Isometric Drawing

Prof. M. S. Dasgupta, BITS Pilani, Pilani campus

Single View projection

Learning Objectives
1.

Know the concepts of

projection

isometric

2.

Know the guidelines to draw

drawing

3.

Practice various objects and generate

an imagination skill to
draw a 3-D
object

isometric

Single View or Pictorial Projection

Pictorial projection is classified in the
following three general divisions
Axonometric projection
Oblique projection
Perspective projection

Axonometric Projection
Axonometric projection is classified in
the following three general divisions
Trimetric projection
Dimetric projection
Isometric projection

Trimetric

Dimetric

Isometric

Cursor Mode for Isometric Drawing

The angles between any two of the three coordinate axes is 120
For AutoCad drawing set SNAP Style to iso & GRIDMODE to 1

The isometric curser has three

orientations: left curser mode, right
curser mode and top curser mode to
work on respective plane and along
the normal to that plane.
This curser mode can be changed
by pressing Ctrl and E keys at once.

Theory of Isometric Projection

Isometric Projection & Isometric Drawing

The angle <psr is equal to <pqr and equal to 60o. The same figure shows
true view of top face PQRS as PqRs. The intersection of two face diagonals
PR and sq is marked as x. The sP is a true length whereas sp is an
isometric length.
sp cos 30 sx
In triangle psx,
In triangle Psx,

sP cos 45 sx

Therefore,

sp cos 30 sP cos 45

Therefore,

sp cos 45

0.815
sP cos 30

The true length is reduced to 81.5% in an isometric projection.

Therefore while drawing an isometric projection, it is necessary to
convert true lengths into isometric lengths for measuring and marking
the sizes.

Isometric Projection & Isometric Drawing

Because of inclination with all planes, the true length is
reduced by 81.5% in an isometric projection.
But for Engineering application all foreshortening is ignored, and actual
true lengths are drawn along isometric axes and isometric lines. To avoid
confusion and to set this method apart from true isometric projection, it is
called isometric drawing.

Orthographic views

Isometric projection

Isometric drawing

Isometric / Non-isometric Lines

The lines which are parallel to the isometric axes (X, Y and
Z) are called
as isometric lines. Isometric lines that are
parallel to the isometric axes can be directly measured.

Lines that are inclined and are not parallel to the isometric
axes are called non-isometric lines. A line of this type cannot
be measured directly. Its position and projected length must
be established by locating its end points.
In an isometric drawing, an angle never appears in its true size.

Starting Point Concept

The starting point (S) is important and to generate an isometric
drawing. There are three visible faces (Left, Top and Right) of a
block. If RSV is given then the Right face is constructed with H x
D dimensions and Left face is constructed with L x H dimensions.
Similarly if LSV is given then the Left face is constructed with H
x D dimensions and Right face is constructed with L x H
dimensions.

Block Method

Block Method

Continued

Continued

Rounded surface in isometric drawing

A circle in isometric view appears as an
ellipse, which is called as an isocircle.
AutoCAD provides a special command for
drawing an isocircles.

Command: ELLIPSE [Enter]

Arc/Center/Isocircle/<Axis endpoint 1>: I (for
Isocircle) [Enter]
Select appropriate alignment with Ctrl E

Creation of rounded object

Model Example

Stepwise Solution to Model Example

Stepwise Solution to Model Example