Drafting

Terminology

Drafters
Drafting Technologists
and Technicians
 Acknowledgments

Winnipeg Technical College and the Department of Labour and Immigration of Manitoba
wish to express sincere appreciation to all contributors.

Special acknowledgments are extended to the following individuals:

Manola Barlow, Independent Contractor

Sarah McDowell, Independent Contractor

Recognition of Prior Learning Coordinator, Winnipeg Technical College

Grace Leduc, Curriculum Development, Winnipeg Technical College

Bill Jurens, Technical Drafting Instructor, Winnipeg Technical College

Gerald Lepine, Technical Drafting Instructor, Winnipeg Technical College

Funding for this project has been provided by The Citizenship and Multicultural Division,
Manitoba Department of Labour and Immigration.

Disclaimer

Statements and opinions in this document do not reflect those of Winnipeg Technical
College or the project funder, Citizenship and Multicultural Division, Manitoba
Department of Labour and Immigration. The information is gathered from a variety of
sources and is current and accurate as of the revision date noted. This information is
subject to change and will not be further updated. It is the responsibility of the reader to
seek current statistics and information.

Please contact the Winnipeg Technical College at 989-6500 or www.wtc.mb.ca if you

have questions about the contents of this document

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Table of Contents

Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

Conversion Factors From Imperial to Metric Units------------------------------- 5

Drafting Drawings and Terminology ------------------------------------------------- 7

Assembly Drawing -------------------------------------------------------------- 8

Front View or Elevation-------------------------------------------------------- 9
Interior Elevation ---------------------------------------------------------------10
Isometric Drawing--------------------------------------------------------------11
Machine Drawing---------------------------------------------------------------12
Schematic------------------------------------------------------------------------13
Three-View Drawing-----------------------------------------------------------14
Section Drawing ----------------------------------------------------------------15
Detail Drawing ------------------------------------------------------------------16
Blueprint of Floor Plan Created by CAD----------------------------------17
Civil Plan -------------------------------------------------------------------------18
Structural Section Drawing --------------------------------------------------19
Orthographic Drawings -------------------------------------------------------20
Orthographic Drawings -------------------------------------------------------21
Components of the Blueprints ----------------------------------------------22
Civil and Structural Engineer Symbols------------------------------------24
Metric Drawing------------------------------------------------------------------25
Drafting Symbols ---------------------------------------------------------------26
Common Architectural Symbols --------------------------------------------27

References ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28

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Introduction

To become a skilled drafter, you first need to be familiar with the types of drawings that
drafters work with on a regular basis. The sections in this booklet introduce you to some of
the basic drawings and terms of drafting.

It is strongly recommended that you study more in depth. The book listed below is an
excellent introduction to terms and drawings that you will need to be familiar with. Contact the
college/university of your choice for more details on recommended books to read.

National Center for Construction Education and Research Core Curriculum

Introductory Craft Skills: Trainee Guide, 3rd Ed. Columbus, Ohio: Pearson Prentice
Hall. 2004.

4
Conversion Factors From Imperial to Metric Units1

This table gives easily remembered, approximate conversion factors for some common
units, as well as more precise factors. Boldfaced values are exact. But remember,
estimated values don't warrant precise conversions.

More precisely,
imperial metric multiply by Note
multiply by
acres (US
hectares (ha) 0.4 0.404 687 3
survey)
feet (ft) metres (m) 0.3 0.3048
fluid ounces (fl
millilitres (mL) 30 29.573 53 2
oz)
gallons (gal) litres (L) 3.8 3.785 411 784 2
inches (in) centimetres (cm) 2.54 2.54
kilometres per hour
knots 1.852
(km/h)
miles (mi) kilometres (km) 1.6 1.609 344
miles per gallon litres per 100 km divide 235.215
(mi/gal) (L/(100 km)) by mi/gal
miles per hour kilometres per hour
1.6 1.609 344
(mi/h) (km/h)
nautical miles kilometres 1.852
ounces (oz) grams (g) 28 28.349 52 1
pound-force
newtons (N) 4.448 222
(lbf)
0.45
pounds (lb) kilograms (kg) or divide 0.453 592 37 1
by 2.2

1
Retrieved March 9, 2007, from http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/common.html#conversions,.

5
 More precisely,
imperial metric multiply by Note
multiply by
pounds per
square inch kilopascals (kPa) 6.894 757
(lbf/in2)
quarts (qt) litres (L) 0.9 0.946 352 946 2
square feet (ft2) square metres (m2) 0.1 0.092 903 04
square miles square kilometres
2.6 2.589 988
(mi2) (km2)
yards (yd) metres (m) 0.9 0.9144

