When any new or improved type of tool, fixture, or machine is being developed, its general arrangement and the principles governing its operation and use may be quite clear in the mind of the inventor or designer, and they may proceed with the actual work of construction, guided only by some mental picture of the mechanism. There are a lot of simple tools or appliances that can be produced in this way, but its evident that such a method is very limited. It is often easier for the designer of a new type of gizmo to build it with his own two hands than to attempt a verbal description to give someone else a clear enough idea of the device so they can build it.
This direct method of construction is totally impractical when applied to regular manufacturing. First off, it would be impossible to create many of the more complicated parts by simply forming a mental picture of them. The basic idea of the device and maybe its general arrangement might be entirely clear, but in order to figure out the exact relation of the various array of parts when they are all properly proportioned and assembled, it is necessary to make an accurate drawing. Such a drawing not only shows the arrangement of the mechanism as a whole, but assists the designer in a big way in the development of the idea as a whole. Quite often, the mental picture is distorted, but when an accurate drawing is made, it is clear as a bell that changes are necessary either in the form and size of one or more of the parts or possibly in the entire make-up of the mechanism.
The General Use of Drawings
The method usually followed by inventors and designers in creating new or improved machines or fixtures is the making of a drawing of whatever idea is being developed. When this has been done, a clear concept of the form and the practicality of the mechanism shown by the drawing may be gotten by the originator of the idea and by other folks who understand drawings and are able to read them. Drawings then serve several important purposes. The first is that they assist in the development of a plan by allowing the inventor or designer to see clearly the relation of different parts to one another and whether or not the planned motion or effect may be obtained. The second is that drawings make it possible for the originator of a plan to convey the idea to others with more ease that if they tried to describe it using mere words. And third, they show those who are actually constructing the device the proportions of its various parts and their relation when they are properly assembled together. And finally, drawings are handy as a hay rake as records of what has been completed and makes it possible to reproduce whatever tool or gizmo is shown on the drawing or drawings.
The Work of the Drafter or Draftsman.
On manufacturing different kinds of mechanical tools and equipment, the work performed can be divided into four different categories:
1. Originating entirely or in part the general type of device to be constructed and the principle governing its operation;
2. Designing the mechanism in according to established mechanical principles and in such a way that the different parts will be strong enough to resist any stresses that they may be subjected to;
3. Making drawings that are needed in the actual work of construction;
4. Making, fitting, and assembling the various parts.
In the study of mechanical drawing, it is totally necessary that you understand the relation of these four categories to one another, because a drafter may simply make drawings according to the ideas of others or they may have more or less to do with originating the plan. The drafter, none the less, is still an integral part of any design or manufacturing process.
Some drafters are able to determine the proportions of different parts and many of them control the process of manufacturing. The designer may be an inventor or vice versa, and he is always a drafter and is capable of making mechanical drawings. The drafter however, is not necessarily a designer and may know little or nothing about the principles governing the design of the part, machinery or tools drawn.
My name is Tim Davis and I teach drafting at http://101info.org.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Arcitectural Drawing/Drafting
Architectural drafting may be studied by either the analytic or the synthetic method. In the latter, the order of procedure is first to draw a structure in its entirety and then to make a study of its details. For the synthetic method it is claimed that the student follows the same course he would pursue in an office and that he works with a clearer understanding than he would if he had to draw a number of miscellaneous, unrelated parts of a building. On the other hand, the adherents of the analytic method contend that the most uncouth and impracticable designs are made by students who know nothing of the construction of the various recurring elements of a structure, such as doors, windows, roofs, etc.
Synthetic-analytic Method. A happy medium may be found by combining the good points of each system in the synthetic-analytic method. The student should constantly refer to a complete set of plans as he draws details. A building, it should be remembered, is an aggregation of connected units; system and coherency must therefore prevail in its representation. The foundation should be considered first; then the superimposed walls, the crowning roof, the exterior finish, and finally, the interior embellishments should follow in consecutive order. These elements should be carefully studied by themselves and in relation to one another. The plans should be consulted for width of openings; elevations and sections for height of openings. Studied in this manner, the beginner soon acquires a proper conception of the elements when represented conventionally. Knowing them and their conventional representation, it will not be difficult for the student to combine them in original designs.
To learn to draw house plans, please go to http://homedesign.8m.com
Synthetic-analytic Method. A happy medium may be found by combining the good points of each system in the synthetic-analytic method. The student should constantly refer to a complete set of plans as he draws details. A building, it should be remembered, is an aggregation of connected units; system and coherency must therefore prevail in its representation. The foundation should be considered first; then the superimposed walls, the crowning roof, the exterior finish, and finally, the interior embellishments should follow in consecutive order. These elements should be carefully studied by themselves and in relation to one another. The plans should be consulted for width of openings; elevations and sections for height of openings. Studied in this manner, the beginner soon acquires a proper conception of the elements when represented conventionally. Knowing them and their conventional representation, it will not be difficult for the student to combine them in original designs.
To learn to draw house plans, please go to http://homedesign.8m.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Remodeling
Many people do not care to build a new house, frequently possessing an old house that has been in the family for many years, and which can be made quite comfortable by modernizing. Others prefer to buy an old house in some good location than to build new; they determine to reconstruct the old building to meet their requirements.
Remodeling may be a success financially and artistically, or it may not, depending upon various phases of the problem. Many old houses are not capable of successful remodeling at any price.
Constructed along peculiar lines in the first place, the attempt to remodel can only end in failure — or else the building must be entirely wrecked and a new one built all over again. Then, too, some old houses are in such wretched repair that it will not pay to reconstruct them. Money spent modernizing a house is not sensibly spent when the old framework is badly decayed and repairing necessitates such extensive tearing out of walls and partitions that the entire building is practically rebuilt.
