ESME 101: Engineering Graphics & Drawing

2
The axonometric
projection is
produced by
multiple parallel
lines of sight
perpendicular to
the plane of
projection, with
the observer at
infinity and the
object rotated
about an axis to
produce a
pictorial view
Axonometric projection - is a parallel projection technique
used to create a pictorial drawing of an object by rotating the
object on an axis relative to a projection or picture plane.

The differences between a multiview drawing and an axonometric

drawing are that, in a multiview, only two dimensions of an object are
visible in each view and more than one view is required to define the
object; whereas, in an axonometric drawing, the object is rotated
about an axis to display all three dimensions, and only one view is
required.
 Isometric axes can be positioned in a number of
ways to create different views of the same object.
Figure A is a regular
isometric, in which the
viewpoint is looking down
on the top of the object.
In a regular isometric, the
axes at 30° to the horizontal
are drawn upward from the
horizontal.
For the reversed axis
isometric, the viewpoint is
looking up on the bottom
of the object, and the 30°
axes are drawn downward
from the horizontal.
For the long axis isometric, the viewpoint is looking from the right
or from the left of the object, and one axis is drawn at 60 ° to the
horizontal.
ISOMETRIC PROJECTION and ISOMETRIC DRAWING

Isometric drawings are almost always preferred over

isometric projection for engineering drawings,
because they are easier to produce.
An isometric drawing is an axonometric pictorial drawing
for which the angle between each axis equals 120° and the
scale used is full scale.

Size comparison of Isometric Drawing and True Isometric Projection

 Isometric Axonometric Projections
An isometric projection is a true representation of the isometric view of
an object.

An isometric view of an object is created by rotating the object 45o

about a vertical axis, then tilting the object (see figure - in this case, a
cube) forward until the body diagonal (AB) appears as a point in the
front view
 The angle the cube is tilted forward is 35° 16’. The 3 axes that meet
at A, B form equal angles of 120° and are called the isometric axes.
Each edge of the cube is parallel to one of the isometric axes.
Line parallel to one of the legs of the isometric axis is an isometric line.
Planes of the cube faces & all planes parallel to them are isometric planes
The forward tilt of the cube causes the edges and planes of the cube to
become shortened as it is projected onto the picture plane.

The lengths of the projected lines are equal to the cosine of 35° 16’, or
0.81647 times the true length. In other words, the projected lengths are
approximately 82% of the true lengths.

A drawing produced using a scale

of 0.816 is called an isometric
projection and is a true
representation of the object.

However, if the drawing is produced

using full scale, it is called an
isometric drawing, which is the
same proportion as an isometric
projection, but is larger by a factor
of 1.23 to 1.
Isometric scale is produced by positioning a regular scale at 45 ° to
the horizontal and projecting lines vertically to a 30° line.
In an isometric drawing, true length distances can only be measured
along isometric lines, that is, lines that run parallel to any of the
isometric axes. Any line that does not run parallel to an isometric axis is
called a non-isometric line.

Non-isometric lines
include inclined and
oblique lines and can
not be measured
directly. Instead they
must be created by
locating two end points.
Figure A is an isometric
drawing of a cube. The three
faces of the isometric cube are
isometric planes, because they
are parallel to the isometric
surfaces formed by any two
Figure A: Isometric planes
adjacent isometric axes.
relative to isometric axes

Planes that are not parallel to

any isometric plane are called
non-isometric planes (Figure B)

Figure B: Non-isometric plane

 Standards for Hidden Lines, Center Lines and Dimensions

In isometric drawings,
hidden lines are omitted
unless they are absolutely
necessary to completely
describe the object. Most
isometric drawings will not
have hidden lines.

To avoid using hidden lines,

choose the most descriptive
viewpoint.

However, if an isometric
viewpoint cannot be found
that clearly depicts all the
major features, hidden lines
may be used.
Centerlines are drawn only for showing symmetry or for
dimensioning. Normally, centerlines are not shown, because
many isometric drawings are used to communicate to non-
technical people and not for engineering purposes.
As per the Standards:
Dimension lines,
extension lines, and lines
being dimensioned shall
lie in the same plane.

