Spatial Visualization Workshops

Spatial visualization is an essential and learnable skill that engineers use to clearly communicate their
ideas to other people so the ideas can evolve and become real-world products, structures and systems.

1. Orthographic Views 5. Inclined Planes and Curved Surfaces

2. Isometric Drawings and Coded Plans 6. Reflections and Symmetry

3. One-Axis Rotations 7. Write a Rule

4. Two-Axis Rotations
 Workshop 1
Orthographic Views
Orthographic Drawings
Also called “multi-view” drawings
 Side View Top View
Orthographic Drawings
(from left)
Orthographic Drawings
Always draw the
three views in this
arrangement
Orthographic Drawings Always draw the
Top Top three views in this
arrangement
-so they align with
each other

Front Side Front Side

Orthographic Drawings
Orthographic Drawings
Orthographic Drawings
Engineering examples
Orthographic Drawings
Tips:
• Draw views in order: top → front → side
• Draw lines where edges exist
(changes in plane)
• Show hidden edges
using dotted lines
• Solid lines trump
dotted lines
Workshop 1 Stations Station 3: No-Look Pass
• In pairs, one student wears a blindfold while the other
Station 1: Block Relay student builds an object with 5 blocks

• Build an object with 8 blocks • The blindfolded student holds the object and describes
the three orthographic views out loud
• Draw the three orthographic views
• The partner draws ONLY what is described by the
• Then pass the object to a neighbor and repeat blindfolded student
• Check drawings for accuracy with neighbor • When finished, correct the drawing and switch roles
• Repeat and practice, moving to larger objects
Station 2: Workbook Drill
• Individually, answer questions on ODD pages Station 4: Computer-Aided Visualization
ortho1 to ortho24 on scrap paper
• Read Module 4 – Orthographic Views
• Check your answers with the answer key
• Complete the orthographic views exercises
 Workshop 2
Isometric Drawings
& Coded Plans
Depicting a 3D Cube

Non-isometric view ↙ Isometric view of a cube

of a cube ↘
• Sides connect in a corner
• Corner angles • All corner angles are equal
are not equal (120°)
• Sides are the same size
• Sides have
• Shown on
different areas triangle-dot paper
Isometric Drawing Example
Isometric means “equal measure”.
A house depicted
isometrically using AutoCAD ➔

Useful for blueprints

and design plans

Think of the cube:

• Equal side faces
• Equal corner angles (120°)
• Triangle-dot paper: dots are 120° from each other
 Click to reveal
Isometric Views
Click to
Click reveal
mouse/keyboard
to reveal
Isometric Views

Four views of the same Two capital letters

multi-cube object drawn isometrically
Isometric Views
Tips:
• Align paper in
landscape orientation
• Define your axes on
object and isometric
paper
• Only draw lines where
edges exist
Isometric Views A coded plan of the same image ↓

• Corners are labeled by letters

• # in squares = # cubes stacked up
Coded Plans to Isometric Views

1
1 2 3
1
Tips: A
• Define your axes on a coded plan and isometric paper
• Start drawing from perspective
Workshop 2 Stations
Station 1: Coded Plan Relay Station 3: Peer Teach
• Draw a coded plan • In pairs, choose 2 viewpoints of the
• Then, build the object provided coded plan
• Draw the isometric view • Draw the isometric views from the 2 viewpoints
• Pass the coded plan to a neighbor and repeat • Then, redraw the isometric view while describing
• Check drawings for accuracy with neighbor out loud how you did it

Station 2: Workbook Drill Station 4: Computer-Aided Visualization

• Individually, answer workbook questions on • Read Module 3: Isometric Drawings and Coded Plans
pages iso1 to iso12 on scrap paper • Complete the isometric drawings and
• Check your answers with the answer key coded plans exercises
Coded Plans to Isometric Views (Station 3 answers)
Click mouse/keyboard to reveal the possible solutions
 Workshop 3
One-Axis Rotations
One-Axis Rotations is rotated to ➔

Can you find the rotation of

the gray object that is is rotated to:
analogous to the rotation of
the white object?
One-Axis Rotations

vertical
Three positive axes, x, y and z:
X = horizontal axis
Y = vertical axis
Z = axis coming towards us
One-Axis Rotations

How to do the right-hand rule:

• Point your thumb parallel to
the axis you are rotating about
and curve your fingers naturally
towards the palm of your hand
• Your fingers will move in the same
way that the object will move
One-Axis Rotations

