design tools

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design tools
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T Square

• A t-square is one of the most basic drafting
  tools
• The primary purpose of the t-square is to create
  horizontal parallel lines
• T-squares are typically wood with clear plastic
  edges, but they can be made of metal for cutting

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Parallel Straightedge/Parallel Bar

• Replaces the t-square for most applications
• Because it is wired down, it cannot move
• The angle can be adjusted and locked to created
  parallel lines that are not at the horizontal

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Triangles

• Triangles are used to create vertical lines
• Triangles come in two forms, 30-60-90 and
  45-45-90
• Basic geometry skills can help you create other
  angles (a 30 on a 45 gets you a 75 degree angle,
  for example)
• Triangles are typically clear as seeing the edge
  of the triangle is extremely important to lining
  up your drawing instrument (drawings must be
  precise!)
• Inking triangles are undercut (on one side or
  two) so that ink will not smear

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Adjustable Triangles

• Adjustable triangles can create odd angles
• By using your 30 and 45 triangles, the upper and
  lower sides of your parallel bar/t-square, you
  can create 360 degrees

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Metal Triangles

• Metal triangles are typically not used by
  architects or draftspersons, except when cutting
• Metal is harder to clean than plastic, and
  consequently the drawings become more smudged
  with metal triangles

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Templates

• Templates come in a variety of scales and shapes
• Templates are used for common shapes in design
  and can be found to represent circles, ellipses,
  squares, etc.
• Templates can also have specialized shapes such
  as toilets, dryers, beds, etc.
• Templates are typically done in plan view, but
  can also have section or elevation views
• Inking templates have small bumps on the bottom
  to prevent capillary action and smearing

Templates
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Fixtures Template

• Templates indicate the scale in which they are
  intended to be used

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Lettering Guide

• Proper lettering is extremely important in
  drafting
• All letters should be capital, all letters should
  be the same height

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Lettering Template

• Letting Guides can help you keep letters the same
  height and templates can help you shape letters
• (Although commonly called a stencil, the stencil
  is actually the part cut out, and the plastic
  remaining is known as the template)

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Lettering Guides/Title Block

• Vellum can be purchased with title blocks already
  added

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French Curve

• French curves are a template that can create
  curves of varying radii
• Hyperbolas, parabola, eilipses and other shapes
  are created using French curves (although they
  take some skill to master)
• Digital drafting has replaced French curve use,
  although most students are still expected to
  understand how to manipulate French curves

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Flexible Curve

• The flexi-curve is used as a last resort when a
  French curve cannot approximate the curve
• Flexi-curves can also be used to approximate a
  curve in a rough drawing, and then a French curve
  is used to make the curve accurate

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Scales

• Architects scales have six edges with twelve
  measuring scales
• The ends of the scale go beyond zero (unlike a
  standard ruler) so that it is easier to measure
  with
• (Rulers measure distance in real space, scales
  create a ratio or proportion of actual distance)
• (Engineers scales measure decimal values of an
  inch 1100, 1200, 1300, etc.)

¼ (31) 1/8 (1 ½1) 1/12 (11) 1/24
(1/21) 1/16 (3/41) 1/32 (3/81)
1/48 (1/41) 1/96 (1/81) 1/64
(3/161) 1/128 (3/321)
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Scales

• Be careful not to confuse with how scale is used
  in common speech (one eighth scale means that
  something is an eighth of the size of the
  original)
• If you draw something at ¼ 1, then it is
  1/48th actual size it would take 48 1/4ths to
  equal a food (12 inches X 4 1/4ths per inch 48
  1/4ths)
• You can also say 1/4th inch equals one inch
  then it would take 3 inches to equal a foot (4
  1/4ths per inch X 12 1/4ths or one foot)

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Metal Straightedge

• Metal straight edges are used for cutting, not
  drawing
• Some have cork or rubber backing so that they
  dont slide when making cuts

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Lead Holder and Lead Pointer

• Lead holders carry a wide lead (2mm) and provide
  a greater range of marks that the pencil can make
  on the paper
• Lead pointers are the sharpeners used for lead
  holders
• When drawing a line, always rotate your pencil

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Lead Pencil/Mechanical Pencils

• Lead widths run from 0.03mm to 0.07mm
• Not as much control as the lead holder
• Pencil leads run from 9B (the softest lead) to 9H
  (the hardest lead)
• 9B, 7B, 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H,
  4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, 8H, 9H (The American system
  not used in most drafting/art supply stores even
  in America, has a different system of numbers
  1B, 2HB, 2.5F, 3H, 42H)
• Hard leads make very light lines, last a long
  time, and also groove your vellum (9H are 41.5
  graphite, 53.5 clay and 5 wax)
• Soft leads make very dark lines, dont last as
  long, and are harder to erase (9B are 90.5
  graphite, 4.5 clay and 5 wax)
• Standard pencils are 2 (HB), which makes them
  dark, but also able to be erased completely

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Drafting Pencils

• Dont have erasers because standard pencil
  erasers are awful on vellum and doubly awful for
  inking over (most drawings are inked after being
  done in pencil)

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Sandpaper Pad

• Used to sharpen pencils

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Erasers
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Dry Cleaning Eraser Pad (Scum Bag)

• Bag contains grit-free erasing powder that cleans
  drawings
• Instruments often smudge pencil drawings and the
  bag keeps the underside of instruments clean as
  well

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Electric Eraser

• Electric erasers contain an eraser stick that can
  be for ink or pencil
• The sticks are replaceable
• Mechanical erasers use the same sticks and can be
  quite convenient

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Eraser Shield

• Lines on drafting documents should be precise,
  and erasing even the slightest cross-overs is
  important (since drawings are used to construct
  buildings from)
• (Construction lines can remain, and are
  decidedly lighter than drafting lines)

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Drafting Brush

• Its essential that drawings remain clean
• Brushes should be used replace them once they
  become too full of eraser dust

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Pens

• Technical pens are used for ink drawings and come
  in a range of sizes
• Pens must be cleaned and maintained after each
  use
• Nibs can be stainless steel or gold (gold nibs
  are more resistant to attacking by ink)

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Drafting Tape
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Mylar and Vellum

• The preferred paper for drafting is vellum it
  can be used for pencil or ink
• Mylar is a clear plastic that comes in varying
  weights pencil will not work on mylar
• Presentation drawings are also frequently done on
  illustration board (its extremely unforgiving,
  however)

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Illustration Board
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Drafting Machine
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Light Table
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X-acto Knife

• Used heavily in model-making
• Also, before digital graphics, most graphic art
  and advertisements were prepared using x-acto
  knives

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Foam Core/Foam Board

• Common material for architectural models,
  originally developed by Monsanto
• Many types of glues and paints will dissolve foam
  core, so its often used in study models

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Foam Core

• Although a basic tool for design students, youll
  also see foam core used in very professional
  models