TECHNICAL DRAFTING

- History, Theories, Basic Concept & Current Trends

- Materials, Tools and Equipment
- Basic Competencies
o Participate in Workplace communication
o Practice Occupational Health and Safety Procedures (OHS) & 5s

Learning Outcomes:

1. Explain the history, Basic concept, Theories, and the current trends in
Technical Drawing.
2. Identify the Different Materials, Tools and Equipment in Technical Drawing.
3. Apply the Basic Competencies in Technical Drawing.

What is Technical Drawing?

- It is a drawing that visually expresses how something functions and is to

be constructed.
- Technical drawings are made of GRAPHIC
o Communication using graphic elements.
o These elements include symbols (glyphs and icons), images
(drawing and photos.)
- Who uses Technical Drawing
o Engineers, contractors, plumbers, architects, interventors and
other use technical drawing to build the object detail in the plan.

What is Technical Drafting?

- Technical Drafting, also called Technical Drawing or Engineering Drawing,

is the process of creating precise and detailed drawings that visually
communicate how something functions or is constructed. It is considered
the universal language of engineers, architects, and designers, used to
transform ideas into visual instructions for production, construction, or
analysis.

- It involves the use of lines, symbols, dimensions, scales, and notations to

accurately represent objects, structures, or systems. Technical drafting

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 may be done manually (traditional drafting tools) or digitally (Computer-
Aided Design – CAD software).

History of Technical Drafting

Ancient Civilizations (3000 BCE – 1000 CE)

- The origins of technical drawing can be traced back to ancient civilizations

such as the Egyptians and Greeks. They used drawings and diagrams to
plan and construct architectural marvels like the pyramids and temples.
These early drawings laid the foundation for architectural and engineering
practices.

Renaissance (14th – 17th century)

- The Renaissance period saw a resurgence of interest in science,

mathematics, and art. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci made significant
contributions to technical drawing with his detailed anatomical and
engineering sketches. The development of perspective drawing
techniques during this time revolutionized architectural representation.

Industrial Revolution (18th – 19th century)

- The Industrial Revolution brought about major advancements in

engineering and manufacturing. Technical drawing became crucial for
designing machinery, factories, and infrastructure. The standardization of
drawing conventions, including the use of orthographic projection and
isometric drawings, simplified communication in the rapidly evolving
industrial landscape.

20th Century

- The 20th century witnessed significant advancements in technical drawing

with the introduction of computer-aided design (CAD) software. CAD
systems enabled engineers and designers to create digital
representations of products and structures, allowing for greater precision
and efficiency in design and manufacturing processes.

21st Century

- Technical drawing has continued to evolve in the digital age. The

integration of CAD with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)

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 technologies has enabled engineers and designers to visualize and
interact with their designs in immersive ways. Additionally, cloud-based
collaboration tools have made it easier for global teams to work together
on complex projects.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veCgyVBQkZM

Theories

1. Orthographic Projection Theory

- Developed by Gaspard Monge, this represents 3D objects in 2D using
multiple views (front, top, side). It is the foundation of engineering and
architectural drawing.
2. Isometric & Perspective Drawing Theories
- Provide visual representation closer to real-life appearance
3. Standardization Theory

- Technical drawings follow global standards (ISO, ANSI, ASME, BSI) for
symbols, line types, and dimensioning to ensure universal understanding.

4. Geometric Construction Theory

- Drafting relies heavily on geometric principles (lines, circles, polygons) for

constructing precise shapes and intersections.

5. Dimensioning & Tolerancing Theory

- Focuses on accurate measurement and allowable variations. Governed by

standards such as ASME Y14.5 for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
(GD&T).

6. Communication Theory

- Drafting serves as a universal graphical language to exchange technical

ideas across industries and disciplines.

Basic Concepts

- Drafting is a universal language of engineers and architects.

- Requires accuracy, clarity, and neatness.
- Uses symbols, lines, scales, and conventions for effective communication.
- Serves as the foundation for design, analysis, and construction.

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Current Trends

- Integration of 3D modeling and BIM (Building Information Modeling).

- Use of AI-assisted design tools and automation in CAD.
- Adoption of VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) for
immersive visualization.
- Growing importance of sustainable design and green drafting practices.

Materials, Tools, and Equipment

A. Traditional Drafting Tools and Materials

Meaning/Function Drawing
1. Drawing Board  Provides a smooth,
flat, and stable
surface for drafting.


