TECHNICAL DRAWING INSTRUMENTS

To achieve the goal of good drawing, which is to meet standards, we need to prepare good drawing tools and be supported by skills in using drawing tools. Of course, only with complete equipment, not necessarily able to be skilled at drawing if without practice.

Even with simple equipment, if the use of drawing tools is carried out properly, consistently and with discipline, it will help in the success of drawing. Again, perseverance, diligence, consistency and discipline in using tools, are the first steps to success in technical drawing.

The tools commonly used in mechanical engineering drawing include:

1. Drawing Paper

In technical drawing, the drawing paper used types A which has standardized length and width sizes. The drawing paper used has normalized sizes.

The most widely used size is the A-series. This A series has a standard size which is expressed by adding the number 0 (zero) after the letter A, and smaller sizes by adding the numbers 1 to 4. for example A1, A2, A3, and A4.

Paper Size

further discussion about the size of the drawing paper can follow the following link click here

2. Pencils, Technical pens and Mechanical Pencil

Pencils have a level of hardness and rules for use on the type of drawing paper. The pencil hardness ranges from 9H (very hard) to 8B (very soft).

To draw on paper or tracing paper, you can use mechanical pencil refills with a thickness of 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

Mechanical pencil refill no need to sharpen the pencil. And when used to draw a line, the same thickness will be obtained. The thickness sizes of mechanical pencils are 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 mm. And the hardness can be selected from HB or F, H, 2H, and 2H.

Technical Pens

Drawing pens are mainly used for drawing on transparent paper. The ink used must be free of ultraviolet radiation so as not to cause obstacles.

Drawing with ink is a widely used technique employed by professionals and artists. Technical pens have stable tips thanks to modern chrome-plated tubes, making them an excellent tool for architects and draftsmen.

Draftsmen, architects, cartographers and artists all rely on high-quality technical pens for professional drawing and design work. In the past, drawing pens were used to draw with ink, however, modern technical pens with hard chrome drafting tubes now enable you to achieve maximum precision.

3. Compasses

Compasses are drawing instruments that are primarily used to perform the following tasks in geometry:

To draw a circle around a point.
To transfer distances precisely.

These versatile drawing instruments essentially consist of two legs. These are usually made of metal. The legs are connected together at the top by a hinge, allowing them to move flexibly. Compasses also have a crossbar at the upper end where the legs meet with opposite-running threads.

Compasses with a spindle guide have a wheel in the centre that can be adjusted with one hand. You can turn this in different directions to spread or close the legs. This allows you to quickly and easily adjust the compass to the desired position.

Compasses

There is also a needle at the bottom of one leg to secure the compass to a surface. At the end of the other leg, there is a replaceable lead for drawing circles or segments on paper. There are also models with an adapter for attaching a short pencil instead of the integrated lead. If you secure one leg to a surface, you can then determine the radius of a circle by setting the distance of the second leg.

4. Rulers and set squares

rulers are a practical tool for drawing straight lines. To do this, place the ruler at specific points on a drawing or surface. Then trace the edge of the ruler with a pencil or technical pen to draw a straight line on the paper. A ruler can also be used to quickly measure short distances.

Ruler & Set Square

Set squares, in the shape of right-angled isosceles triangles, are more than just a common tool in geometry class: they are also frequently used in the field of technical drawing. Even in ancient Egypt, similar instruments were used to measure fields.

we can use a geometry set square for the following applications:

Drawing parallel straight lines
Measuring angles

5. Drawing boards

Drawing boards are scaled plastic boards designed specifically for technical drawing. They are used to draw parallel lines easily and precisely, e.g. for three-dimensional projections and much more.

Drawing boards

They feature a mechanical device with rail-mounted rulers that run horizontally and vertically at an exact 90° angle. These rulers are used to precisely determine straight lines and angles and are individually adjustable. This makes it much easier to work on technical drawings.

Drawing boards also have a locking mechanism, so you can set the rulers at any position as you work. This ensures everything stays in place and nothing can slip.

Drawings boards are stable tools that help engineers, designers and architects create technical drawings and architectural drawings. They can be used to create the following:

Floor plans
Elevations
Sections
Perspective drawings

Drawing boards are therefore an indispensable piece of equipment when learning the basic principles of technical drawing

This drawing board has several sizes according to paper size, namely A3 and A4 sizes.

6. Eraser

To remove or replace the wrong line or image, use an eraser of good quality. The eraser is made of rubber or other soft material.

Eraser

A good eraser should be able to remove unwanted lines or images and not damage the paper. To remove lines or drawings with ink, a special eraser must be used.