Detail Drawings: Communicating with Engineers
Plans and perspective drawings of a concert hall in the Netherlands from 1888. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.Copyright Adolf Leonard van Gendt (1835-1901), Wikimedia Commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A.L._van_Gendt_Concertgebouw_0.jpg
Students are introduced to detail drawings and the importance of clearly documenting and communicating their designs. They are introduced to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Y14.5 standard, which controls how engineers communicate and archive design information. They are introduced to standard paper sizes and drawing view conventions, which are major components of the Y14.5 standard. They can then practice their drawing skills by completing the associated activity to meet engineering standards.
A revolutionary idea has value only if it can be effectively communicated. For engineers to imagine, create and design the products, devices and systems that have lasting impact on society, they must know how to present and archive their designs in a manner that is understood by all engineers across cultural and geographical boundaries. Given proper detail drawings, manufacturers know exactly how parts are created without the need for additional verbal explanation from engineers. A detail drawing stands on its own, so to speak, and provides a record or archive of the engineer's precise intent. Well-crafted detail drawings preserve creative work from one generation to the next.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify seven views of a detail drawing.
- List the important components of a detail drawing.
- List the paper sizes used for a detail drawing.
- Explain the role of standards in the preservation of technology.