Technical Drawing

What is it?

A technical drawing, also known as an engineer drawing, is a detailed, precise diagram or plan that conveys information about how an object functions or is constructed. Engineers, electricians, and contractors all use these drawings as guides when constructing, repairing and manufacturing objects and buildings. 

Technical drawings are a universal language used in various industries to convey precise and detailed information about how something is to be designed, constructed, or manufactured. They serve as a blueprint for professionals, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and clear communication. CAD TEAM can provides many kinds of technical drawings. We create a 3D model of the proposed item to deliver accurate 3D models.

There are the different kinds of technical drawings, categorized by their purpose and common applications:

I. By Industry/Application:

• Architectural Drawings: These are detailed and precise depictions of buildings and structures. They include:
  • Floor Plans: Top-down views showing the internal layout of a building, including walls, rooms, doors, windows, and fixtures.
  • Elevations: Views of the exterior sides of a building (front, back, left, right), showing height, materials, and architectural features.
  • Sections: Cross-sectional views that cut through a building to reveal its internal structure, including walls, floors, roofs, and foundations.
  • Site Plans: Show the building's position on a property, including boundaries, roads, landscaping, and utilities.
  • Detail Drawings: Zoomed-in views of specific architectural elements like staircases, window frames, or custom joinery.
    
    
• Mechanical/Engineering Drawings: Used to define the requirements for engineering products and components. They are essential for manufacturing and assembly. This broad category includes:
  • Part Drawings (Detail Drawings): Provide comprehensive information about a single component, including dimensions, tolerances, material specifications, and surface finishes, necessary for its manufacture.
  • Assembly Drawings: Illustrate how multiple parts fit together to form a complete assembly or product. They often include exploded views, part lists (Bill of Materials - BOM), and assembly instructions.
  • Working Drawings: A comprehensive set of technical drawings that include all necessary details for product manufacturing, often combining part and assembly drawings with other relevant information.
    
    
• Electrical Drawings (Schematics): Depict and notate designs for electrical systems, conveying information about wiring, lighting, power sources, voltage, and capacity. They use standardized symbols to represent components and connections.
• Structural Drawings: Detailed drawings that show the structural framework of a building or infrastructure project, including beams, columns, footings, slabs, reinforcements, and connections. They are crucial for ensuring safety and compliance.
• Civil/Site Drawings: Also known as site plans or site layout drawings, these depict the layout and design of a construction site, including buildings, roads, parking lots, utilities, and landscaping.
• MEP Drawings (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing): These drawings combine the mechanical (HVAC), electrical, and plumbing systems within a building, providing detailed information for installation and coordination.
• Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs): Used extensively in industrial and process engineering (e.g., oil & gas, pharmaceuticals) to represent detailed piping routes, valves, tanks, instrumentation, and process flow.
• HVAC Drawings: Focus on mechanical systems that manage environmental comfort, including ductwork layouts, airflow paths, equipment locations (chillers, air handling units), and thermal zones.
• Patent Drawings: Technical drawings created for patent applications, illustrating the invention clearly and precisely.

II. By Projection Method/View Type:

Orthographic Projection: This is the most common method for representing 3D objects in 2D. It involves projecting the object onto multiple planes (typically front, top, and side views) to provide a comprehensive depiction of its shape and dimensions without distortion.

• Multi-view Projection: Presents several 2D views (e.g., front, top, right side) of an object on a single drawing to fully describe its geometry.
• Section Views: Show the internal structure of an object by cutting it along an imaginary plane, revealing hidden features and details.
• Auxiliary Views: Provide additional views from an angle not covered by the standard orthographic views, used to clarify the true shape and dimensions of inclined or angled features. 
• Detail Views: Magnified views of small, complex areas of a drawing to show intricate details.

• • Isometric Drawing: A form of pictorial representation that shows an object in three dimensions, using a 30-degree angle for all three axes. It provides an illusion of depth without using vanishing points, making it easy to understand.
  • Perspective Drawing: Creates a realistic representation of an object as it appears in 3D space, using vanishing points and converging lines to simulate depth. Often used in architectural renderings and artistic contexts.

• Exploded View Drawings: Depict the components of an assembly separated and positioned away from each other, clearly showing how the parts fit together and their assembly order.
• Schematic Diagrams: Simplified visual representations that illustrate the logical and functional relationships within a system (e.g., electrical circuits, hydraulic systems) using standardized symbols rather than realistic images.

 

What is it used for?

 

The technical drawing of a design/product is highly recommended for manufacturing. Designers will often request a technical drawing of their product to allow a seamless flow of information from the designer to the manufacturer. Detailed plan drawings are also used for architectural purposes to accurately convey information about the site.