ELLIPSES

The ellipse is an oval shape.

Construction of an Ellipse Using Concentric Circles
Step 1 Using a compass draw a large circle
R120mm the length of the ellipse. In this
case 240mm long. Mark its centre lines.
Step 2 Using a compass draw a smaller
circle R60mm using the same centre point.
This circle is half the size of the large circle. In
this case 120mm. This is the height of the ellipse.

Step 3 Draw lines at regular intervals using a

ruler any angle from the centre of the circle.
Where these lines cross the circles draw lines
at 90 degrees vertically where they cross the
large circle and horizontally where they cross
the smaller circle. Where they cross mark a
point.

Step 4 Repeat this until all of the lines have been plotted in all for
quarters of the circle. Take care when doing this.

Step 5 Join up
all of the
points
carefully
using a flexi
curve.

Step 6 The shape made when all of the points are joined up should be
the ellipse.

Isometric Circles
Circles in isometric don't appear circular. Instead they are skewed and are actually elliptical.
There are several methods of constructing circles in isometric.

1. First draw an isometric square. Draw in the 2. Place your compass point on the
diagonals, a vertical and a line at 30 degrees intersection of the horizontal line and the
from the midpoint of the sides as illustrated.
vertical line. Draw in a circle which touches
the edges of the box

3. To draw the next section of the isometric circle 4. Complete the circle using the appropriate
place your compass point on the corner of the techniques.
isometric 'square' and draw in the arc as
illustrated.

Circle

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The isometric view or isometric projection of a circle is an ellipse. It is obtained by using four-centre
method explained below and illustrated in Figure 14.
Four-Centre Method: First, enclose the given circle into a square ABCD. Draw rhombus ABCD as an
isometric view of the square. Join the farthest corners of the rhombus, i.e., A and C. Obtain midpoints 3
and 4 of sides CD and AD respectively. Locate points 1 and 2 at the intersection of AC with B3 and B4
respectively. Now with 1 as a centre and radius 13, draw a small arc 35. Draw another arc 46 with
same radius but 2 as a centre. With B as a centre and radius B3, draw an arc 34. Draw another arc 56
with same radius but with D as a centre.

Method of obtaining the isometric views of a circle by four-centre method

Dimensioning
The purpose of dimensioning is to provide a clear and complete description of an object. A
complete set of dimensions will permit only one interpretation needed to construct the part.
Dimensioning should follow these guidelines.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Accuracy: correct values must be given.

Clearness: dimensions must be placed in appropriate positions.
Completeness: nothing must be left out, and nothing duplicated.
Readability: the appropriate line quality must be used for legibility.

The Basics: Definitions and Dimensions

The dimension line is a thin line, broken in the middle to allow the placement of the
dimension value, with arrowheads at each end (figure 1).

Figure 1 - Dimensioned Drawing

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An arrowhead is approximately 3 mm long and 1 mm wide. That is, the length is roughly
three times the width.
An extension line extends a line on the object to the dimension line. The first dimension line
should be approximately 12 mm (0.6 in) from the object. Extension lines begin 1.5 mm from
the object and extend 3 mm from the last dimension line.
A leader is a thin line used to connect a dimension with a particular area (figure 2).

Figure 2 - Example drawing with a leader

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A leader may also be used to indicate a note or comment about a specific area. When there is
limited space, a heavy black dot may be substituted for the arrows, as in figure 1. Also in this
drawing, two holes are identical, allowing the "2x" notation to be used and the dimension to
point to only one of the circles.

Where to Put Dimensions

The dimensions should be placed on the face that describes the feature most clearly.
Examples of appropriate and inappropriate placing of dimensions are shown in figure 3.
Figure 3 - Example of appropriate and inappropriate dimensioning

In order to get the feel of what dimensioning is all about, we can start with a simple
rectangular block. With this simple object, only three dimensions are needed to describe it
completely (figure 4). There is little choice on where to put its dimensions.
Figure 4 - Simple Object
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We have to make some choices when we dimension a block with a notch or cutout (figure 5).
It is usually best to dimension from a common line or surface. This can be called the datum
line of surface. This eliminates the addition of measurement or machining inaccuracies that
would come from "chain" or "series" dimensioning. Notice how the dimensions originate on
the datum surfaces. We chose one datum surface in figure 5, and another in figure 6. As long
as we are consistent, it makes no difference. (We are just showing the top view).
Figure 5 - Surface datum example

Figure 6 - Surface datum example

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In figure 7 we have shown a hole that we have chosen to dimension on the left side of the
object. The stands for "diameter".

Figure 7 - Exampled of a dimensioned hole

When the left side of the block is "radii" as in figure 8, we break our rule that we should not
duplicate dimensions. The total length is known because the radius of the curve on the left
side is given. Then, for clarity, we add the overall length of 60 and we note that it is a
reference (REF) dimension. This means that it is not really required.
Figure 8 - Example of a directly dimensioned hole
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Somewhere on the paper, usually the bottom, there should be placed information on what
measuring system is being used (e.g. inches and millimeters) and also the scale of the
drawing.
Figure 9 - Example of a directly dimensioned hole

This drawing is symmetric about the horizontal centerline. Centerlines (chain-dotted) are
used for symmetric objects, and also for the center of circles and holes. We can dimension
directly to the centerline, as in figure 9. In some cases this method can be clearer than just
dimensioning between surfaces.

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