recommend a decent mechanical drafting book. 1

[LONDONDERRY]

Greetings-
Can anyone recommend a decent drafting book for mechanical engineers. A few of the Green mechanical engineers seem to lack basic drafting skills

 

[MintJulep]

I've had the third edition of this on my bookshelf for probably 30 years. Still open it regularly even though I almost never do actual drafting or design anymore.

https://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Drawing-Design-Cecil-Jensen/dp/0073521515

I've had the first edition of this one for nearly as long and also open it frequently. This one comes at the topic from the other direction, how to read engineering drawings. I find that thinking about the reader helps the drafter make better drawings.

https://www.amazon.com/Hammers-Blue.../ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

[ctopher]

All of the engineers I work have no basic drafting skills. The book would be good for them.
Unfortunately they wouldn't use it, they think drafting skills are not a necessity because what they think works is good enough.

Kudos to you for wanting them to learn!

ctopher, CSWP
SolidWorks '17
ctophers home
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[LONDONDERRY]

Thanks Chris.
I do have an additional questions. I work in a group of 8 ME's, probably 3, including myself have years of drafting experience, the remainder are fresh out of college. Would anyone recommend having these folks, do drawing first to get their drafting skills up before designing or not?

 

[3DDave]

I've thought the best is to have them do drawing revision/change incorporation.

 

[ewh]

The best teacher I know of is a strict drawing checker, but they seem to have gone the way of the drawing board. There's more to creating a good drawing than making "a nice picture for the nice man" (to quote my HS drafting teacher).


"Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively."
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[ctopher]

I agree with the others. I think what would also be good is have them work in a machine shop to learn why drawing practices are important.

ctopher, CSWP
SolidWorks '19
ctophers home
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[LONDONDERRY]

Thanks EWH and Chris,
been many decades since I've used a drafting board..
Ahh the smell of Buttercut oil and metal chips.. Unfortunately our company doesn't have and in-house machine shop and I believe most have never even been to one..

 

[ctopher]

I think everyone that creates engineering drawing should spend some time in a machine shop.
Also, GD&T has been slowly dyeing because less people learning how to read it.

ctopher, CSWP
SolidWorks '19
ctophers home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[NRP99]

Its difficult for new engineers to start working on practical problems as soon as they are out of school. This is like we expect the complex machine to be working smoothly as soon as we design and manufacture it without some sort of back and forth changes.

I suggest to test their current level of knowledge using tests (subjective/objective or to make them draw a existing product drawing with all details by providing general benchmark drawing guidelines). Then evaluating their performance through test scores/commented drawings and comparing them with each other. This test is to realize them/you where they are lacking and focus on what they need to look for. Then may be suggesting a book or whatever resources at your disposal is appropriate.

May be (highly improbable, though) some will come out clean. This may make your life easy without making difficult their's.