• A basic set of drawing tools includes a t-square, a 45° triangle, a 30 /60° triangle, a protractor, a combination scale, a large bow compass, a small bow compass and a dividers. The t-square is used for drawing horizontal lines only. The 45° and 30 /60° triangles are placed on the t-square to draw vertical and angled lines. The two triangles can be combined to draw angles at 15° intervals. The protractor is used to measure or layout angles at .5° intervals. The combination scale is different than the normal ruler. A ruler can only measure in full size units like inches; whereas the scale can be used to layout measurements at full size or at reduced sizes. The scale should not be used to draw lines. The compasses are used for drawing arcs and circles, small bow compass for circles under 3" in diameter and large bow compass for circles over 3" in diameter. Compass leads are sharpened to a bevel point using a sandpaper pad or compass file. The dividers is used to transfer a measurement from one location to another without remeasuring.
  
  
• Drafting scales can be classified into four types: mechanical, architectural, civil and combination. Mechanical scales, such as 1/4"=1" (quarter size) or 1/2"=1" (half size), are used for machine parts, tools, toys, etc. Architectural scale, such as 1/4"=1'-0" (1/48 size) or 1/8"=1'-0" (1/96 size) are used for houses and buildings. Civil scales, such as 1"=10' or 1"=50', are used for highways, dams and housing developments. The combination scale is triangular in shape and includes mechanical, architectural, civil and sometimes metric scales. See Realistic Views of Combination Scale.
  
  
• Mechanical scales equate inches to inches (1/2"=1" and 1/4"=1") and can be expressed in fractional or decimal units.
  
• Architectural scales equate inches to feet (1/4"=1'-0" or 1/8"=1'-0") and are expressed in feet and fractional inch units.
  
• Civil engineers scales equate inches to feet, yards or miles (1"=50.0' or 1"=50 yds.) and are expressed in decimal inches, feet, yard or mile units.
  
• Metric scales equate meters to parts of a meter (1:100 or 1:50) and are expressed in millimeters.
  
• A track drafting machine replaces four of the basic drafting tools: t-square, triangles, protractor and scales. This tool allowed the drafter, designer, architect and engineer to work with fewer tools and create larger more precise drawings.
  
  
• A Computer Aided Design (CAD) System has two major parts: hardware and software. The hardware consists of a central processing unit (CPU), a monitor, a keyboard, a digitizer (mouse), a CD drive, a floppy disk drive, an internal hard drive and a printer or plotter. See handout for description of hardware components. The software consists of the programs (MicroStation and ArchiCAD) used to draw or design objects. Computer Aided Drawing software is two dimensional (2D) and is used for creating detail drawings. Computer Aided Design software is three dimensional (3D) and is used to create a solid model of an object that can be rotated, colored and shaded for a realistic view. MicroStation can be used for both 2D and 3D views. ArchiCAD is a 3D product that can generate 2D drawings. See CAD handouts for menus and command explanations. For additional information: http://www.caddprimer.com
  
  
• Drawing media can be classified into six types: bond, index, tracing, polyester film, copy and presentation. Bond papers in white and light colors are used for sketching and lettering sheets; for computer print outs using printers and plotters; and multiple copies using xerographic "Engineering" copiers. Index papers in "manila" and light colors are used for pencil drawings, dividor sheets and cover pages. Tracing paper or "vellum" is used to copy an original drawing by hand using pencil or ink. Vellum actually contains cloth fibers. Polyester film or "mylar" is used for original drawings using ink or a plastic lead pencil. Reproduction "copy" paper or "diazo" paper is used to make multiple copies of vellum or mylar drawings using a "Diazo Whiteprint" copier. The "diazo" process uses light and ammonia fumes to create a copy. Sepia paper is used to make intermediate transparent copies that can be drawn on and copied again using the "diazo" process. Presentation paper or illustration board is used to make pictorial drawings by hand that will be colored and shaded for display purposes.
  
  
• Drafting media is available in two groups of five sizes and designated by the letters A, B, C, D and E.
  Engineering drawing sheets:
  "A" size - 8.5" x 11"
  "B" size - 11" x 17"
  "C" size - 17" x 22"
  "D" size - 22" x 34"
  "E" size - 34" x 44".
  Architectural drawing sheets:
  "A" size - 9" x 12"
  "B" size - 12" x 18"
  "C" size - 18" x 24"
  "D" size - 24" x 36"
  "E" size - 36" x 48"
  
  
• Wooden drafting pencils and 2mm or .5 mm leads are graded according to their softness or hardness. "6B" is very soft. "9H" is very hard. The hardness of the lead provides contrasting lines based on their importance. The most commonly used pencils are "H", "2H", "4H" and "6H". A lead holder is needed for 2mm or a fineline lead holder for .5 mm leads. A small lead pointer is needed to sharpen 2 mm leads. The "H" lead should be used to draw (THICK)"visible" and "cutting-plane" lines. The "2H" lead should be used to draw (MEDIUM) "hidden" lines and "leaders". The "4H" lead should be used to draw (THIN) "center", "dimension", "extension" and "phantom" lines. The "6H" lead should be used to draw "guide lines" and "construction" lines. See "Alphabet of Lines" for examples of lines.
  
  
• Technical inking pens are available in five sizes (.25, .35, .5, .75 & 1.0 mm) and are used to create inked drawings on vellum or mylar.
  
• A Lettering Guide is used to create uniformly spaced guidelines for freehand lettering.
  
  
• An Erasing Shield is used to protect portions of a drawing when erasures of small portions are necessary.
  
  
• A T-square is used to align a piece of paper to a drawing surface; to draw horizontal lines; and to support triangles for drawing vertical and angled lines.
  
  
• A 45 degree Triangle and a 30-60 degree Triangle are used with a t-square to draw lines vertical and angled (30, 45 or 60 degree) lines. The two trinagles can be combined to draw lines at intervals of 15 degrees.
  
  
• An Adjustable Triangle is used with a t-square to draw angled lines at 1 degree intervals.
  
  
• Drafting Templates are used to draw standard shapes from circles to hexagons to ellipses to architectural symbols.
  

DRAWING TOOLS & SUPPLIES

Adjustable Triangles
Bow Compasses
Combination, Architect & Engineer Scales (Realistic Views)
Mechanical Pencil Pointer
Drawing and Plotting Media
DrawingInstruments
Drawing Leads & Erasers
Dusting Brushes
Erasing Shields
Lead Holder & Leads
Fineline Lead Holder & Leads
Lettering Guides
Protractors
Standard Triangles
Templates
T-Square