ISOMETRIC PROJECTIONS

Civil Engineering Drawing

UG02
 Axonometric Projection
Type of axonometric drawing
Axonometric axis
a
1. Isometric All angles are equal.
b c

B
A B
a Axonometric axis
AC D
2. Dimetric b c Two angles are equal.
D

a Axonometric axis
3. Trimetric b c None of angles are
equal.
 Introduction
It is a type of pictorial projection
in which three dimensions of a
solid are clearly shown. The
actual dimensions of the solids
can also be measured directly
from such projections.
If a cube is placed on one of its
corners on the ground with one
of the solid’s diagonal
perpendicular to the VP, the front
view is the isometric projection
of the cube.
Introduction
 All the faces of the cube are equally inclined
to the VP and hence, they are seen as similar
and equal rhombus instead of squares.
 Three lines, DA, DC and DF meeting at D,
represent the three edges of the solid. Right
angles are also equally inclined to the VP and
are, therefore equally foreshortened. They
make equal angles of 120 degrees with each
other. The line DF being vertical, the other
two lines DA and DC make 30 degree angles
each with the horizontal.
 All the remaining lines representing the
edges of the cube are parallel to one or the
other of the above three lines and are also
equally foreshortened.
 The diagonal AC of the top face is parallel to
the VP and hence, retains its actual length.
FIG. 1
Introduction
Various topics for isometric projections are
Isometric axes, lines and planes
Isometric Scale
Isometric drawing or Isometric View
Isometric graph
Isometric axes, lines and planes
DA, DC and DF lines, meeting at
point D and subtending 12o
degree angles with each other are
termed as isometric axes. All the
lines parallel to these axes are
known as isometric lines. The
planes representing the faces of
the cubes shown in fig. 1 as well as
other planes parallel to these
planes are called isometric planes.
In fig.1. EF, FG, FA, GC are
examples of isometric lines, where
faces ABCD, ADFE, DFGC etc. are FIG. 1
the examples of isometric planes.
Isometric scale
As all the edges of the cube
shown in Fig. 1 have been
equally foreshortened the
square faces looks like
rhombus. The rhombus (i.e.
ABCD) AC diagonal
maintains the true length of
the diagonal.
Construct a square AQCP
on diagonal AC. AQ and AP
are the true lengths of the
sides of the square face, AD
and AB are the isometric
lengths of sides AC and AQ FIG. 1
respectively.
Isometric scale

FIG. 1
Isometric scale
Thus isometric projection is reduced in the ratio
2:3 i.e. isometric lengths are 0.815 of the true
length.
Thus while drawing an isometric projection; it is
essential to convert true lengths into isometric lengths
for measuring and marking the sizes. This can easily
be done by constructing and making use of an
isometric scale.
Isometric scale
 Draw a horizontal line BC of any length [fig. 2]. At the end B, draw
lines BA and BP making angles of 30 degree and 45 degree respectively
with BC. On line BP, mark divisions of true length. From each division
point on BP, draw vertical lines on BC. The vertical lines will cut also
cut the lines BA. The points thus obtained on line BA give lengths on
isometric scale.
Isometric scale
 The same scale can drawn with divisions of natural scale on horizontal
line BP [fig. 3]. From the ends B and P, draw lines BA and PA making 15
degree and 45 degree angles with BP respectively, and intersecting each
other at point A. From division points of true length on BP, draw lines
parallel to PA and meeting BA ate respective points. The division along
BA give dimensions on isometric scales.  
Isometric Drawing or Isometric View
 If the foreshortening of the isometric
lines in an isometric projection is
disregarded and instead, the true lengths
are marked, the view obtained will be
exactly of the same shape but larger in
proportion (about 22.5%) than that
obtained by the use of isometric scale.
 Due to the ease in construction and the
advantage of measuring the dimensions
directly from the drawing, it has become
a general practice to use the true scale
instead of the isometric scale.
 To avoid confusion, the view drawn with
the true scale is called isometric drawing
or isometric view, while that drawn with
the use of isometric scale is called
isometric projection.
Isometric Drawing or Isometric View
The axes AD and DC
represent the sides of a
right angle in horizontal
position. Each of them
together with the vertical
axis DF, represents the
right angle in vertical
position.
Hence, in isometric view
of any rectangular solid
resting on a face on the
ground, each horizontal
face will have its sides
parallel to the two sloping
axes.
Isometric Drawing or Isometric View
Each vertical face will have its
sides parallel to the vertical axis
and the other sides parallel to one
of the sloping axes.
In other words, the vertical edges
i.e. shown by vertical lines, while
the horizontal edges are
represented by lines, making 30
degree angles with the horizontal.
These lines are very conveniently
drawn with the T-square and a 30-
60 degree set square.
 Isometric sketch
Isometric sketch is an isometric view that is drawn
in full size.

Isometric projection Isometric drawing

(True projection) (Full size)

Forshorten

Full scale
 Orientation of Isometric Axes
Isometric axes can be arbitrarily oriented to create
different views of a single object.

Regular Reverse axis Long axis

isometric isometric isometric

View point is looking View point is looking View point is looking

down on the top of up on the bottom of from the right (or left)
the object. the object. of the object.
 Distance in Isometric Sketch
True-length distances show along isometric lines.
Isometric line is the line that run parallel to
any of the isometric axes.

Nonisometric lines

Isometric axes
Isometric
Sketching
 Sketch from an actual object

1. Place the object in the position which its shape

and features are clearly seen.
2. Define an isometric axis.

3. Sketching the enclosing box (or cylinder).

4. Estimate the size an and relationship of each

details.
5. Darken all visible lines.
 Sketch from an actual object

STEPS

1. Positioning object.

2. Select isometric axis.

3. Sketch enclosing box.

4. Add details.

5. Darken visible lines.

 Sketch from an actual object
STEPS
1. Positioning object.
2. Select isometric axis.
3. Sketch enclosing
box.
4. Add details.

5. Darken visible lines.

Note In isometric sketch/drawing), hidden lines are omitted

unless they are absolutely necessary.
 Sketch from multiview drawing

1. Interprete the meaning of lines/areas in

multiview drawing.

2. Locate the lines or surfaces relative to isometric

axis.
Example 1 : Object has only normal surfaces

Top
Regular H
Top View
Front
Side

W
D
Front View Side View
H

W D
Side
Reverse Front
Bottom View
Bottom
Example 2 : Object has inclined surfaces

D
Nonisometric line

y
q

H
y

x
x Front View
W
Example 4
Regular
x

y C
E
B D F
Front View
A
B

C D Reverse
A F E