Engineering Drawing (ETD1100)

Course Description

ETD 1100 – Engineering Drawing is a 2-credit, first-year survey course in the Engineering Technologies: Engineering Design Drafting taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course covers the fundamental principles and practices involved in making and reading engineering drawings. Emphasis is placed on lettering, industrial symbolism, orthographic projection, and multiview representation. The course also introduces students to descriptive geometry as applied to engineering graphics. Drawing standards are based on ANSI/ASME conventions used throughout U.S. industry.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply proper engineering lettering techniques and title block conventions to technical drawings.
• Identify and correctly use standard line types (object lines, hidden lines, center lines, dimension lines, extension lines, break lines, and section lines) per ANSI standards.
• Construct and interpret orthographic (multiview) projections using third-angle projection, including front, top, right-side, and auxiliary views.
• Apply dimensioning principles and practices in accordance with ANSI/ASME Y14.5 standards, including size and location dimensions.
• Read and produce sectional views, including full sections, half sections, and offset sections, with correct cross-hatching conventions.
• Interpret and use industrial symbols including welding symbols, surface finish symbols, and geometric symbols commonly found on engineering drawings.
• Apply basic principles of descriptive geometry to solve spatial problems graphically.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis, students may also:

• Construct isometric and oblique pictorial drawings to represent three-dimensional objects.
• Produce basic detail and assembly drawings, including bills of materials and part identification.
• Use Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) software (e.g., AutoCAD) to create and plot engineering drawings.
• Apply geometric tolerancing fundamentals including form, orientation, and position controls.
• Interpret perspective drawings (one-point and two-point) as supplementary graphical communication tools.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Introduction to Engineering Drawing – History, standards (ANSI/ASME), drawing equipment, and sheet formats/title blocks.
• Lettering and Line Conventions – Freehand and mechanical lettering; alphabet of lines and their applications.
• Geometric Construction – Applied plane geometry: bisecting lines and angles, constructing polygons, tangent arcs, and ellipses.
• Orthographic Projection and Multiview Drawing – Third-angle projection; selection and arrangement of principal views (front, top, right side); precedence of lines; missing-view problems.
• Dimensioning Practices – Size and location dimensions; dimension line placement; notes and callouts; tolerancing basics.
• Sectional Views – Cutting planes; full sections, half sections, offset sections, revolved and removed sections; section lining conventions.
• Industrial Symbolism – Welding symbols, surface texture symbols, material symbols, and fastener representations per ANSI standards.
• Descriptive Geometry – True length and true shape of lines and planes; point, line, and plane relationships in space.

Optional Topics

• Auxiliary Views – Primary and secondary auxiliary views; true-shape representation of inclined and oblique surfaces.
• Pictorial Drawing – Isometric, oblique, and cabinet drawings; one-point and two-point perspective sketching.
• Detail and Assembly Drawings – Working drawings; exploded views; parts lists and bill of materials.
• Introduction to CAD – Drawing setup, basic commands, layer management, dimensioning, and plotting in 2D CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD).
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) – Introduction to form, orientation, and position controls per ASME Y14.5.
• Developments and Intersections – Flat pattern (sheet metal) development of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.

Resources & Tools

• Drawing Instruments: Drawing board, T-square or parallel bar, triangles (30/60° and 45°), compass, protractor, mechanical pencils, and drafting tape.
• CAD Software: AutoCAD (industry standard); free student versions available through Autodesk Education Community.
• Standards References: ANSI/ASME Y14.1 (Drawing Sheet Size), ANSI/ASME Y14.2 (Line Conventions), ANSI/ASME Y14.5 (Dimensioning and Tolerancing).
• Textbooks: Commonly used texts include Technical Drawing with Engineering Graphics (Giesecke et al.) and Engineering Drawing and Design (Madsen & Madsen), both widely adopted at Florida colleges.
• Open Educational Resources: MIT OpenCourseWare Engineering Drawing and Sketching module; FLDOE Florida Course Repository materials.

Career Pathways

Successful completion of ETD 1100 provides a foundation for careers and further study in the following fields:

• Drafting and Design Technician – Entry-level drafting roles in mechanical, civil, architectural, and electrical disciplines.
• CAD Technician / Drafter – Production of technical drawings using CAD software in manufacturing, construction, and engineering firms.
• Engineering Technologist – Support role for licensed engineers in design, testing, and production environments.
• Construction and Civil Technology – Site plans, structural drawings, and infrastructure documentation.
• Manufacturing Technology – Reading and interpreting shop drawings, process planning, and quality inspection.

This course is a prerequisite or co-requisite for advanced drafting courses in the ETD sequence, including courses in CAD, Architectural Drafting (ARD), and Civil/Structural Drafting at Florida state colleges and technical centers.

Special Information

Industry Credential Preparation: Content in this course aligns with foundational knowledge areas tested in the Autodesk Certified User (ACU) – AutoCAD credential for students who continue into CAD coursework. The drawing standards and practices covered also support preparation for the ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) Professional certification at the technician level in later coursework.

Program Context: ETD 1100 is typically a gateway course for the A.S. in Engineering Technology, Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD), and related certificate programs at Florida colleges including FSCJ, Valencia College, Eastern Florida State College, and St. Petersburg College. Students should expect a mix of lecture instruction and hands-on drawing lab practice each week.