DEVELOPMENT BY

TRIANGULATION
TRIANGULAR DEVELOPMENT
Triangulation is slower and more difficult than parallel
line or radial line development, but it is more practical for
many types of figures. Additionally, it is the only method by
which the developments of warped surfaces
may be estimated.
In development by triangulation,
the piece is divided into a series of triangles as in
radial Line development. However, there is no one single
apex for the triangles. The problem becomes one of
finding the true lengths of the varying oblique lines. This
is usually done by drawing a true, length diagram.
A BRIEF LOOK AT PARALLEL LINE DEVELOPMENT

THE VIEW ON THE LEFT

SHOWS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A
TRUNCATED CYLINDER.

PARALLEL LINES
A BRIEF LOOK AT RADIAL LINE DEVELOPMENT

RADIAL
LINES OF A
CONE
 Triangulation Development
In this method of development the surface of the object is divided
into a number of triangles. The true sizes of the triangles are
found and they are drawn in order, side by side, to produce the
pattern. It will be apparent that to find the true sizes of the
triangles it is first necessary to find the true lengths of their sides.

TRUE LENTHS
1. REBATEMENT OR ROTATION METHOD
2. TREE METHOD
 EXAMPLE 1 REBATEMENT METHOD

d c
Before starting with the development you
o must find the true lengths of sides
oa, ob, oc and od.
The base lines, lines
ab, bc, cd and da
a b are all true lengths since they are all
HP PLAN
parallel or perpendicular to the reference
VP o line HP/VP.

ad bc

ELEVATION
 d c

The rotation method is used to find

a b the true length of line oa.
PLAN

TL

a1 ad bc

ELEVATION
 d c

True lengths of the other lines

a b are worked out.
PLAN
Notice how the drawing is
o becoming cluttered with lines.

TL
TL
TL

TL

a1 d1 ad bc c1 b1

ELEVATION
 d c

To draw the development, you start

by drawing one triangle first.
In the example, triangle oab is
a
PLAN
b
drawn first.
o
Draw second triangle, triangle obc.
TL
TL
TL Draw third triangle, triangle ocd.
TL
Draw last triangle, triangle oda.
a1 d1 ad bc c1 b1

ELEVATION
Do not forget to use the true lengths
of the lines.
a a

d
b

DEVELOPMENT
EXAMPLE 1 TRUE LENGTH TREE METHOD
 Develop the given oblique cone.
O

EXAMPLE 2 ROTATION METHOD O

PLAN TRUE LENGTHS

PLAN

7 6,8 5,9 4,10 3,11 1 1 2,12 3,11 4,10 5,9 7

10
9 11
1

8
ELEVATION

7 1
O Develop the given oblique cone.
6
Divide the oblique cone into a
5
3
number of triangles.
4
ELEVATION

The most convenient number is

twelve since you can easily divide
the base into twelve divisions and
join the divisions to the apex.
O

1 Use the rotation method to find the

12
true lengths of all lines.
11 Using the true lengths of the sides,
10
draw the triangles one at a time.
2

3
9 Do not forge to start from the
4 8 shortest side.
5 7
6

DEVELOPMENT
 Method 2 TRUE LENGTH TREE METHOD
O O

PLAN TRUE LENGTHS

7 6,8 5,9 4,10 3,11 1 1 2,12 3,11 4,10 5,9 7

10
9 11 TRUE LENGTH TREE

7 1 O

5 O
3
4
ELEVATION
1

12

11

10
2

9
3

4 8

5 7
6
TRUNCATED OBLIQUE CONE
Transition Piece
Often in industry it is necessary to connect tubes and ducts of different
cross-sectional shapes and areas, especially in air conditioning,
ventilation and fume extraction applications. The required change in
shape and area is achieved by developing a transition piece with an
inlet of a certain shape and cross-sectional area, and an outlet of a
different shape and area; for example square-to-round.
EXAMPLE 1 Develop the given square to square
transition piece.
d c 1
a

4
4 2

1
3

d
a b 2
PLAN
1

4 1,3 2

TL TL
c

DEVELOPMENT
a1,d1 ad bc b1,c1 a b

ELEVATION

The rotation method is used to find the lengths of the sides.

d c 1
a

4
4 2

1
3

d
a b 2
PLAN
1,2,3,4 1

4 1,3 2

TL
c

DEVELOPMENT
ad bc a,b,c,d a b

ELEVATION TL TREE

The true length tree is used to find the true lengths of the sides.
EXAMPLE 2 Develop the given circle to rectangle a
transition piece.

d c

1 7
8
9
10 4 10
5 11
7
12
1
2
a b
PLAN 3
4
5
10 1,7 4 5 4 6
7

TL c

TL

a,d b,c a b
ELEVATION DEVELOPMENT

The rotation method is used to find the true lengths of the lines.
 a

d c

d
1 7
8
9
10 4 10
5 11
7
12
1
2
a b
PLAN 3
TL 2,3,5,6,8,9,11,12 4
5
10 1,7 4 6
7

TL 4,1,10,7

a,d b,c a b
DEVELOPMENT
ELEVATION TL TREE

The true length tree is used to find the true lengths.

EXAMPLE 3
a

a 1 4 g
4

3
2 1 3
f
2
g
e

b d
PLAN c
f
2,1 3,4 e
d
a c

b
DEVELOPMENT

a,b e d e f,g b a,b b a c d b

ELEVATION
TRUE LENGTH TREE

The true length tree is used to find the true lengths.

EXAMPLE 4 CIRCLE TO
SQUARE
EXAMPLE 5 CIRCLE TO RECTANGLE