ISOMETRIC

PROJECTION
What is Isometric Projection ???
Isometric projection is a type of pictorial
projection in which the three
dimensions of a solid are not only
shown in one view, but their actual
sizes can be measured directly from it.

Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional

objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings. It is a
projection in which the three coordinate axes appear equally foreshortened
and the angle between any two of them is 120 degrees.
Isometric Projection of Cube
• If a cube is placed on one of its corners on the ground
with a solid diagonal perpendicular to the V.P., the front
view is the isometric projection of the cube.
Isometric View of a Cube
Isometric Projection (Contd….)
(a) All the faces of the cube are equally inclined to the V.P. and
hence, they are seen as similar and equal rhombuses
instead of squares.

(b) The three lines CB, CD and CG meeting at C and

representing the three edges of the solid right-angle are also
equally inclined to the V.P. and are therefore, equally
foreshortened. They make equal angles of 120° with each
other. The line CG being vertical, the other two lines CB and
CD make 30° angle each, with the horizontal.

(c) All the other lines representing the edges of the cube are
parallel to one or the other of the above three lines and are
also equally foreshortened.

(d) The diagonal BD of the top face is parallel its true length.
Terms used in Isometric Projection
• The three lines CB, CD and CG meeting at the point C
and making 120° angles with each other are termed
isometric axes.

• The lines parallel to these axes are called isometric lines.

• The planes representing the faces of the cube as well as

other planes parallel to these planes are called isometric
planes.
Isometric Projection (Contd….)
• As all the edges of the cube are equally foreshortened,
the square faces are seen as rhombuses.

• The rhombus ABCD shows the isometric projection of the

top square face of the cube in which BD is the true length
of the diagonal.

• Construct a square BQDP around BD as a diagonal. Then

BP shows the true length of BA.
Isometric Scale (Contd…)
Isometric View vs Projection
• If the foreshortening of the isometric lines in an isometric projection is
disregarded and instead, the true lengths are marked

The view obtained will be exactly of the same shape but larger in
proportion (about 22.5%) than that obtained by the use of the
isometric scale.

• Due to the ease in construction and the advantage of measuring the

dimensions directly from the drawing, it has become a general practice
to use the true scale instead of the isometric scale.

• The view drawn with the true scale is called isometric drawing or
isometric view, while that drawn with the use of isometric scale is
called isometric projection.
Isometric View
• The vertical edges are shown by vertical lines

• The horizontal edges are represented by lines, making

30° angles with the horizontal.
Isometric View (Contd…)
• The front view of a square is given in fig. (i). Draw its
isometric view.

• The top view of a square is given in fig. (i). Draw its

isometric view.
Isometric View (Contd…)
The front view of a triangle having its surface parallel to the
V.P. is shown in fig. (i). Draw its isometric view.
Isometric View (Contd…)
• Draw the isometric view of a square prism, side of the
base 20 mm long and the axis 40 mm long, when its axis
is (i) vertical and (ii) horizontal
•When the axis is vertical, the ends of the prism will be horizontal.
•Draw the sometric view (the rhombus 1-2-3-4) of the top end.
•Its sides will make 30°-angles with the horizontal.
•The length of the prism will be drawn in the third direction, i.e. vertical.
Isometric View (Contd…)
When the axis is horizontal, the ends will be vertical. The ends can be
drawn in two ways as shown in figures . In each case, the length is shown
in the direction of the third isometric axis.
Isometric View (Contd…)

Draw the isometric view of the frustum of the hexagonal

pyramid
Isometric View (Contd…)
(i) Enclose the front view and the top view in rectangles.

(ii) Draw the isometric view of the rectangular box

(iii) Locate the six points of the base of the frustum on the sides
of
the bottom of the box. The upper six points on the top surface
of the box are located by drawing isometric lines, e.g. P1 and Q1
intersecting at a point 1.

(iv) Join the corners and complete the isometric view as shown.
Draw the isometric view of a cone, base 40 mm diameter
and axis 55 mm long (i) when its axis is vertical and (ii)
when its axis is horizontal.
Isometric View: Rectangle/Square
H
D

RECTANGLE D
A D A
C C
A

B C B B
 B
Isometric View: Triangle
1
TRIANGLE
H
3 B
B 1 3
A A
3
1
2 A 2
2
 4

Isometric View: Pentagon/Hexagon

1
PENTAGON
E
4
H
1
E

D 4
D
E
A D A
1 3
3 A C
C
2 3 B B
B C 2 2
Isometric View: Circle

A B

3 4

D C

1
Isometric View: Irregular Shape

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.

1. Non-isometric line can be located by its end points.

2. Similarly, an angle in orthographic view is never seen in
its isometric.
 Isometric View: Prism ISOMETRIC VIEW OF
PENTAGONAL PRISM
LYING ON H.P.

Axis length 4
H E
1 D

3
C
B
2
ISOMETRIC VIEW OF
HEXAGONAL PRISM Axis length
STANDING ON H.P.
 Isometric View: Pyramid
ISOMETRIC VIEW OF
PENTAGONAL PYRAMID
STANDING ON H.P.
(Height is added from center of pentagon)
ISOMETRIC VIEW OF BASE OF
PENTAGONAL PYRAMID
STANDING ON H.P.

4
4
D
D E
E

1 3 1 3
A C
A C
B
2
B
2
Isometric View: Pyramid
Isometric View: Prism
Isometric View: Cone

A B

3 4
O

D C

1
 CYLINDER STANDING ON H.P.
Isometric View: Cylinder

CYLINDER LYING ON H.P.

Solids with Non-Isometric Faces
•C-3=E-5=c’-3’

• D-4=d’-4’

M-N
 Solids with Non-Isometric Faces
A SQUARE PYRAMID OF 40 MM BASE SIDES AND 60 MM AXIS IS CUT BY AN INCLINED SECTION
PLANE THROUGH THE MID POINT OF AXIS AS SHOWN. DRAW ISOMETRIC VIEW OF SECTION OF
PYRAMID.

3’ 4’

3 1’2’

X Y
1 a d
1
4

2
o

3
b 2 c
A pentagonal pyramid of base side 30 mm and axis length 65 mm is resting on HP on
its base with a side of base perpendicular to VP. It is cut by a plane inclined at 30° to HP
and perpendicular to VP and passes through a point at a distance 30 mm from the
apex. Draw the isometric view of the remaining portion of the pyramid.

• Draw TV, FV of pyramid and cutting plane at 30° to XY.

• Draw a rectangle to enclose base of pyramid in TV and rhombus in isometric to
mark base corners.
• Produce a new corner to touch the side of rectangle like m, then mark it on the
sides of rhombus.
• Draw a line from m parallel to an isometric axes.
• Measure the horizontal distance from TV and mark in isometric, similarly get
other new points in isometric.
• Darken the visible edges to complete the isometric view.