Helpful Websites for Conversion Practice

This site explains how both metric and imperial measurements are used in
buildings and in plans and drawings in Canada.

www.cps.gov.on.ca

Go to these websites to practise metric to imperial conversions:

www.321know.com

www.metric-conversion-tables.com

www.asknumbers.com

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Drafting Drawings and Terminology
Alphabet of Lines - The variety of lines used to describe objects and their relationships
within a drawing. 2

2
Retrieved Feb.19, 2007, from www.ic.arizona.edu.

7
Assembly Drawing - A drawing that shows how part or all of a machine or structure is
put together.

8
Front view or Elevation - A view that shows the true width and height of an object.

9
Interior Elevation: A view of the inside of the room/building.

10
Isometric Drawing - A type of three-dimensional drawing known as a pictorial
illustration. It lets you see an object as it really is, rather than as a flat, two-dimensional
view. Typically in construction, objects are shown at a 30-degree angle in isometric
drawings to provide a three-dimensional perspective.

11
Machine Drawing - A technical drawing used for the machine tool and manufacturing
industries.

12
Schematic - An electrical or electronic part drawing.3

3
Retrieved March 6, 2007, from http://www.netads.com/~meo/Guitar/Amps/Kalamazoo/M1/schem.html.

13
Three-view drawing - A set of three two-dimensional drawings: One of the front view;
one of the top view, and one of the side view (usually the right side of the object).
Example:

14
Section Drawing: A drawing that shows a specific part in detail.

15
Detail Drawing - A drawing that gives all of the information necessary to construct
some part or a larger structure.

16
Blueprint of a floor plan created by computer-aided design (CAD).

17
Civil Plan - Aerial (top) view.

18
Structural Section Drawing: Shows inside specifications.

19
Orthographic Drawings - An orthographic drawing is a construction drawing showing
straight-on views of the different sides of an object. Orthographic drawings show
dimensions that are proportional to the actual physical dimensions.

20
Orthographic Projection: A means of representing a three-dimensional (3D) object in
two dimensions (2D).

21
Components of the Blueprint - All blueprints are laid out in a standardized format. One
section that is included in blueprints is a Title Block.

When you look at any blueprint, the first thing to look at is the title block. The title block
is normally in the lower right-hand corner of the drawing or across the right edge of the
paper.

The title block has two purposes. First, it gives information about the structure or
assembly. Second, it is numbered so the print can be filed easily.

Different companies put different information in the title block. Generally, it contains the
following:

Company logo Usually printed on Scale The ratio of the size of the
the drawing object as drawn to the objects actual
size.
Sheet title Identifies the project
Revision blocks Information on
Date The drawing was checked and
revisions, including (at minimum) the
readied for seal; permit issued for
date and the initials of the person
construction.
making the revision. Other
Drawn Initials of the person who
information may include descriptions
drafted the drawing.
of the revision and a revision
Drawing number Code numbers number.
assigned to a project.

Every company has its own system for such things as project numbers and
departments. Every company also has its own placement locations for the title and
revision blocks. Your supervisor should explain your companys system to you.

22
23
Civil and Structural Engineering Symbols

24
Metric Drawing4

4
Note: The spelling of Millimeters in this drawing is American. The spelling of this in Canada is Millimetres.

25
Drafting Symbols

26
27
References

Giesecke, F.E., Mitchelle, A., Spencer, C.H., Hill, I.L., Dygdon, J.T., Novak, E.J. Technical
Drawing, 9th Ed. New York: Macmillian Publishing Company, 1991.

Madsen, A. David and Shumaker M. Terence. AutoCAD and its applications. South
Holland Illinois: The Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc., (H-1, H-6) 1992.

National Center for Construction Education and Research, Core Curriculum Introductory
Craft Skills: Trainee Guide, 3rd Ed. Columbus, Ohio: Pearson Prentice Hall,
2004.

Taylor, L. David. Elementary Blueprint Reading for Machinists, 4th Ed. Scarborough,
Ont.: Delmar Publishers, 1996.

Alphabet of Lines. Retrieved Feb. 19, 2007, from www.ic.arizona.edu

Drafting Glossary. Retrieved Feb.16, 2007, from www.bv229.k12.ks.us

Kalamazoo Amp Field Guide: Model 1 Schematic. Retrieved March 6, 2007, from,
www.netads.com

Updated: April 2008

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