AutoCAD and Its Applications BASICS 2015

Supplemental Material—Chapter 3

Introduction to
Isometric Drawings
The most common type of pictorial drawing used in the drafting industry is the pictorial drawing:
A drawing that
isometric drawing. See Figure 3A-1. This supplement focuses on commands and drawing shows the height,
width, and depth of
aids that help you create 2D isometric views that look 3D, as if the object tilts toward you. an object in a single
However, a 3D model provides a better way to display isometric views for most applica- view.

tions. AutoCAD and Its Applications—Advanced describes how to construct 3D models. isometric drawing:
A view in which all
The term isometric means equal (iso) measure (metric). An isometric drawing has three axes appear
at equal 120° angles
no perspective. Therefore, edges that are equal in length are drawn equal in length. with the plane of
The angles between the three principal planes and edges of an object are equal. See projection.
Figure 3A-2A. The vertical edges of an object are parallel to each other and form
measurable isometric lines 90° from horizontal. The horizontal edges of an object are isometric lines:
Lines that are
parallel to each other and form measurable isometric lines 30° from horizontal. All parallel to the axes
in an isometric
other lines are nonisometric lines. See Figure 3A-2B. drawing.
nonisometric lines:
Lines that are not
Figure 3A-1. parallel to the axes
in an isometric
An example of a 2D mechanical part drawing with an isometric view used to help visualize drawing.
the product.

Isometric drawing view

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
4X 13.75 (=55)

22.5 13.75
F F
5X Ø 5 THRU
Ø 10 5
Ø 0.1 M A B C M

E 25
E
12.5
C

D 10 D
22.5 10

45 10

67.5 10

90
C 100
C
50 2X R5 CF 2X R10

2X Ø 10 THRU CF 2X R10 CF
Ø 0.1 M A
Ø 0.1 M
25
A
B B
10

UNLESS OTHERWISE
APPROVALS
DRAWN
DATE
ENGINEERING DRAFTING & DESIGN, INC.
SPECIFIED DIMENSIONS ARE IN DPM Drafting, design, and training for all disciplines.

NOTES: MILLIMETERS (mm) CHECKED ADM

TITLE
Integrity - Quality - Style

1. DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCING PER ASME APPROVEDDAM

Y14.5-2009. TOLERANCES: ISO 2768-m SLIDE BAR HINGE
A 2. REMOVE ALL BURRS AND SHARP EDGES.
THIRD ANGLE PROJECTION
MATERIAL
6061-T4 ALUMINUM A
FINISH SIZE CAGE CODE DWG NO. REV
ALL OVER A3 01179-015 0
DO NOT SCALE DRAWING SCALE 1:1 SHEET 7 OF 24

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website.
 Figure 3A-2.
A—An isometric drawing creates equal angles between the three principal planes and edges
of an object. B—An example of an isometric drawing with isometric and nonisometric lines.
Nonisometric
Top isometric lines
plane

120°
Right
Left isometric
isometric plane
plane

120° 120° 90°

30° 30°

A B

Circular features appear elliptical in an isometric drawing. The Isocircle option of

the ELLIPSE command, described in Chapter 4, allows you to construct isometric circles
and arcs easily. Isometric text uses a specific oblique angle and rotation depending on
the plane and drawing application. Chapters 9 and 10 cover AutoCAD text.

Isometric Snap Mode

Once you understand the geometric layout of an isometric view, you can use any
point entry method to construct an isometric drawing. Polar coordinates and dynamic
input or dimensional input are common basic point entry options for isometric
construction because they allow you to specify angles. Polar tracking set to 30° incre-
ment angles is also an effective method. One of the most useful aids for isometric
drawing is isometric snap mode.
A quick way to switch isometric snap mode on and off is to pick the Isometric

DSETTINGS
Type
Drafting button on the status bar. You can also use the Snap and Grid tab of the Drafting DSETTINGS
DS
Settings dialog box to set isometric snap. See Figure 3A-3. A quick way to access the SE

Snap and Grid tab is to right-click on the Snap mode button or pick the Snap mode
flyout on the status bar and select Settings…. Pick the Isometric snap radio button in
the Snap type area to activate isometric snap.
Specify the snap increment using the Snap Y spacing: text box in the Snap spacing
area and the grid spacing using the Grid Y spacing: text box in the Grid spacing area.
You can only set the Y snap and grid spacing. The X spacing is not applicable because
the X axis relates to horizontal measurements. For the same reason, you must also
check 2D model space in the Grid style area to display the grid as a pattern of dots.
After you activate isometric snap mode, and grid mode, if desired, you are ready to
GRID

