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Drawing Instruments and Its Uses

The traditional method of creating technical drawings is with drawing instruments. Since the eighteenth century, precision instruments have been the tools of drafters. Today, CAD software is another tool used by many drafters. The basic concepts of drawing and measuring is the same for traditional and CAD drawing. By understanding the basic principles of drawing, the properly trained drafter can create and modify any type of drawing. For many years, the essential equipment for students in technical schools and for engineers and designers in professional practice remained unchanged. This equipment included a drawing board, T-square, triangles, an architects or engineers scale, and a professional-quality set of drawing instruments. Now, however, other equipment has come into general use, including the

drafting machine, parallel-ruling straightedge, technical fountain pen and, of course, the computer. Typical pens used for technical drawing are pencils and technical pens. Usually used are mechanical pencils with a standard lead thickness. General line widths are 0.18 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm. Hardness varies usually from HB to 2H. Softer lead gives a better contrast, but harder lead gives more accurate track. Paper or plastic surfaces do require their own lead types. In most cases, the final drawings are drawn with ink. The pen is generally Rapidograf-type technical pen, a marker pen that draws lines of consistent width (so-called steel marker pen). The pen has an ink container which contains a metal tube, inside which is a thin metal needle or wire, the soul. Ink is absorbed between the needle and the tube wall, preventing an excessive amount of ink from being released. The needle has a

weight and by waving the pen back and forth the needle is released and the ink can run. Previously, the tank was filled from an ink bottle, newer styluses use ink cartridges. Each line width has its own stylus. Width of the line is standardized. In Finland, the most commonly used set is 0.13 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.50 mm and 0.70 mm. There are their own stylii for tracing paper and plastic, because plastic requires a harder pen tip. The drawing board is an essential tool. Paper will be attached and kept straight and still, so that the drawing can be done with accuracy. Generally, different kinds of assistance ruler are used in drawing. The drawing board is usually mounted to a floor pedestal in which the board turns to a different position, and also its height can be adjustable. Smaller drawing boards are produced for table-top use.

Drafting machine is a device which is mounted to the drawing board. It has rules that can be adjusted by controlling mechanism. There are two main types of apparatus: a parallelogram apparatus based on a hinged arm; and a "wagon apparatus" which moves on rails mounted to the top of the drawing board. The accuracy of the parallelogram apparatus is better in the middle of the board, decreasing towards the edges, whereas a wagon apparatus has a constant accuracy over the whole board. Parallelogram apparatus are often equipped with a ballast, with the intention to make the device lighter to handle. The drawing-head of a wagon apparatus slides on bearings in a vertical trail, which in turns is moving along a horizontal, top-mounted rail. Both apparatus types do have a movable drawing-head and the rules attached to it so that the angle between the rules may be adjusted. Drawing apparatus enables easy drawing of parallel lines over the paper. The adjustable angle between the rulers lets the

lines to be drawn in varying angles. Rulers may also be used as a support for separate special rulers and letter templates. The rules are replaceable and they can be for example scale-rules. Drawing apparatus has evolved from a drawing board mounted parallel ruler and a pantograph, a device copying the ratios. Rulers used in technical drawing are usually made of polystyrene. Rulers come in two types according to the design of their edge. Straight edge can be used with lead and felt pens, whereas when technical pen is used the edge must be grooved to prevent the spread of the ink. The basic tool in technical drawing is a triangular set square, either 90/60/30 or 90/45/45 degree. Also in use are a continuously adjustable 0-90 degrees protractor and a separate T-square - a straightedge which can use the edge of the drawing board as a support.

Architect's scale is a scaled, threeedged ruler which has six different scales marked to its sides. A typical combination for buildings details is 1:20, 1:50, 1:100, 1:25, 1:75 and 1:125. There are their own rulers for zoning work as well as for inch units. Today scale rulers are made of plastic, formerly of hardwood. A pocket-sized version is also available, with scales printed on flexible plastic stripes. A parallel ruler is a movable ruler used on the drawing board. Its angle stays constant and with it the horizontal lines can be easily be drawn all over the board. It is also used as a support for protractor and letter templates. The parallel ruler is usually connected to the board with strings, which allow the ruler to be positioned in a small angle. For drawing of curves, rulers of various designs are used: solid curved rulers

and "parrot rulers" or a curved ruler the shape of which can be modified. Templates contain pre-dimensioned holes in the right scale to accurately draw a symbol or sign. Letter templates will deliver the text, as well number as letter characters. For drawing circles and circle-arcs, circle templates are used, containing a suitable set of holes in certain dimensions with suitable sized holes in them. Models are also available for other geometric shapes such as squares and for drawing ellipses. Drafting paper is silk-like and translucent. It is primarily suitable for pencils and felt tip pens. Pencil marks can be corrected to some extent with an eraser. Tracing paper is polished sandwich-like sheet which is suitable for lead and pens. Eraser or scraping is used for correcting. Translucent plastic films are commonly used in photocopying. They have higher mechanical strength than translucent paper.

Drawing inks can be divided into two groups: soot inks and "plastic inks". Soot ink suits in drawing to paper and most drawing plastics. The most commonly used black soot ink is a colloidal mixture of water and carbon black. Plastic inks used on polyester sheets are non-corrosive. Corrosive inks are mainly used in map drawing. Draftsmen who practice and learn correct manipulation of their drawing instruments should strive to attain accuracy, speed, legibility and neatness. As technical drawing requires thought and concentration, mastery of technical drawing tools will promote efficient and effective drawing.

Reference: Technical Drawing Tools. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Technical_drawing_tools