Engineering Drawing Teaching Made Easy by Use of

Latest Educational Technology

Sunil Khabia ,Deepali Khabia
NRI Group of Institutions, Bhopal,M.P, India-Khabia Institute for Engineering Drawing, Bhopal,M.P, India

Address
Khabiasir@gmail.com
Khabiaclasses@yahoo.co.in
Abstract- Explaining the concepts of Engineering Drawing to
students has always been a challenging job for the professors .It
is very difficult to explain by conventional methods the three
dimensional concepts of orthographic projection, isometric projection & perspective projection .Students with less visualization
ability find great difficulty in understanding the three dimensional concepts , necessary for understanding of the subject. We
have developed a tool for teaching Engineering Drawing which
uses

3-D models developed on Auto CAD

2D Animations developed on Flash
Animated Power point presentations
Videos of drafting process recorded by high resolution
Document camera

Use of above tool, has greatly enhanced understanding of basic

concepts of Engineering Drawing by students and made the professors job easy.
Keywords Engineering drawing teaching tool ,Animations for
teaching Engineering Drawing,3Dimensional models for teaching
Engineering Drawing, Drafting videos for teaching Engineering
drawing,

I.

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DRAWING

Drawings are used to describe shape and size of object.

The use of drawing to communicate shape and size of object
can be traced back to Stone Age. Fig. 1 shows a painting or
drawing made by prehistoric man on rocks in Bhimbetka, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, India . The painting shows that even in
7000 B.C.ie Stone Age drawing was used to explain shape and
size of objects .In the drawing shown, the prehistoric man is
trying to show that when he went for hunting he used to ride
on horse with stone weapon in hand.
On observation of the drawings made by prehistoric
man, we conclude that these drawings are able to communicate information about only two dimensions i.e. width and
height of the object, whereas thickness is missing, and preciseness is not there. With time the process of making drawings developed so that we can now describe accurately all the

Fig. 1 7000 B.C rock painting in Bhimbetka , Raisen ,M.P

three dimensional details of the object .This developed language of communicating shape and size of object is called
Engineering Drawing .In other words Engineering Drawing is
the language of engineers by the help of which they describe
accurately shape and size of object no matter how complex it
is. The knowledge of Engineering Drawing is required in construction of dams, buildings, machines, printed circuit boards
etc
II.
SYLLABUS FOR ENGINEERING DRAWING
Engineering Drawing is a basic course for all undergraduate Engineering programs, Polytechnics, ITI etc. Even doctors require the knowledge of sectional views to understand
Anatomy& CT scan report .Syllabus of Engineering Drawing
in India generally includes

Orthographic projection
Projection of points
Projection of lines
Projection of planes
Projection of solids
Section of solids
Development of surfaces
Isometric projection
Perspective projection
Scales
Special curves and Conic sections

III.

CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF TEA

ACHING ENGINEERING DRAWING AND PROBLEMS FA
ACED

Professors of Engineering Drawing generally

g
have following teaching aids available for fixing thee concepts of Engineering Drawing in the brain of student
Board and Marker
ments
Black board set of drawing instrum

Wooden models
The main problems faced in teaching off Engineering
Drawing by conventional method are
It is very difficult to explain the three dimensional
concepts of projections just by deelivering lecture, or
making some stationary three dim
mensional diagrams
or showing models just by holding them in hand.
a
drafting
To explain the drafting process accurately
has to be done by help of instrumennts on board .But it
is difficult to use instruments on a vertical board and
even if the teacher uses the draftinng instruments then
students are unable to see clearly thhe drafting process,
because the teacher acts as an obbstruction between
the student and the board
Face of teacher is not towards thee students when he
writes on the board and this reducces his grip on the
class
IV.

Fig. 2 Face of teacher is towards the students while teaching

MODERN TOOL FOR TEACHING ENGINEERING

E
DRAWING

The modern computer aided teaching toool for Engineering

Drawing includes
2D animations developed on Flashh
Videos of drafting process recordeed by high resolution visual presenter
Animated power point presentationns

Three dimensional models developped on Auto CAD

Fig. 3 Visual presenter for recording

r
of drafting process

A. The Modern Classroom Develop

oped for Teaching
Engineering Drawing
Fig. 2 shows a modern classroom deeveloped for teaching Engineering Drawing
Since while teaching the instructor is facing towards
the students very good concentratioon level is
achieved.
t instructor free
High degree of automation makes the
from routine work and therefore hee can concentrate
individually on each and every studdent.
B. Production And Use of Drafting Viideos
Fig. 3 shows the Document cameraa used for making
drafting videos. We have used Elmo P30S visual presenter to
record the drafting videos. Fig. 4 shows a screen shot of a
drafting video