2. T-Square  Used for drawing

horizontal lines and
as a guide for set
squares.

3. Triangles (Set  for drawing vertical

Squares: 30°– and inclined lines at
60°, 45°–45°) specific angles.

4. Protractor  Measures and

constructs angles
accurately.

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5. Compass  draws circles and
arcs.

6. Divider  transfers and

compares
measurements

7. Drafting  Measures and

Scales draws objects in
(Architect’s/En proportional sizes.
gineer’s Scale)

8. Technical  Different grades are

Pencils (HB, used for
2H, 4H, etc.) construction lines,
outlines, and details.

9. Technical Pens  For precise ink

(e.g., Rotring drawings with
pens) controlled line
thickness.

10. Erasers  removes pencil

marks

11. Erasing Shield  prevents accidental

removal of other
details.

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12. Templates  Speeds up drawing
(Circle, Ellipse, of standard shapes
Lettering, etc.) and symbols.

13. Drafting Tape/  Secures drawing

Dots paper on the board
without damaging it.

14. Drawing  Surfaces for

Paper/ drafting, tracing, and
Vellum / blueprinting
Tracing Film

B. Modern Drafting Tools and Equipment

1. Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Software – Examples: AutoCAD,
Revit, SolidWorks, SketchUp.
Used for precise, editable, and
efficient digital drafting.

2. Plotters and Large-Format

Printers – Prints technical
drawings in full scale or large
formats.

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 3. 3D Printers – Converts digital
drafts into tangible 3D models for
prototyping.

4. Digital Drawing Tablets and

Stylus (e.g., Wacom, iPad Pro) –
Allows freehand sketching and
editing directly in CAD software

5. Workstation Computer with High-

Resolution Monitor – Provides
processing power and clarity for
handling complex drafting tasks.

Basic Competencies

a. Participate in Workplace Communication

- Interpret and follow verbal and written instructions.

- Use technical terminologies accurately.
- Apply effective listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
- Prepare reports, memos, sketches, and documentation.

b. Practice Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) & 5S

OHS Principles:

- Maintain a safe and hazard-free workplace.

- Use proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
- Follow safety protocols in handling tools, equipment, and electrical
devices.

5S Methodology (Japanese workplace organization system):

- Seiri (Sort) – Remove unnecessary items.

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 - Seiton (Set in order) – Organize tools and materials systematically.
- Seiso (Shine) – Keep workplace clean.
- Seiketsu (Standardize) – Maintain consistency in processes.
- Shitsuke (Sustain) – Develop discipline to follow 5S regularly.

References/Bibliography

Congdon-Fuller, A., Ramirez, A., & Smith, D. (2023). Technical drawing 101 with
AutoCAD 2024: A multidisciplinary guide to drafting theory and practice with video
instruction. SDC Publications.

Plantenberg, K. (2023). Engineering graphics essentials with AutoCAD 2024

instruction. SDC Publications.

International Organization for Standardization. (2020). ISO 128-1: Technical product

documentation — General principles of representation — Part 1: Introduction and
fundamental requirements. ISO.

International Organization for Standardization. (2020). ISO 128-2: Technical product

documentation — General principles of representation — Part 2: Basic conventions
for lines. ISO.

International Organization for Standardization. (2022). ISO 128-3: Technical product

documentation — General principles of representation — Part 3: Views, sections and
cuts. ISO.

Sharifi, M. M. (2020). Evaluation of technical drawing rules and its application in

engineering drawings and final year projects. International Journal of Innovative
Research and Scientific Studies, 3(3), 82–87. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v3i3.38

Ruslan, F. A., Mahamarowi, N. H., Mustapha, S., & Aman, F. B. (2023). Virtual reality
(VR) – The effectiveness in interior architecture technical drafting. IOP Conference
Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1217(1), 012011.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1217/1/012011

Bermundo, M. R. (2025). Skills analysis of technical drafting trainers along computer-

aided drawing. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 7(1).
https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i01.1234

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Ajayi, K., Wei, X., Gryder, M., Shields, W., Wu, J., Jones, S. M., Kucer, M., & Oyen,
D. (2023). DeepPatent2: A large-scale benchmarking corpus for technical drawing
understanding. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.04098

Carrara, A., Nousias, S., & Borrmann, A. (2024). VectorGraphNET: Graph attention
networks for accurate segmentation of complex technical drawings. arXiv.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.01336

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