All dimensions and notes

should be unidirectional,
reading from the bottom
of the drawing upward
and should be located
outside the view
whenever possible. The
texts is read from the
bottom, using horizontal
guidelines.
ISOMETRIC VIEWS OF STANDARD SHAPES
Square
Consider a square ABCD with a 30 mm side shown in Fig. If the square
lies in the vertical plane, it will appear as a rhombus with a 30 mm side in
isometric view as shown in Fig. (a) or (b), depending on its orientation,
i.e., right-hand vertical face or left-hand vertical face. If the square lies in
the horizontal plane (like the top face of a cube), it will appear as in
Fig.(c). The sides AB and AD, both, are inclined to the horizontal
reference line at 30°.

Taken from Dhananjay A Jolhe, Engg. Drawing, MGH

Rectangle
A rectangle appears as a parallelogram in isometric view. Three
versions are possible depending on the orientation of the
rectangle, i.e., right-hand vertical face, left-hand vertical face or
horizontal face.

Taken from Dhananjay A Jolhe, Engg. Drawing, MGH

Triangle

A triangle of any type can be easily obtained in isometric view as

explained below. First enclose the triangle in rectangle ABCD. Obtain
parallelogram ABCD for the rectangle as shown in Fig. (a) or (b) or (c).
Then locate point 1 in the parallelogram such that C–1 in the
parallelogram is equal to C–1 in the rectangle. A–B–1 represents the
isometric view of the triangle.

Taken from Dhananjay A Jolhe, Engg. Drawing, MGH

Pentagon
Enclose the given pentagon in a rectangle and obtain the parallelogram
as in Fig. 18.9(a) or (b) or (c). Locate points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 on the
rectangle and mark them on the parallelogram. The distances A–1, B–2,
C–3, C–4 and D–5 in isometric drawing are same as the corresponding
distances on the pentagon enclosed in the rectangle.

Taken from Dhananjay A Jolhe, Engg. Drawing, MGH

Circle
The isometric view or isometric projection of a circle is an ellipse. It is
obtained by using four-centre method explained below.
Four-Centre Method : First, enclose the given circle into a square ABCD.
Draw rhombus ABCD as an isometric view of the square. Join the farthest
corners of the rhombus, i.e., A and C. Obtain midpoints 3 and 4 of sides CD
and AD respectively. Locate points 1 and 2 at the intersection of AC with B–3
and B–4 respectively. Now with 1 as a centre and radius 1–3, draw a small
arc 3–5. Draw another arc 4–6 with same radius but 2 as a centre. With B as
a centre and radius B–3, draw an arc 3–4. Draw another arc 5–6 with same
radius but with D as a centre.

Taken from Dhananjay A Jolhe, Engg. Drawing, MGH

Any irregular Shape
Any irregular shape 1–2–3–4–5–6–7 can be drawn in isometric view as
follows: The figure is enclosed in a rectangle first. The parallelogram is
obtained in isometric for the rectangle as shown. The isolines B–2, D–2,
C–3, E–3, G–4, F–4, H–5, H–6 and A–7 has the same length as in original
shape, e.g., B–2 in isometric = B–2 in irregular shape.

Taken from Dhananjay A Jolhe, Engg. Drawing, MGH

 Isometric views for solids
The Boxing-in Method
The four basic steps for creating an isometric drawing are:
Determine the isometric viewpoint that clearly depicts the
features of the object, then draw the isometric axes which
will produce that view-point.

height (H), and depth (D) of the object, such that the object
will be totally enclosed in a box.
Locate details on the isometric planes.
Darken all visible lines, and eliminate hidden lines unless
absolutely necessary to describe the object.
 Sketch from an actual object

STEPS
1. Positioning object.
2. Select isometric axis.
3. Sketch enclosing box.
4. Add details.
5. Darken visible lines.

Note In isometric sketch/drawing), hidden lines are omitted unless they are
absolutely necessary to completely describe the object.Sketch from an actual
object