig-8 Surface finish

Indicate the type and finish of the surface specifications

If the surface of a part must be finished to exact specifications, each part of the
specification is indicated on the symbol (Fig-8) as follows:
40 Surface finish in microinches
.002 Waviness height in thousandths of an inch
.001 Roughness width in thousandths of an inch
Machining marks run perpendicular to the boundary of the surface
indicated
 The following symbols indicate the direction of the lay (marks produced by machining
operations on work surfaces).
= Parallel to the boundary line of the surface indicated by the symbol
X Angular in both directions on the surface indicated by the symbol
M Multidirectional
C Approximately circular to the center of the surface indicated by the
symbol
R Approximately radial to the center of the surface indicated by the
symbol

Fig-9 shows the drafting symbols used to indicate some of the most common materials
used in a machine shop.

Material Symbols

Represents copper, brass, Represents steel and

Bronze, etc. wrought iron

Represents aluminum, Represents cast iron

magnesium, and their alloys and malleable iron

Fig-9 Symbols used to indicate types of material.