Dr.

Catherine Turner

When a product has more than one part, an assembly drawing

is necessary to show how the product is assembled when it is
finished. It shows someone a general idea about how the
finished product is supposed to look.
It is called a working drawing that tells what is made, what
material to use, what tolerance is applicable, and other critical
information.
The assembly drawing can have as many views as needed to
show all the parts.
A sectional view is often included to show the material used for
one or more parts and also to show how the final product is
assembled.
If any of the parts have an inclined plane, an auxiliary drawing
is included somewhere in the plans.
Each part has a circled number that is used in an accompanying
table to show critical information needed to manufacture the
parts and to assemble the product.

Engineering Design suggests that we use as many kinds of

views as necessary to fully document and to show each part of
a product, including sectional views to show materials, and
auxiliary views for inclined parts.
An assembly drawing is often necessary to provide all the
information needed to take an idea from the sketch pad to full
production.
The following slides contain all the information you need to
answer the questions on the Worksheet and to get started with
your own assembly drawings.

Usually a sketched idea, the design layout is a rough draft of

the finished drawing.
It is recommended that the engineering designer use standard
parts as much as possible as well as including established
methods of manufacturing.
If a manufacturer has to completely change their machinery to
make a part just for you, the price may take your product out of
the market.
Usually parts are not dimensioned in the design layout. That is
added in on the formal drawings.

The detail drawing shows each individual part with a drawing

number and title, including all required information for
manufacture. NOTE: Each individual part has its OWN page.
The detail drawing will include dimensions, location on the
assembly drawing, all required views, and a title block that
includes part specifications.
As mentioned in the assembly drawing, an auxiliary view is
required to show the true length and width of any part that has
an inclined plane. The auxiliary view is often shown on the
detail drawing when applicable.

Nuts, bolts, washers and other on the shelf items are

considered standard and do not require their own detail
drawing.
Purchased parts are simply identified on the assembly drawing
by size, material type, and finish.
It is recommended that engineering designers use purchased
and standard items as much as possible for ease of
manufacturing and cost effectiveness.

Sometimes parts are permanently fastened and

cannot be taken back apart once assembled.
This need to be shown and identified in a separate,
subassembly drawing.
For example, two parts that are welded together
require their own subassembly drawing.

If every piece of information necessary to

manufacture each part were placed on an
assembly drawing, the drawing itself would
be covered in information.
To minimize confusion and to clarify pertinent
information, a circled number is often
identified with a leader line (arrow head with
text) which correlates to a number in a chart
either on the drawing or on attached
documentation.
1

This information is then used to generate a

BOM or Bill of Materials that has all the
important information for the part that
matches the circled number.

Item Number

Description of the design

Matches the callout or balloon number on the drawing.

Short and sweet information about the specific part.

Manufacturers Part Number

This will be assigned by the manufacturer and does NOT

match the item number on the assembly drawing and BOM

Manufacturer

Most companies will specify a manufacturer for a part and is

often dependent on the purchasing agent who negotiates
the best prices and delivery

Material Used

Because the strength, quality, compression and tension

resistance and other properties differ with the materials, it is
critical that the engineering designer research and choose
the best material for the product.

Quantity

How many of each part do you need?

If you say 1, it is read as 1 part.
If you really mean 1 gross and just put 1 on your BOM, dont
be surprised when you are 143 short of whatever it is you
need.
A gross is 12 dozens or 12 x 12 = 144.
Often, standard small parts like washers, bolts, and
fasteners are sold by the gross.
Remember that people ordering your stuff will use your BOM
and most will not be able to read your mind so be sure and
put AS MUCH information as possible that someone would
require to get your correct parts.

Item Number
1

Description
Sheet metal
Screws

Manufacturer
Part Number
20-98993

Manufacturer
Jones Metal
Supply

Material
Steel

Quantity
24

Callouts and balloons are used every time,

on every part on an assembly drawing, to
keep the drawing as clean as possible.

Just a suggestion for important information:

Item Number
Description
Manufacturer Part Number
Manufacturer
Material
Quantity

Assembly drawings all have title blocks and that is where the
similarity from one drawing to another ends.
Companies all have their own ideas of what is needed in the
title block so it is a good idea to view existing drawings when
starting a new position that requires assembly drawings.
When drawings are changed, a revision number is placed on
the title block and the date so that someone looking at all the
drawings later can determine the most current version.

Company name and address

What the product is (drawing title)
The part number
The scale of the drawing
Who is the drafter and when was the drawing finished or
submitted
Who checked the drawing and the date checked
Who approved the drawing and the date approved
What material was used for the part
What are the tolerances
Any heat treatments or finishing not specified on the drawing

Just like the title blocks, the numbering systems vary

from one company to the next.
It is common for drawings to be sequential and the
numbers followed by a letter that states the size of
the paper.
For example, drawing 33800 on a size B sheet of
paper could be numbered B-33800 in most
situations.

Show what the finished product is supposed to look

like
Show where all the parts are located for assembly
Have information on a separate table (parts list or
Bill of Materials) that matches identifying circled
numbers on the assembly drawing
May have several views in order to show all the
important details on the product
Has all the information needed to produce a part