Technical drawings require high precision tools to produce high quality of drawings
Source: sketchup.google.com
This is my further articles about technical drawings equipments. As I found that in technical drawing good quality of equipments are very important to ensure we can come out with high quality of drawing. As in my previous of articles I talked more about the types of equipments here I’ll write down more specifically for all the supported equipments in details.
DRAWING PENS
Drawing pens serve to further develop and refine the pencil draft. Instead of giving the drawing the permanent lines, drawing pen also provide clearer different between the paper colors with the lines.
Due to the high light-fastness and document-proofness of drawing inks the drawing can be archived for long periods.
Drawing ink was invented in ancient China as long as 5,000 years ago. It consisted of oil, soot, glue and various tinctures, but their exact composition was a strictly guarded secret.
In Europe, following numerous developmental stages, the so-called "writing tube" (reed quill) was used until the early middle ages, a thin bamboo tube fashioned in the shape of the later feather quills and split at the tip.
It was only in the 17th century that the first slate-pencil-like shanks with attached steel nibs appeared. The by no means straightforward instilling of drops of ink between the tongues of the nib had to be frequently repeated during the drawing process.
The development of tubular writing instruments began in the 30's. Further developments and technical improvements eventually made it possible to fill the pen with drawing ink for technical drawing purposes.
Drawing pens are precision drawing utensils and have a relatively complex design due to their various applications. Drawing pens need to produce consistent in line that make it different than the pen that we used for writing. This is the main reasons that differentiate between the usual pens with drawing pen.
The drawing tip casing, adjusting filament wire, wire weight and other parts critical for function and precision are made of metal. Today days drawing pens are available with a refill reservoir or disposable refill cartridges.
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| Pigma Micron Pen Set - Multi Color Amazon Price: $6.03 List Price: $16.99 |
TECHNICAL FINELINERS
Technical fineliners are available for various line widths. It’s providing good finishing of the final drawing stage to get consistence of line thickness. Good fineliners are important to get clean result such as uniformity in line with same thickness. Good types of fineliners stay in good shape even after long used (that is the different).
The composition of technical fineliners is similar to that of the fineliner and its inks. It’s no doubt that the ink also contribute in the quality of the lines produce by the fineliners to get the consistence quality.
DRAWING BOARDS
Drawing board provides aid for drawing process to become faster. Together with other equipments such as Squares Set, T-Square with other special features, drawing board becomes one of the must in the technical drawing.
In modern design of drawing board the T-Square and the squares set are all built it to make it more reliable for the drawing process. Designed with durable and light materials to make it easy for transportation in case of relocation needed drawing board still become one of the important drawing equipment in this computer aided design (CAD) age.
Nowadays:
Board made of Plastic to make sure it will be lighter than the previously designed drawing board. Metal such as aluminum used to support the board structure to make it stronger. Some special features also added to allow various usages.
A releasable sheet tensioning rail and a sheet clamp fix the paper to the board. Drawing boards allow the fixing of paper in such a way that it does not slip. Parallel sliding rulers as well as drafting heads with adjustable angles facilitate the precise drawing of parallel lines and angled lines.
Parallel sliding rulers as well as drafting heads with adjustable angles facilitate the precise drawing of parallel lines and angled lines.
Most drawing boards are made of impact-resistant plastic and are resistant against compass punctures. Guide grooves and rails on all four sides enable the precise sliding of the parallel drafting arm with a single-handed lock and release mechanism for use during drawing. Good sliding action between board and drafting arm ensure effortless handling and positioning. The dual guide design achieves a smooth, even gliding of the parallel ruler. All of these features added to the new generation to make drawing board to be more reliable for the drawing process.
High precision compasses with dial to lock the compass's angle
Source: theartistsdepot.com
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COMPASSES
Compasses have been known since antiquity as instruments for the accurate drawing of circles. They consist of two articulated legs of equal length which allow them to be spread open at various angles. The opening width determines the radius of the circle to be drawn.
Generally, one leg is equipped with a steel needle to be positioned on the centre point, while the other leg accommodates either an obliquely sharpened pencil lead or a technical drawing pen (attached via an adapter).
