ME1205 - Engineering Graphics & AutoCAD

Module Number ME 1205

Engineering Graphics and AutoCAD

Part I Graphics
1. Graphic Geometry (04 Hours)
Geometric Shapes, The Ellipse, Noncircular Curves, Parabola, Hyperbola, Cycloids, Involute,
Spirals, Helices, Tangents to Curves, Development of Plane-faced Surface, Cone, Locus of Points,
Lines and Planes (projections)
1. Graphic Geometry
Geometric Shapes (or elements) are divided into four main categories: points, lines, surfaces, and
solids. Each category contains sub categories in which most geometric shapes (or elements) are
found.
Classification of Geometric Shapes

Points

Lines

Straight

Curved single

Conics

Circle,

Surfaces

Curved double

Helix

Parabola,

Solids

Freedom

Spine,
Bezier

Ellipse,
Hyperbola,
Spirals,
Cycloids,
Involutes, etc.

Figure 1

Conic curves.
Conic curves or conics are special-case single curved lines that can be described in several ways: as
sections of a cone, as algebraic equations, and as the loci of points. For our purposes, Conics are
curves formed by the intersection of a plane with a right circular cone, and they include the ellipse,
parabola, and hyperbola. (The circle is a special case ellipse.) A right circular cone is a cone that
has a circular base and an axis that passes at 90 through the center of the circular base.
Conics are often used in engineering design to describe physical phenomena. No other curves have
as many useful properties and practical applications.

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Conic Sections the Ellipse, the Parabola, the Hyperbola

Figure 2 Conic sections

Figure 2 shows the five sections that can be obtained from a cone. The triangle and the circle have
been discussed in earlier chapters; this chapter looks at the remaining three sections: the ellipse, the
parabola and the hyperbola. These are three very important curves. The ellipse can vary in shape
from almost a circle to almost a straight line and is often used in designs because of its pleasing
shape. The parabola can be seen in the shape of electric fire reflectors, radar dishes and the main
cable of suspension bridges. Both the parabola and the hyperbola are much used in civil
engineering.
The immense strength of structures that is parabolic or hyperbolic in shape has led to their use in
structures made of pre-cast concrete and where large unsupported ceilings are needed.
The height of the cone and the base diameter, with the angle of the section relative to the side of the
cone, are the factors that govern the relative shape of any ellipses, parabolas or hyperbolas. There
are an infinite number of these curves and, given eternity and the inclination to do so, you could
construct them all by taking sections from cones. There are other ways of constructing these curves.
This chapter, as well as showing how to obtain them by plotting them from cones, shows some
other equally important methods of construction.

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ME1205 - Engineering Graphics & AutoCAD

Figure 3 shows an ellipse with the

important features labeled.
Also a circle, when viewed at an
angle, Appears as an ellipse.

Figure 3

The ellipse as a conic section.

Figure 4 shows in detail how to project an ellipse as a section of a cone. The shape across X X is
an ellipse. First draw the FE, the EE and the plan of the complete cone. Divide the plan into 12
equal sectors with a
60 set square.
Project
these
sectors onto the FE
First Angle projection
and the EE where
they appear as lines
drawn
on
the
surface of the cone
from the base to the
apex. The points
where these lines
cross X X can be
easily
projected
across to the EE
and down to the
plan to give the
shape of X X on
these
elevations.
The point on the
centre line must be
projected onto the
plan via the EE
(follow the arrows).
Figure 4
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The shape of X X on the plan is not the true shape since, in the plan, X X is sloping down into
the page. However, the widths of the points, measured from the centre line, are true lengths and can
be transferred from the plan to the auxiliary view with dividers to give the true shape across X X.
This is the ellipse.
Definition (mathematical)
An ellipse is the locus of a point in a plane that moves so that its distance from a fixed point (called
the focus) bears a constant ratio (called eccentricity), always less than 1, to its perpendicular
distance from a straight line (called the directrix). An ellipse has two foci and two directrices.
Figure 5 shows how to draw an ellipse given the relative positions of the focus and the directrix,
and the eccentricity. In this case the focus and the directrix are 20 mm apart and the eccentricity is
3/4.
The first point to plot is the one that lies between the focus and the directrix. This is done by
dividing DF in the same ratio as the
eccentricity, 4:3. The other end of
the ellipse, point P, is found by
working out the simple algebraic
sum shown on Figure 5.
The condition for the locus is that it
is always 3/ 4 as far from the focus
as it is from the directrix. It is
therefore 4/3 as far from the
directrix as it is from the focus.
Thus, if the point is 30 mm from F,
it is 40/3 mm from the directrix; if
the point is 20 mm from F, it is 4/3
= 20 mm from the directrix; if the
point is 30 mm from F, it is = 30
mm from the directrix. This is
continued for as many points as
Figure 5
may be necessary to draw an
accurate curve. The intersections of radii drawn from F and lines drawn parallel to the directrix,
their distance from the directrix being proportional to the radii, give the outline of the ellipse. These
points are joined together with a neat freehand curve.

