Basic Guide to Choosing ISO or ASME Standard for 2D Drawing

If you are a mechanical design engineer and had worked with many companies then you may have worked with 1st angle and 3rd angle of projection some companies use 1st and angle and some companies use 3rd angle of projection method to create 2D technical drawing. If fact all modern 3D modeling software like SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor provide option to choose your projection method either 1^st angle or 3^rd angle.

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2D drawings are very important to part get manufactured Although 3D CAD models are dominating the CAD design with 3D printing but 2D drawings still haven’t lost their importance. It does not matter which software you have used to modeled your part for a manufacturer and fabricator only matter is 2D drawing. In mechanical industry around the globe uses either 1^st angle projection method or 3^rd angle projection method. In this article we will discuss ISO or ASME Standard for 2D Drawing.

If we look at global scenario of adoption of 1^st and 3^rd angle of projection European countries use ISO standards while Americans, UK, and Australians prefer the ASME standards over ISO but after all it is manufacturer choice weather they prefer 1^st angle or 3^rd angle of projection.

Let’s understand ISO Standards: First Angle Projection Method

ISO recommends First angle projection method while detailing object with first angle of projection, it gives you a feeling that you are making your drawings in an opaque box. In first angle of projection method for drawing the projection plane lies behind the object. In this method engineer look at the object and makes him sketch its front view at the back of the object. Downside of first angle of projection is it involves heavy imagination and adjustment in drawings.

Let’s understand ASME Standards: Third Angle Projection Method

As a Mechanical engineer here in India 3rd Angle project method is very popular and used by many manufacturer and fabricator because it requires less imagination as compared to first angle of projection it simple as What You See Is What You Get. In Third angle of projection plane is assumed to be transparent and in between the object and the observer, third angle of projection gives a sense of putting the object flat on the drawing sheet. In Third angle of projection as the drawings are exactly as the object appears, makes it easy to engineer to combine all the views of the object in drawing and imagine the entire object with less effort that is the beauty of third angle of projection.

Both the projection methods have wide acceptance around the world. If you are an engineer and working in design services, then you have to use projection method as per client location. While creating the technical drawing it is recommended that avoid hidden line as much as you can because hidden lines come uninvited interpretation, misconception and may provide misleading information. It is advised that take auxiliary view. If you are using modern CAD software, then you can set your projection method before placing your base view.

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