Tips:
• Right-hand rule!
• Clockwise = negative rotation; counter-clockwise = positive rotation
• 90°, 180°, 270° rotations only
• “Flag around a flagpole”
Workshop 3 Stations
Station 1: Block Relay Station 3: Frozen
• In pairs, build an object of any size
• Build an object with 6 blocks
• Define the axes and a one-axis rotation
• Define the axes and a one-axis rotation
• Switch objects with partner and draw the isometric
• Draw the isometric views before
view before and after rotation without moving the
and after rotation
object – it’s frozen!
• Then pass the object to a neighbor
• Compare drawings with partner and repeat
and repeat
• Check drawings for accuracy with neighbor
Station 2: Workbook Drill Station 4: Computer-Aided Visualization
• Individually, answer questions on ODD • Read Module 7 – Rotations about a Single Axis
pages rot1-5 to rot1-17 on scrap paper • Complete the rotations about a single axis exercises
• Check your answers with the answer key
 Workshop 4
Two-Axis Rotations
Two-Axis Rotations

Can you find the rotation of

the gray object that is
analogous to the rotation of
the white object?
Two-Axis Rotations

Tips:
• Right-hand rule!
• Clockwise = negative rotation;
counter-clockwise = positive rotation
• Two-axis rotation is NOT
commutative (order matters!)
Workshop 4 Stations
Station 1: Block Relay Station 3: Frozen
• Build an object with 6 blocks • In pairs, build an object of any size
• Define the axes and a two-axis rotation • Define the axes and a two-axis rotation
• Draw the isometric views before • Switch objects with partner and draw the isometric
and after rotations view before and after rotation without moving the
• Then pass the object to a neighbor object – it’s frozen!
and repeat • Compare drawings with partner and repeat
• Check drawings for accuracy with neighbor
Station 4: Computer-Aided Visualization
Station 2: Workbook Drill • Read Module 8 – Rotations about Two Axes
• Individually, answer questions on ODD • Complete the rotations about two axes exercises
pages rot2-5 to rot2-17 on scrap paper
• Check your answers with the answer key
 Workshop 5
Inclined Planes &
Curved Surfaces
Inclined Planes & Curved Surfaces

For this 3D object with an L-

shaped inclined plane,
follow the L-shape:
• Appears as a line in the front
view (bottom left corner)
• Appears as a plane in the
top and side views
Workshop 5 Stations Station 3: Orthographic Telephone
• Build an object with an inclined plane or
Station 1: Block Relay curved surface
• Use cubes to build a shape with an
• Pass object to neighbor; the neighbor draws
inclined plane or curved shape orthographic views of object and disassembles it
• Use Play-Doh to add inclined and • Second student passes orthographic drawings to
curved shapes to the blocks different neighbor who rebuilds the object
• Draw the isometric view • Continue in circle until object arrives at
• Pass object to a neighbor and repeat (draw the originating student
isometric view of your neighbor’s object)
• Did final version match original object?
• Check both drawings for accuracy with neighbor

Station 2: Workbook Drill Station 4: Computer-Aided Visualization

• Individually, answer questions on ODD pages • Read Module 5 - Inclined Planes and Curved Surfaces
inc1 to inc15 • Complete the inclined planes and curved
• Check your answers with the answer key surfaces exercises
 Workshop 6
Reflections & Symmetry
Object Reflections

Thoughts:
• The plane acts as a mirror to create new orientation of object (a reflection)
• Use corresponding points to determine where edges/surfaces are
Drawing a Reflection

Tips:
• First, project the object onto the reflection plane
• Draw the edges from the projection
• Edges and surfaces that were close are now the farthest away
Symmetry

Thoughts:
• Symmetrical objects have one or more planes that create identical shapes
• A 180-degree rotation about the plane of symmetry creates the same
Workshop 6 Stations
Station 1: Block Relay Station 3: Meet with the Expert
• Build an object with 6 blocks and define a • Bring your questions to the expert(ish)
reflection plane
• Draw isometric views of the object before
Station 4: Computer-Aided Visualization
and after reflection
• Read Module 9 – Object Reflections on Symmetry
• Pass object and reflection plane to
• Complete the reflections and symmetry exercises
neighbor and repeat
• Check drawings for accuracy with neighbor

Station 2: Workbook Drill

• Individually, answer questions on EVEN
pages reflx/sym04 to reflx/sym14
• Check your answers as you go
 Workshop 7
Write a Rule
Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R)
Example question:

A B C D E
Write a Rule Steps
1. Look at the example and pick a side
2. Find the same side after its rotation
3. Write a rule!
4. Locate the same side on
the new object
5. Follow your rule
6. Compare to the provided answers
and find the correct one
Workshop 7 Stations
Station 1: Write a Rule Practice Station 2: Workbook Drill
• Individually, complete the first 8 problems • Individually, answer questions on EVEN pages rot2-1
on the practice test to rot2 -17 on scrap paper
• For each problem, write a rule and then • Check your answers with the answer key
select the answer, writing it on scrap paper
• Check your answers with the answer key