UNIT Alphabet of

3 lines

Learning competencies:
Up on completion of this unit you should be able to:
 Explain the types and purpose of different weight of lines in making
drawings;
 Produce the lines with various line weights;
 Apply alphabet of lines for making proper working drawings.

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3 Alphabets of Lines

3.1 Introduction The center lines, dimension lines, extension

lines, long-break lines, and phantom lines
Have you ever seen a drawing proposal of a should be thin and the hidden should have
building or a machine? If you do what did you an intermediate thickness between the thin
observe from the types of lines? and the thick lines.

Lines of various forms and thickness are In fact, thick lines are (0.5 to 0.8 mm) wide,
used as alphabets of the graphic language. If thin lines between (0.03 to 0.5 mm) wide.
these lines are properly and systematically The actual width each line is governed by the
composed, they have the capacity to describe size, the style of the drawing and the smallest
the shape of an object adequately. size to which it is to be reduced.

It is beneficial to develop the capacity of The description and illustrations shown in

Fig. 3.1 would be of great help to understand
discriminating each line in shape and
the function of each line.
thickness. The alphabet of lines may be
categorized into three groups based on their All the main line types are listed below:
weights or thickness. • Visible • Cutting plane
• Hidden • Section
The object line, the cutting plane line, and
• Center • Break
the short break lines should be drawn thick.
• Dimension • Phantom
• Extension
• Leader
Types of Lines Weight
Object Thick
Hidden Medium
Center Thin
Phantom Thin
Extension & Dimension Thin
Leader Thin
Section Thin

Cutting plane Thick

Short break Thick

Long break Thin

Fig.3.1 Types of Lines

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3 Alphabets of line

1. Object lines: are dark, heavy solid lines

used to show the out line and shape of an
object and define features you can see in a
particular view. These lines are the most
prominent lines on drawings. The object
line is also identified as visible line.

Fig. 3.2 Object lines Fig. 3.4 Center lines

2. Hidden lines: are medium weight short 4. Dimension lines: are thin lines with
dashed lines. They are used to show the arrowheads at its ends. It is used to Show
out line of a feature that can not be seen the length, width, and height of the
in a particular view and help clarify a features of an object.

feature, but can be omitted if they clutter

Fig. 3.5 Dimension line
a drawing. The dashes of hidden lines
should be drawn approximately 3 mm 5. Extension lines: are thin solid lines
long with a space of 1.0mm left between used to show the starting and stopping
points of a dimension. Extension line is
each dash. However, the length may vary
drawn approximately 1.5mm away from
slightly to suit the size of the drawing.
object line and is extended 3mm long
beyond the outermost arrowhead.

Fig. 3.3 Hidden lines

3. Center lines: are thin lines composed of Fig. 3.6 Extension Line
one long dash and one short dash spaced
6. Leader Lines: Thin lines, used to show
alternately. It is used to indicate axis of the dimension of a feature or a note that is
circles and symmetrical surfaces of an too large to be placed beside the feature
object. Depending up on the size of the itself.
drawing, the length of the long dash
approximately ranges from 20-40mm.
The short dash is about 3mm and the
spacing between the long and short
dashes is about 1.5mm. Fig. 3.7 Leader line
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7. Cutting plane lines: are used to 8. Section Lines: are used to indicate the
indicate the location of the cutting of cut surface of an object in sectional view.
cutting plane in the process of The section lines are usually drawn thin
sectioning. Two forms of lines may be at 45 degree angle to produce a contrast
used. The first one is a dark line with visible line. It should be equally
composed of one long and two short spaced and proportional to the mass of
dashes spaced alternately. The long the sectional surface.
dashes are drawn approximately 20 to
40mm long or little more depending
upon the size of the drawing. The short
dashes are drawn approximately 3mm
long, with a space of 1.5mm between
each dash. The second form of cutting Fig. 3.9 Section lines
plane line is composed of equal dashes
approximately 6mm long with spaces of 9. Break Lines: generally are used to
1.5mm between each dash. The ends of break out sections for clarity or for
the cutting plane lines are bent 900 angle shortening apart. Three types of lines
and are terminated by arrowhead to with different line weights are used in
indicate the direction of sight. break line. These are:
 Long breaks
 Short breaks
 Cylindrical breaks

Long Break Lines: are long and thin lines.

