CEE 111

ENGINEERING DRAWING

Geometric Construction

Topics to be Covered

Lines, Angles, Arcs

Polygon (regular)

Inscribed circle

Conic sections

Cycloidal curves

Involutes

Lines
Lines are straight elements that have no width, but are infinite in
length (magnitude), and they can be located by two points which
are not on the same spot but fall along the line.

Parallel lines: Straight lines and curved lines are considered parallel if
the shortest distance between them remains constant. The symbol used for
parallel line is //.
Perpendicular lines: Lines, which are tangent and at 900 are considered
perpendicular. The symbol for perpendicular line is .

Parallel Lines
How to Draw a Line Parallel to a Straight Line at a Given Distance
Given: Line A-B, and a required distance to the parallel line.
Step 1: Set the compass at the required distance to the parallel line. Place the point of the compass
at any location on the given line, and swing a light arc whose radius is the required distance.
Step 2: Adjust the straight edge of either a drafting machine or an adjusted triangle so that it lines
up with line A-B, slide the straight edge up or down to the extreme high point, which is the tangent
point, of the arc, then draw the parallel line.

Perpendicular Line
How to Draw a Perpendicular Lines to a Line at a Point
Given: Line A-B with point P on the same line.
Step 1: Using P as a center, make two arcs of equal radius or more continuous arc (R1) to
intercept line A-B on either side of point P, at points S and T.
Step 2: Swing larger but equal arcs (R2) from each of points S and T to cross each other at point
U.
Step 3: A line from P to U is perpendicular to line A-B at point P

Perpendicular Line
How to Draw a Perpendicular to a Line at a Point
Given: Line A-B with point P on the same line.
Step 1: Swing an arc of any convenient radius whose center O is at any convenient location NOT
on line A-B, but positioned to make the arc cross line A-B at points P and Q
Step 2: A line from point Q through center O intercepts the opposite side of the arc at point R
Step 3: Line R-P is perpendicular to line A-B (A right angle has been inscribed in a semi circle)

Dividing a Line
How to divide a line into number of equal parts
Given: Line A-B
Step 1: Draw a construction line AC that starts at end A of given line AB. This new line is longer
than the given line and makes an angle of not more than 30 degree with it.
Step 2: Find a scale that will approximately divide the line AB in to the number of parts needed
and mark these divisions on the line AC. There are now n equal divisions from A to D that lie
on the line AC.
Step 3: Set the adjustable triangle to draw a construction line from point D to point B. Then
draw construction lines through each of the remaining n-1 divisions parallel to the first line BD
by sliding the triangle along the straight edge. The original line AB will now be accurately
divided.

Bisecting an Angle
How to divide a line into number of equal parts
Given: Angle BAC
Step 1: Set the compass at any convenient radius and swing an arc from point A.
Step 2: Locate points E and F on the legs of the angle, and swing two arcs of the same identical
length from points E and F, respectively.
Step 3: Where these arcs intersect, locate point D. Draw a straight line from A to D. This line
will bisect angle BAC and establish two equal angles: CAD and BAD.

Arc
How to Draw an Arc or Circle Through Three Given Points
Given: Three points in space at random: A, B and C
Step 1: With straight line, lightly connect points A to B, and B to C.
Step 2: Using the method outlined for bisecting a line, bisect lines A-B and B-C.
Step 3: Locate point X where the two extended bisectors meet. Point X is the exact center of the
arc or circle.
Step 4: Place the point of the compass on point X and adjust the lead to any of the points A, B, or
C (they are the same distance), and swing the circle.

Polygons (Regular)

Triangle

Quadrangle

Pentagon

Hexagon

Triangle
How to Draw a Triangle with Known Lengths of Sides
Given: Lengths 1, 2, and 3 of the three sides
Step 1: Draw the longest length line, say length 3, with ends A and B. Swing an arc (R1) from
point A whose radius is either length 1 or length 2.
Step 2: Using the radius length not used in step 1, swing an arc (R2) from point B to intercept
the arc swung from point A at point C.
Step 3: Connect A to C and B to C to complete the triangle.

Square
How to Draw a Square
Given: The locations of the center and the length of the sides of a square
Step 1: Lightly draw a circle with a diameter equal to the length of the sides of the square. Set
the compass at half the required diameter.
Step 2: Lightly complete the square by constructing tangent lines to the circle. Allow the light
construction lines to project from the square, with out erasing them.
Step 3: Check to see that there are four equal sides and, if so, darken in the actual square using
the correct line thickness.

Pentagon
How to Draw a Pentagon
Given: The locations of the pentagon center and the diameter that will circumscribe the
pentagon.
Step 1: Bisect radius OD at C.
Step 2: With C as center, and CA as radius, strike arc AE. With A as center, and AE as radius,
strike arc EB.
Step 3: Draw line AB, then set off distances AB around the circumference of the circle, and draw
the sides through these points.

Pentagon
How to Draw a Pentagon
Given: The length of the sides of the pentagon.
Step 1: Draw two circles with A and B as Centers and radius AB.
Step 2: Draw arc EF with center C and with radius AB.
Step 3: Draw perpendicular to line AB. Mark point G. Draw line RF and PE passing through G.
Step 4: Taking AB as radius draw arc from P and R to obtain Q. Join points ABPQR.

Hexagon
How to Draw a Hexagon
Given: The length of the sides of the hexagon.
Step 1: We start with a line segment AF. This will become one side of the hexagon.
Step 2: Set the compasses' point on A, and set its width to F.
Step 3: From points A and F, draw two arcs so that they intersect. Mark this as point O. This is
the center of the hexagon's circumcircle. Move the compasses to O and draw a circle.
Step 4: Move the compasses on to A and draw an arc across the circle. This is the next vertex of
the hexagon. Move the compasses to this arc and draw an arc across the circle to create the next
vertex. Continue in this way until you have all six vertices. (Four new ones plus the points A and
F you started with.). Draw a line between each successive pairs of vertices.

Regular Polygon of Any Number of

Sides
Given: Any sided Regular Polygon inside a given circle.
To construct a regular polygon with a specific number of sides, divide the given diameter using
the parallel line method as shown in fig below. In this example, let us assume seven sided regular
polygon. Construct an equilateral triangle (0-7-8) with the diameter (0-7) as one of its sides. Draw
a line from the apex (point 8) through the second point on the line (point 2). Extend line 8-2 until
it intersects the circle at point 9. Radius 0-9 will be the size of each side of the figure. Using
radius 0-9 step off the corners of the seven sides polygon and connect the points.

Regular Polygon of Any Number of

Sides
Given: The length of the sides of the Polygon.

Conic Section

Conic Section
Draw Ellipse, Parabola and a Hyperbola on the same axis and
same directrix. Take distance of focus from the directrix equal
to 50 mm and eccentricity ratio for the ellipse, parabola and
hyperbola as 2/3, 1 and 3/2 respectively.
Plot at least 8 points. Take suitable point on each curve and
draw tangent and normal to the curve at that point.

Conic Section

Conic Section: Ellipse

Step-1First draw a vertical line and horizontal line of

convenient length. The vertical line is the directrix and the
horizontal line is the axis.
Step-2Mark a point F, Which is the focus point, at the
given distance, that is 50 mm from directrix on axis.
Step-3Divide the distance of 50 mm into 5 equal divisions.

Step-4Give the numbers 1,2,3 etc. up to 6 on the right

hand side of the focus point F on the axis as shown into the
figure. And draw vertical lines parallel to the directrix.
Step-5For the ellipse the ratio of eccentricity is 2/3, so
mark a point Ve, which is vertex of ellipse at the distance of
2 units that is 20 mm from F on the left side as per the
figure given above.

Conic Section: Ellipse

Step-6From Ve draw a vertical line and draw an arc with Ve as

center and radius equal to VeF, which will intersect with vertical
line drawn from the point Ve.
Step-7Draw a straight line emerging from the point O and
passing from the intersection of the vertical line and the arc
drawn previously.
Step-8Cut the vertical lines emerging from the points 1,2,3, etc.
from horizontal axis with the point F as center and radii equal to
the distance between the intersection of the respective vertical
lines and the inclined line emerging from the point O on both
side of the axis as shown into the figure.
Step-9Give the notations p1, p2, p3etc. & p1, p2, p3etc. on both
sides as given into the figure.
Step-10Draw a smooth medium dark free hand curve passing
through the points p1, p2, p3etc. & p1, p2, p3etc. and the point Ve,
which is the curve of an Ellipse.

Conic Section: Hyperbola

Step-1The eccentricity ration of the Hyperbola is 3/2, so mark a point Vh at

a distance 3 units, that is 30 mm from the focus point F on the left hand
side.
Step-2From Vh draw a vertical line and draw an arc with Vh as center and
radius equal to VhF, which will intersect with vertical line drawn from the
point Vh.
Step-3Draw a straight line emerging from the point O and passing from the
intersection of the vertical line and the arc drawn previously.
Step-4Cut the vertical lines emerging from the points 1,2,3, etc. from
horizontal axis with the point F as center and radii equal to the distance
between the intersection of the respective vertical lines and the inclined line
emerging from the point O on both side of the axis as shown into the figure.
Step-5Give the notations r1, r2, r3etc. & r1, r2, r3etc. on both sides as given
into the figure.
Step-6Draw a smooth medium dark free hand curve passing through the
points r1, r2, r3etc. & r1, r2, r3etc. and the point Vh, which is the curve of a
Hyperbola.

Conic Section Parabola

Conic Section
1.

Circle

2.

Ellipse

Cycloids
Cycloid is a curve generated by a point on the circumference of a
circle which rolls along a straight line.

Cycloids

Involutes
Involutes is a curve traced by an end of a piece of thread unwound
from a circle or a polygon, the thread being kept tight.

Involutes

Involutes