EMG 1102/EME 1201 ENGINEERING DRAWING

CHAPTER FIVE: THREE DIMENSIONAL VIEWS

Three-dimensional drawing (pictorial drawing) show several faces of an object simultaneously,
approximately as they appear to the observer. Pictorial drawings show only the appearances of
parts but does not completely describe complex or detailed forms. Pictorial drawings enable a
person without technical training to visualize the design represented. It also enables the designer
to visualize the successive stages of the design and to develop it in a satisfactory manner. There
are three principal types of pictorial drawings:
1. Isometric
2. Oblique
3. Perspective
A simple cube drawn in the three different types of pictorials is illustrated below.

Isometric pictorial is drawn with its three axes spaced 120° apart. The term isometric means
“equal measurement,” indicating that the sides are all scaled by the same factor relative to their
true length. Parallel lines defining edges on the object are also parallel on the isometric drawing.
Drawing paper with isometric axes—available in good office and drafting supply stores—greatly
facilitates drawing an isometric pictorial. Also, most 3D CAD programs generate isometric
views automatically.
Oblique pictorials are drawn with the front view shown to true scale in the x-y plane. Oblique
lines, which represent the z-axis, are projected at some angle, usually 30°- 45°. Parallel lines
defining edges on the object are also parallel on the oblique drawing. Sides of the object are
scaled by different factors.
A perspective drawing represents most realistically what is actually seen. Artists draw or paint
using perspective style. While engineers sometimes represent their designs in this style, it is the
most difficult of the three types of pictorials to master. In perspective drawing, there is no well-
defined coordinate system. Parallel lines converge to a vanishing point as they recede from the
observer. The use of converging lines instead of parallel lines and the foreshortening of
dimensions gives the drawing perspective, but makes it difficult to scale accurately.

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Therefore, the most commonly used three-dimensional drawing representation is the isometric
drawing style.
Isometric Projections
An isometric projection is produced by placing the object so that its principle edges or axis make
equal angles with the plane of projection. In this position, the edges of a cube would be projected
equally and would make equal angles with each other (120o).

Isometric drawing starts with the drawing of three coordinate axes. The three axes are called
isometric axes. Any line drawn parallel to an isometric axis is an isometric line. A non-
isometric line is a line not parallel to any of the isometric axes.
Procedure of making isometric projections
Step 1
Isometric sketches begin with defining isometric axes, three lines, one vertical and two drawn at
30° from the horizontal.

Step 2

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Three lines of the isometric axes represent the three primary dimensions of the object: width,
height, and depth

Step 3
Draw the front face of the isometric block.

Step 4
Draw the rest of the isometric block.

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Step 5
Add details to the block starting from the front face. Then add details to the other faces.

Step 6
Darken all visible lines to complete the isometric sketch. (make sure that construction lines are
very thin)

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Circles in isometric projection
Circular features appear as ellipses in isometric drawings. Figure below illustrates the isometric
pictorial of a right-circular cylinder of diameter D and height H. Note that the circular-top view
appears as an ellipse that is tangent to the isometric axes at four points. The major axis of the
ellipse is horizontal, and the minor axis is vertical.

Circles appear as ellipses

both in the front, top and
side views on an isometric
pictorial

A circle in an isometric projection can be drawn in several methods.

Drawing isometric circle using compass technique
1. Draw the isometric square and divide each side of the square in half

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2. For the diagonal of the square that represents the minor ellipse axis, draw from the top
corner to each of the opposite sides center points. Also, draw from the bottom corner to
each of the opposite sides center points.

3. Number the four compass centers

4. Draw shorter arcs using centers 1 and 2

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 5. Draw longer arcs using centers 3 and 4 to complete the isometric circle

The same technique can be followed to draw isometric circles in any 3D position

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Example 1

Solution

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Example 2

Solution

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Example 3
From the front view and top view drawings shown, construct an isometric view of the object.

Solution

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Example 4
Projections of a given object are shown in first angle, draw an isometric view of the object.
Dimensions are given in mm.

Solution

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 Assignment 5
a. Draw an isometric view based on the following orthographic representations of a
mechanical component. Dimensions are in mm.

b. Draw an isometric view based on the following orthographic representations of a shaft

bracket. Dimensions are in mm.

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c. Draw an isometric view based on the following orthographic representations of a
mechanical component. Dimensions are in mm.

END!!

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