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To construct an ellipse by concentric circles.

We now come to the first of three simple methods of constructing an ellipse. All three methods
need only two pieces of information for the construction the lengths of the major and minor axes.
Stage 1. Draw two concentric circles, radii equal to 1/2 major and 1/2 minor axes.
Stage 2. Divide the circle into a number of sectors. If the ellipse is not too large, 12 will suffice as
shown in Figure 6.
Stage 3. Where the sector lines cross the smaller circle, draw horizontal lines towards the larger
circle. Where the sector lines
cross the larger circle, draw
Stage 1
vertical lines to meet the Stage 4
horizontal lines.
Stage 4. Draw a neat curve
through the intersections.

Stage 3

Stage 2

Figure 6
To construct an ellipse in a rectangle.
Stage 1. Draw a rectangle, length and breadth equal to the major and minor axes.
Stage 2. Divide the two shorter sides of the rectangle into the same even number of equal parts.
Divide the major axis into the same number of equal parts.
Stage 3. From the points where the minor axis crosses the edge of the rectangle, draw intersecting
lines as shown in Fig. 7.
Stage 4. Draw a neat curve through the intersections.

Figure 7
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To construct an ellipse with a trammel.

A trammel is a piece of stiff paper or card
with a straight edge. In this case, mark the
trammel with a pencil so that half the
major and minor axes are marked from the
same point P. Keep B on the minor axis, A
on the major axis and slide the trammel,
marking at frequent intervals the position
of P. Figure 8 shows the trammel in
position for plotting the top half of the
ellipse; to plot the bottom half, A stays on
the major axis and B goes above the major
axis, still on the minor axis.
Figure 8
Before using this construction in an
examination, check the syllabus to see if it
is allowed. Some examining boards do not allow an ellipse to be constructed with a trammel. If this
is the case, use the concentric circles or rectangle method.
To construct an ellipse using intersection of arcs (Foci Ellipse) method

Figure 8

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Pin, String and

Pencil Method

Figure 9
Approximate four arc method

Figure 10
Approximate four arc method for isomeric drawings.
Figure 11

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To find the foci, the normal and the tangent of an ellipse (Fig. 12).
With compasses set at a radius of major axis, centre at the point where the minor axis crosses the
top (or the bottom) of the ellipse, strike an arc to cut the major axis twice. These are the foci.
The normal at any point P. Draw two
lines from P, one to each focus and bisect
the angle thus formed. This bisector is a
normal to the ellipse.
The tangent at any point P. Since the
tangent and normal are perpendicular to
each other by definition, construct the
normal and erect a perpendicular to it
from P. This perpendicular is the tangent.
Figure 12

Tangent to
Circle
R
Z

Tangent to
Ellipse

Figure 13
To construct a line tangent to an ellipse through a given external point (Fig. 14).
Tangent to Tangent to
3rd Step
R Circle
th
Ellipse
4 Step
C

Z
Q
P

B
X

D
1st Step
Figure 14

2nd Step

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ME1205 - Engineering Graphics & AutoCAD

The Advanced Technological Institute, Labuduwa, Academic Year 2014

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