Fig. 4 Drrafting Video

Main advantages of Drafting viddeo are

The use of Drafting viddeos makes it very easy for the
instructor to explain the construction method

Drafting videos can be played at desired faster speed

to save the time of students
Faster doubt clearing because of replay facility at desired portion of video

C. Use of 2D Animations for Explaining Special Curves

In general basic concepts of special curves are best explained
by 2D-animations made on Flash .Table 1shows animations
developed up till now
Table 1
Topic

Number of animations developed

4
2
2
1
3

Cycloid
Epicycloid
Hypocycloid
Spiral
Archemedian spiral

Fig.5 shows a screen shot of an animation video for explaining

the basic concept of cycloid .Main advantages of explaining
the concept by help of animation is

E. Explanation of Concepts of Orthographic Projection

by Three Dimensional Models Made in Auto Cad
To build three dimensional concepts of orthographic projection three dimensional models made in Auto CAD are very
useful .Fig.6, fig.7, fig.8, fig.9& fig. 10 shows some of the
three dimensional models made in Auto CAD.
Main advantages of the above mentioned models is
Models can be given continuous rotation so that students can see the model from all directions and hence
is able to clearly visualize the shape and size of the
object. We use 3Dcorbit command to rotate models.
Position of the solid relative to reference plane can be
shown on the model and projections of solid on the
reference plane can also be shown
To remove and bring back selected portions of the
three dimensional model we use the layer feature
To make the models transparent so that internal details can also be seen we use vsfaceopacity command

Clear visualization of curve generation process

Clear explanation of logic behind the construction
process

Fig. 6 Auto CAD model developed for explaining the concept of Orthographic
projection

Fig. 5-Cycloid animation

D. Three Dimensional Models Developed on Auto Cad

Three dimensional models are very useful for explaining the three dimensional concepts of projections. Table 2
gives the details of the models developed.
Table 2
Topic
Orthographic projection
Projection of points
Projection of straight lines
Projection of planes
Projection of solids
Sections of solids
Development of surfaces

Number of models developed

24
30
83
33
40
71
69

Fig. 7 Auto CAD model developed for explaining the concept of Front
view

Fig. 10-Auto CAD model for explaining the concept of Third angle projection
system

Fig. 8 Auto CAD model for explaining the concept of Top view and First
angle projection system

Fig. 11-Auto CAD model showing the orientation of the line inclined to both
planes with respect to reference planes

Fig. 9-Auto CAD model for explaining the concept of left side view

Modern Approach for Explaining a Question on Line

Inclined to Both Planes
Question: A line AB of length 100 mm is given .Point A of the
line is 30 mm above H.P and 20 mm in front of V.P .Line is
inclined at 30 to H.P. and 45 to V.P. Point B is at higher level and far away from V.P. compared to point A .Draw front
view and top view of the line.
Explanation tools and their use
Three dimensional Auto CAD models shown in fig11
,fig 12,fig13 &fig14 are used to explain the concept
Animated power point presentation replaces all writing work to be done on board

Drafting video explains the construction method.

F.

Fig .12-Auto CAD model showing the constructional details for line inclined
to both planes on the reference planes

Fig. 13-Auto CAD model showing orientation of simple line AB2 parallel to
H.P. and inclined to V.P. at same angle as line inclined to both planes.

Fig. 15-Auto CAD model explaining the orientation of pentagonal plane with
respect to reference planes in final stage

Fig. 14-Auto CAD model showing orientation of simple line AB1 parallel to
V.P and inclined to H.P at same angle as line inclined to both planes

G. Modern Approach for Explaining a Question on Projection of Planes

Question: A regular Pentagon of 25 mm side has one side on
the ground. Its plane is inclined at 45 to the H.P. and perpendicular
to
the
V.P.
Draw
its
projections.
Explanation tools and their application
Auto CAD model shown in fig. 15 and fig. 16 are
used to explain the three dimensional concepts
Animated power point presentation replaces all writing work to be done on board

Drafting video explains constructional details

Fig. 16-Auto CAD model for explaining the orientation of pentagonal plane
with respect to reference planes in first stage and second stage

H. Modern Approach Used for Explaining a Question on

Projection Of Solid
Question: A square pyramid, base 38 mm side and axis 50 mm
long is freely suspended from one of the corners on its base
.Draw its projections, when the axis as a vertical plane makes
an angle of 45 with the V.P.
Explanation tools and their application

Auto CAD model shown in fig. 17 , fig. 18 and fig.