Low quality compasses can’t produce a perfect circle. For technical drawing process high precision compasses need to be used. Usually these types of compasses equipped with guided dial/ screws to lock the legs to allow the drawing process run smoothly.
Most compasses are made of metal (die-cast aluminum). To guarantee performance capability and durability, the surfaces are varnished, nickel-plated or chrome-plated.
Glass fiber reinforced plastics are increasingly used for the manufacture of smaller parts.
Important quality attributes include:
Precise leg action free from play
Smooth mechanism of the hinged legs
Securely clamped lead and needle
Surface protection against corrosion
Specially designed accessories for functionally appropriate use
DIN standard 58502 distinguishes between 2 series of drawing & drafting instruments:
Series "S" standard drawing instruments for school use:
Extension neck diameter of 3,5 mm
They are designed in addcordance with school purpose requirements in relation to performance, quality and durability. They differ from precision drawing instruments in their simpler construction.
Series "P" precision drawing instruments for professional use:
Extension neck diameter of 4.0 mm (11.5 mm neck length)
Extension neck diameter exception: 3.5 mm (8.5 mm neck length)
Precision drawing instruments are designed in accordance with the most stringent requirements in relation to performance, quality and durability and are thus predominantly suited for professional applications.
WRITING STENCILS
Writing stencils are important implements for writing and lettering on technical drawings in particular. The graphic characters must have a high degree of precision and cleanness. Writing and labeling in technical drawing are crucial, all information need to be clearly written so it can be easily understand by readers. Writing stencil will ensure the uniformity in the text that written in the drawing.
Based on these requirements, an internationally standardized lettering type has been introduced. (The line width always corresponds to one tenth of the letter height.)
The application of writing stencils:
Move the template parallel to the backrest or leading edge.
Guide the ink drawing pen to the edge profiles of the template.
Align and superimpose the letter that precedes the next letter to be written, on top of the last written letter.
The slot width and paper clearance of writing stencils is always designed to adapt to specific writing instruments.
Most of the supply of writing stencils is designed for the different line widths of technical drawing instruments.
The accuracy of fit, regardless of the brand, between template and technical drawing pen is regulated by standards:
These standards also includes color-codes for technical drawing pens:
Colour Line width
purple 0,13
red 0,18
white 0,25
yellow 0,35
brown 0,5
blue 0,7
orange 1,0
green 1,4
grey 2,0
Drawing table can go from easy of usage to prestigious equipment.
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 | Staedtler Combo Circle Template, 45 Circles to 2.25 Inches, 7.25 x 8.25 Inches, Green (977110) Amazon Price: $5.72 List Price: $9.49 |
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DRAWING TEMPLATES
Drawing templates include frequently required symbols and signs from all areas of construction and drawing technology. Complicated symbols are dissected into sequential single elements on the template and are equipped with auxiliary lines for exact positioning. Usually it will help to draw shapes faster than conventional techniques especially ellipse, circles, squares and others that need some complicated drawing techniques.
During drawing the symbol elements are reassembled by parallel shifting.
Drawing templates are generally designed for two types of writing instruments.
1. Clutch pencil (lead pencil), fine-lead pencil: for preparatory drawing, the template must be placed flat.
2. Technical drawing pen for final drawings.
The required paper clearance is due to the turning of the template on the knobbed side (only possible with symbols that can be represented homologously).
SET SQUARES
Set squares also important drawing equipments. In basics technical drawing techniques mastering the usage of set squares are essential. Together with the T-Square and the compasses they make perfect match. The most important thing is to make sure the right materials that used for the set squares as it will make sure how your set squares works.
Different designs of set squares are available for geometrical and technical drawing. The size of the set squares is expressed in cm (mm) as the hypotenuse length for right-angled squares and as the length of the long leg for acute angle squares.
By mastering the usage of set squares in technical drawing the drawing process can be faster. There are many skills that require the usage of set squares. That’s why the right types of set squares will give you extra advantage.
GO FOR HIGH QUALITY
In order to make sure the good result of drawings, faster, cleaner and reliable result always go for the high quality equipments for technical drawings. You’ll find out the suitable equipments for you as you get involved in technical drawings. The needs for tools may differ from different draftsman as some may require different characteristics of tools. Anyway all requirements usually will focus into one main requirement of technical drawing that is PRECISION.