It is used to show that the middle section of
an object has been removed so it can be
drawn on a smaller piece of paper.

Fig. 3.8 Cutting plane lines

Fig.3.10 Long break lines
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3 Alphabets of Lines
Short Break Lines: is thick wavy line. It is eliminates the confusion of thinking there
used to break the edge or surface of a part for may be two parts instead of just one.
clarity of a hidden surface.

Fig. 3.13 Phantom line for alternate position

Fig.3.11 Short break lines Relationship of Mating Parts: Phantom

lines can also show how two or more parts go
Cylindrical Break Lines: are thin lines.
together without having to draw and
It is used to show round parts that are
dimension both parts.
broken in half to better clarify the print or to
reduce the length of the object.
NEW GIRDER

EXISTING COLUMN
Fig.3.12 Cylindrical break lines
Fig.3.14 Phantom line for relationship of mating
10. Phantom Lines: are thin lines parts
composed of long dashes alternating
with pairs of short dashes. The long
dashes are drawn approximately 20-
Key terms
40mm long or a little more. The short
Column: A column in structural
dashes are drawn 3mm long with space
engineering is a vertical structural
of 1.5mm between each dash. Phantom
element that transmits, through
lines are used for three purposes in compression, the weight of the
drawings: structure above to other structural
 To show the alternate position of elements below.
machine part and lines of Girder: is a large main supporting
beam, commonly of steel or reinforced
motion.
concrete that carries a heavy
 To show the relationship of parts
transverse (crosswise) load.
that fit together.
 To show repeated detail.
Alternate Position: Phantom lines can
show where a part is moving to and from. It
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3 Alphabets of Lines
Repeated Detail: Phantom lines can show
Activity 3.1
repeated detail of an object. This saves the
drafter time and the company money. Search for a printed out floor plan, any
Using phantom lines for repeated detail architectural drawing or map drawing and
find out the types of lines used in it.
minimizes the drafter error.

Fig.3.15 Phantom line for repeated detail

UNIT SUMMARY

Lines in technical drawings are part of a specialized graphic language that is

standardized throughout industry. Each type of line has a very precise symbolic
meaning. Correct usage of this "alphabet of lines" is essential whether you use
traditional drafting methods or CADD.

Line weights are a vital part of conventional technical graphics language. They are
embodied to the extent of being defined in national and international standards. In
manual drafting, different pen sizes allow the drafter to give different line weights to
the lines in the drawing. Line types and line weights allow drawings to communicate
information that would otherwise be very difficult to convey.

Therefore construction lines and guide lines are very light, easily erased lines used
to block in the main layout. Visible lines are the edges or "outlines" of an object.
They are drawn as solid lines with a thick/heavy weight. All other lines contrast with
the visible lines by having either a thinner weight and/or a combination of dashes.

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Exercise I
Match the following (write the letter of the correct definition on line to the left):

Object line A. Used when it is not necessary to show all of a part.

Hidden line B. The lines which show the visible parts in a view.
Center line C. Used in combination with a cutting plane line to depict the inner
structure of an object.
Phantom line D. Used to show the location of a cut for a sectional view or the
direction from which a view is taken.

Break line E. Shows the course through which center travels.

F. A thin line that extends from the part or feature being
Extension line dimensioned.
Cutting plane G. Used to indicate edges, intersections, etc., those are behind
other features of the part.
Section line H. Used in conjunction with extension lines to indicate a linear
distance.
Dimension line I. Shows alternate positions of parts and also the location of
parts that are not integral parts of the item depicted.

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Exercise II
The following figure shows technical lines that describe a piece of machinery with a
swinging arm. Identify the type of line represented by each number.

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