Example of a 3-view Drawing

Three-view drawings are designed to show the different sides of an object and to show the dimensions of the object. Manufacturers use three-view drawings in conjunction with isometric or oblique drawings to build parts for a product.

An important factor in a three view drawing is the relationship between height, width, and depth. The top and front views share width. The top and side views share depth. The front and side views share height. If you can understand this concept, you can draw just about any three-view drawing.

The following guide will present to you the ways to create a three-view drawing.

You will usually have an isometric or oblique drawing of an object with all dimensions on it. Using those dimensions and other constructions, you can make a three-view drawing.

Start with the front view and draw the construction lines that you would see from the front view. These would be light lines that overlap that give you an idea of what the drawing would look like. This is not the actual drawing of the object.

Then draw either the right or front view of the object. You can do this by continuing the construction lines up or to the right to transfer the dimensions. To transfer the dimensions between the top view and right side view, you can use a 45 degree angle.

Now, once you have all the construction lines done, go over and darken the lines that should be the visible lines, the outline of the object. If there are any other lines that are behind a part of the object that you can't see, you would use a hidden line to show that there is a line there.

For a finished example of a 3-view drawing (file viewable in AutoCAD LT), you may click the links below: