The general trend in Engineering Design had been that the designer who was responsible for the conception and design of a particular product generally specified other aspects of the manufacturing process.

Gradually however, developments from increased computing power in all aspects of production have resulted in progressive advances in manufacturing techniques, metrology, and quality assurance. The impact of these additional requirements on the Total Design Cycle resulted in the withdrawal of BS 308 in 2000. Its replacement BS 8888 is a far more comprehensive Standard. It is important to stress that British and ISO drawing standards are not produced for any particular draughting method.

No matter how a drawing is produced, either on an inexpensive drawing board or the latest CAD equipment, the drawing must conform to the same standards and be incapable of misinterpretation.

The text which follows covers the basic aspects of engineering drawing practice required by college and university students, and also professional drawing office personnel. Applications show how regularly used standards should be applied and interpreted. Geometrical constructions are a necessary part of engineering design and analysis and examples of twoand three-dimensional geometry are provided.

Practice is invaluable, not only as a means of understanding principles, but in developing the ability to visualize shape and form in three dimensions with a high degree of fluency. It is sometimes forgotten that not only does a draughtsman produce original drawings but is also required to read and absorb the content of drawings he receives without ambiguity.

The section on engineering diagrams is included to stimulate and broaden technological interest, further study, and be of value to students engaged on project work. Readers are invited to redraw a selection of the examples given for experience, also to appreciate the necessity for the insertion and meaning of every line.

Extra examples with solutions are available in Engineering Drawing From First Principles using AutoCAD, also published by Butterworth-Heinemann. It is a pleasure to find an increasing number of young ladies joining the staff in drawing offices where they can make an effective and balanced contribution to design decisions.

Please accept our apologies for continuing to use the term ‘draughtsmen’, which is the generally understood collective noun for drawing office personnel, but implies equality in status. In conclusion, may we wish all readers every success in their studies and careers. We hope they will obtain much satisfaction from employment in the absorbing activities related to creative design and considerable pleasure from the construction and presentation of accurately defined engineering drawings.

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