Industrial Technology

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Workplace Communication

Graphics

Working drawings

This unit of work addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcome:

A student:

H3.1 A student is skilled in sketching, producing and interpreting drawings.

Source: Board of Studies (1999) Stage 6 industrial technology, preliminary and HSC courses. Board of studies, Sydney.

Introduction

Working drawings contain the information needed to make the article you have designed. They need to convey details such as dimensions, construction methods and assembly techniques. Working drawings usually use orthographic projection, but they could also include other views such as oblique or isometric projection and be distinct as architectural drawings and electronic circuits. You need to decide what is best for your project.

The nature of a working drawing in relation to the syllabus would indicate that it is different from freehand drawing and sketching. In connection to project work and the Major Project a working drawing would be the result achieved through the evolution of freehand drawing, sketches and ideas. It would need to relate to these initial ‘roughs’ and be the final solution to the syllabus Statement of Intent.

The various Industry-specific Content components of Industrial Technology, would indicate that working drawings could vary in standard and type. The use of working drawings in regard to the management of projects would see the need for a working drawing to comply with standards that would be understood in the related industry. Therefore, a working drawing should not be of a basic level just to enable the construction of a project, but to a standard that would enable Industry-specific organisations to interpret the project’s specifications and requirements.

Selection of a working drawing in the Industry-specific Content Focus Areas.

Over the eight focus areas there is a wide range of related drawing techniques. Within each focus area there may be unique and relevant drawing applications used to express the desired design aspect of the project.(for example, electronic circuit drawings). This may mean that you may have to employ more than one style of working drawing to represent all or different parts of your project.

The following list is an example of how different drawing techniques can be used in the various focus areas. Note that most drawings can be produced manually or on computer.

Automotive Industries: orthogonal projection, exploded drawings, electrical/electronic circuity, detail drawing, cut-away illustrations, developments, body and trim assembly, automotive instruction manual illustrations.

Building and Construction Industries: site plan, block plan, floor plan, sectional views, orthogonal views, detailed drawings, service installations, exploded drawings, perspective drawings.

Electronics Industries: circuit diagram, schematic diagrams, circuit symbols, PCB design, wiring circuits, detail drawing, sheet metal development drawing.

Graphics Industries: orthogonal projection, exploded drawings, product drawing, architectural drawing (site ,block, floor, etc), pictorial drawing, perspective drawing, detail drawing.

Metal and Engineering Industries: assembly drawing, orthogonal projection, exploded drawings, detail drawing, section drawing, development drawings, pictorial drawing.

Multimedia Industries: storyboard, screen design principles, context diagrams, data flow diagrams, system flow diagrams.

Plastics Industries: orthogonal projection, development drawings, exploded drawings, detail drawing, pictorial drawing.

Timber Products and Furniture Industries: orthogonal projection, cabinet drawings, detail drawing, exploded drawings, pictorial drawings.

Drawing standards

A drawing standard is a published set of rules. It sets out specifications and procedures designed to ensure that a working drawing is suitable for its purpose and is consistently understood by its intended users. Standards are a means of communication for “designers” and “makers”. They establish a common language which defines the design, quality and criteria. Problems are reduced if drawings are consistent and the drafting process is simplified. The design of a product is more readily valued when it can be judged on intrinsic merit.

Recommended standards for working drawings are set out in the publications of Standards Australia and the most relevant are AS1100. Standards Australia would cover most of the listed applications and give specific instruction in regard to: line work, dimensioning, sheet layout and size, scale, symbols and lettering. Copies of any Standards may be ordered from the Standards Australia home page www.standards.com.au

A set of working drawings includes an ‘assembly drawing’ and ‘detail drawings’ of the individual parts that go together to make up the assembled project.

Assembly drawings

Assembly drawings are used to show how a number of parts are fitted together to make the completed project. Subassemblies can also be used for large complex projects such as in the automotive industry, where assembly drawing of the chassis, panels, engine, brake system carburettor and so on, are used, each are subassemblies of the whole automobile.

Views in assembly drawing are chosen carefully to show relationships of parts and dimensional details to help in manufacturing. A less detailed working drawing may be considered in the furniture industry where the finer points of joints are enlarged and shown as partial views.

Detail drawings

Detail drawings are used to specify how each individual part is made. Each detailed drawing should contain sufficient dimensioned orthogonal views, together with any other information that will assist in the manufacturing process.

Computer aided drawing (CAD)

Many CAD packages are available today so that working drawings can be drawn on computer, this is extremely useful when modifications become necessary in the development of a project. CAD software is diverse, in ease of use and in price, each application having its strengths and weaknesses. Simple and effective working drawings can be achieved with the drawing toolbar in Microsoft Word and the drawing program in Appleworks. A more sophisticated result can be achieved from Tricad, Autocad, MicroCad, Autosketch, DesignCad 3D, MicroStation, MiniCad, TurboCad, DeltaCAD and Micasoft.

If you do not have access to a CAD program you could access http://www.dcad.com/ and try the demonstration program from this site.