19 are used to explain the three dimensional concept
Animated power point presentation replaces all writing work to be done on board
Drafting video explains the construction method
Fig. 19 shows application of vsfaceopacity command
Which helps us to make the model partially transparent so that internal detail, centre of gravity can be
seen.

Fig. 19 Auto CAD model made partially transparent to show the centre of
gravity of square pyramid

I.

Modern Approach Used for Explaining a Question on

Section of Solids

Question: A cube of 35 mm long edges is resting on the H.P.

on one of its faces with a vertical face inclined at 30 to the
V.P. It is cut by a vertical section plane parallel to the V.P. and
9 mm away from the axis and further away from V.P. Draw its
sectional front view and the top view.
Explanation tools and their application
Auto CAD model shown in fig. 20 , fig. 21 & fig. 22
are used to explain three dimensional concept
Drafting video explains the construction process
Animated power point presentation is used to display
all writing work live.
Fig. 17 Auto CAD model explaining the final orientation of the square pyramid with respect to reference planes

Fig. 18-Auto CAD model explaining the three dimensional orientation of

square pyramid with respect to reference plane in first stage, second stage, and
final stage
Fig. 20 Auto CAD model explaining the orientation of cube with respect to
reference planes

Fig. 21-Auto CAD model for explaining the position of cutting plane
Fig. 23-Auto CAD model shows the square prism whose surface has to be
developed

Fig 22-Auto CAD model for explaining the view after the solid is sectioned

J.

Modern Approach for Explaining a Question on Development of Surfaces

Fig. 24- Auto CAD model shows one rectangular face of the square prism
opened

A square prism edge of base 30 mm and height 50 mm is given .The prism is having its base in H.P. with two edges of base
perpendicular to V.P. .Draw the development of lateral surface
of prism.
Explanation tools and their application
Auto CAD model shown in fig18,fig 19, fig 20,fig
21&fig 22 are used to explain three dimensional concepts
Drafting video explains the construction method
Animated power point presentation is used to display
all writing work live

Fig. 25- Auto CAD model shows two faces of the square prism opened

reference planes make visualization very clear

Drafting videos can be played
at desired speed and at desired
point
Animated power point presentations increase the legibility
and saves time.
Screen cast video lecture series
can be developed in Camtasia
at very low cost

VI.
Fig. 26- Auto CAD model showing all rectangular faces of the square prism
opened

cult to show reference planes

and projections
Making drawing on board by
instruments is time consuming
and laborious
Writing on board is also good
but consumes time
No possibility

CONCLUSION

Comparison shown in table 3 helps us to conclude that

modern teaching style should be adopted for teaching Engineering Drawing. A centralized agency should help in development of the tool for teaching engineering drawing and distribute it
Scope for further work
Explore possibility of developing 3D animations in
3Dmax ,Pro E etc.
Explore possibility of better solid modeling software
Develop a video lecture series on Engineering Drawing

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to thank, Dr Anil Kothari Prof.
U.I.T RGTU Bhopal and Shri Vinay Thapar Prof. U.I.T
RGTU Bhopal, Dr S.C Kapoor Director NIIST Bhopal ,Shri
D. Subodh Singh Chairmen NRI group of institutions Bhopal
for their kind support and guidance.

Fig.27 - Auto CAD model showing all faces of the square prism opened including bases

V.

COMPARISON BETWEEN MODERN TEACHING STYLE

& CONVENTIONAL TEACHING STYLE FOR ENGINEERING DRAWING

Table 3 compares modern and conventional teaching

style for engineering drawing
Table 3
Modern Teaching style for
Engineering Drawing
While teaching face of teacher
is always towards the students
,hence very good concentration
level achieved
2D animations developed on
special curves makes the concepts very clear because student can see the actual curve
being generated
3D models made in Auto CAD
with their projections on the

Conventional teaching style

for Engineering Drawing
When teacher is writing on
board he cannot face the students
Explanation of visual concepts
by conventional method gives
very poor results. Only intelligent students are able to understand
Conventional wooden models
are of small size and it is diffi-