Type
begin drawing. As shown in Figure 3A-3, the grid and crosshairs rotate to an isometric GRID
[Ctrl]+[G]
orientation that aids in drawing objects at isometric angles. Figure 3A-4 shows the [F7]

steps required to construct an isometric cube using the LINE command. Apply the
SNAP

same techniques to drawing other objects. Notice that isometric snap can be very Type

helpful when you are constructing isometric lines. SNAP

[Ctrl]+[B]
[F9]

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May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website.
 Figure 3A-3.
Use the Snap and Grid tab of the Drafting Settings dialog box to specify isometric grid and
snap settings. To quickly toggle isometric snap on and off, pick the Isometric Drafting
button on the status bar.
Turn snap Specify the isometric Turn grid
on and off snap increment on and off

Check
when using
isometric
snap to
display the
grid as a
pattern
Isometric
of dots
crosshairs

Pick to set Specify

isometric the grid
snap spacing

Grid Isometric
rotates 30˚ Drafting
button and
flyout

Figure 3A-4.
Creating a 2 unit × 2 unit cube using isometric snap and grid. Other default drawing aids are
also on to help describe the construction process.

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May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website.
 Specifying the Isometric Plane
Isometric snap and grid modes orient the snap and grid to isometric angles.

ISOPLANE
Type
You can align the crosshairs with the left, right, or top isoplane, depending on the ISOPLANE
[F5]
isometric plane on which you plan to draw. See Figure 3A-5. Changing the isoplane is
not required for drawing isometric lines, but doing so can be helpful for visualization
and drawing ease. You must change the isoplane orientation to construct isometric
isoplane: One of
circles and arcs using the Isocircle option of the ELLIPSE command, described in the three isometric
Chapter 4. To specify the appropriate isoplane, right-click on the Isometric Drafting planes: left, right,
or top.
button or pick the Isometric Drafting flyout on the status bar and select from the list,
or access the ISOPLANE command and select an option. You can also press [F5] repeat-
edly to cycle through isoplanes.

NOTE
When isometric snap is active, the crosshairs is always oriented with
the specified isoplane. The isoplane does not apply to window or
crossing selection and similar operations that use a box to make a
selection.

NOTE
Some of the following activities require the use of a decimal-unit
isometric template with active isometric snap and grid modes. If you
do not have such a template, create it now. Then use it as indicated in
these activities.

Figure 3A-5.
Adjusting the isoplane orientation of the crosshairs to match a specific isometric plane.

Left Isoplane Right Isoplane Top Isoplane

150° “X axis” 30° “X axis” 150° “X axis”
90° “Y axis” 90° “Y axis” 30° “Y axis”

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Introduction to Isometric Drawings 4

May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website.
 Activity 3A-1
1. Start a new drawing from scratch using the imperial format. Save the drawing
as ACT3A-1.
2. Pick the Isometric Drafting button on the status bar to activate isometric snap.
3. Access the Snap and Grid tab of the Drafting Settings dialog box. The Isometric
snap radio button should be selected. Enter .25 for the Y snap and grid spacing
values, and pick the 2D model space check box.
4. Toggle grid mode on from the status bar if it is not active.
5. Access the LINE command and use isometric snap and the grid to draw the
isometric view shown below. Change the isoplane orientation as appropriate
for drawing objects on each isometric plane. Do not dimension the drawing.

6. Resave and close the file.

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May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website.
 Activity 3A-2
For each of the following isometric drawings, start a new drawing using a
decimal-unit isometric template that includes active isometric snap and grid
modes. Draw an isometric part view similar to each drawing using dimensions of
your choice. Save the drawings using the file names shown.

1.

File name: ACT3A-2A

2.

File name: ACT3A-2B

3.

File name: ACT3A-2C

Continued

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Introduction to Isometric Drawings 6

May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website.
 4.

File name: ACT3A-2D

5.

File name: ACT3A-2E

6.

File name: ACT3A-2F

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Introduction to Isometric Drawings 7

May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website.