On the other hand, many old houses built along simple lines in the first place, and kept in good condition by careful maintenance, are excellent for remodeling. Hardly a city, town, or suburban community exists in which there are not many such fine old places waiting for the hand of some one with taste to make them into modern, well-arranged, attractive houses.
Fortunate is the owner who recognizes the right kind of old house before he buys it for remodeling purposes, and doubly fortunate is the owner who knows what to do with the old place after it has come into his possession, for there are two great factors in remodeling: first, to secure a house with possibilities; second, to arrange interior and exterior with accompanying plumbing, heating, and lighting, in an effective way without excessive cost or unnecessary tearing down or destroying. These results are all easy to accomplish after a little study, and every owner who contemplates remodeling should give consideration to the problem before he buys a place, in order to begin right by having the right kind of house to start with.
In remodeling, every step should be well planned in advance in order to prevent false steps and save the money lost in experimental building and tearing down again.
Frequently the mere elimination of false ornamental trimmings on an old house will accomplish results quite surprising. Some of the old-time builders who nourished at a later period than the really good designers of Colonial times, wanted to nail ornamental boards and fancy shingles on the gable ends of their houses, producing a result not popular to-day.
What does it cost to remodel? This is usually the first question asked by the average owner, and a very live question it is, — and one very difficult to answer. What does it cost to run an automobile? How much coal will a furnace burn? How many miles from Boston to New York ? These are questions to which a like answer may be given, — it depends — depends upon conditions. If you go to Boston from New York by way of the sea, it is one • distance, and another if you go by rail. A furnace will burn as much coal as you are willing to shovel into it, — sometimes more, — though scientific stoking greatly cuts down the amount needed to warm a house comfortably. Some men run an automobile on $100 a month, and others hardly squeeze along on $400, depending upon the size and make of car, amount of service, and ability of the man who runs it.
When it comes to remodeling an old house, no two owners have quite the same experience. One man modernizes in a simple way at a cost of $10,000, while another spends $50,000, and wishes he had more in order to get what he thinks he wants. But some idea of cost can be obtained of course, and no owner should embark in a remodeling project until he knows somewhere near what the price will be. It is difficult to make a definite estimate on alterations, certainly, but some idea can be gathered by consulting with an expert, one who is familiar with building costs in your neighborhood and therefore qualified to give good advice. But you should remember that the expert can give no information until he knows how extensive the work is to be; so here is where you, Mr. Owner, must give study to the problem, yourself.
In a remodeling project the first thing to do is to examine the old building and determine just what repairs are needed to put the house in good condition, for it is never wise to spend money on remodeling unless the entire building is to be put in good repair at the same time. Rearranged rooms, installation of plumbing, heating, and lighting, and repainting or decorating are thrown away if the balance of the house is not put in just as good condition as the new part. Otherwise, you would be repairing, every year, spots in the house which should have been put in good condition in the first place.
Next, you should draw on a sheet of paper the two floor plans showing the arrangement of rooms as they exist. Make something more than a rough sketch, if possible, for this diagram is to be the groundwork which you or your architect will study for a solution of your problem. On this account the best way is to measure up each room and locate it, carefully drawn to scale (one quarter of an inch to the foot is the most used scale), on your diagram, showing every window, door, and closet. If you have choice pieces of furniture and wish to use them in the remodeled house, show them on your sketch plan so that you may provide space for them in the new scheme.
No matter how familiar with the old house you may be, it is difficult to grasp an arrangement of rooms. Walk from room to room as much as you will, trying to determine how to modernize the house, and you will have but a confused idea about the arrangement. But if you make an accurate sketch plan, a plan which can be afterwards examined and studied at leisure, you will have taken the wisest step possible, and your sketch plan will likely lead to a correct solution of the problem. Take this plan, study it, and determine what is necessary to be done to get the arrangement of rooms desired, bearing in mind, however, that when you remove one partition between two rooms on the first floor for a larger living room, the second-story partition overhead Two old rooms made into one cannot be depended upon to hold itself in place. Beams or some such structural members must be built in to support the second story.
Take care that the new arrangement will not wreck the old building. Modify your desires to suit the character of the old building, instead of arbitrarily demanding that rooms shall be precisely this way or that. The style of the new structure should be determined largely by the style of the old. Plain, old houses are usually more easily remodeled along Colonial lines than any other style.
To learn to draw house plans, please go to http://houseplandrafting101.com
Exert from: Successful houses and how to build them.1912
Remodeling may be a success financially and artistically, or it may not, depending upon various phases of the problem. Many old houses are not capable of successful remodeling at any price.
Constructed along peculiar lines in the first place, the attempt to remodel can only end in failure — or else the building must be entirely wrecked and a new one built all over again. Then, too, some old houses are in such wretched repair that it will not pay to reconstruct them. Money spent modernizing a house is not sensibly spent when the old framework is badly decayed and repairing necessitates such extensive tearing out of walls and partitions that the entire building is practically rebuilt.
On the other hand, many old houses built along simple lines in the first place, and kept in good condition by careful maintenance, are excellent for remodeling. Hardly a city, town, or suburban community exists in which there are not many such fine old places waiting for the hand of some one with taste to make them into modern, well-arranged, attractive houses.
Fortunate is the owner who recognizes the right kind of old house before he buys it for remodeling purposes, and doubly fortunate is the owner who knows what to do with the old place after it has come into his possession, for there are two great factors in remodeling: first, to secure a house with possibilities; second, to arrange interior and exterior with accompanying plumbing, heating, and lighting, in an effective way without excessive cost or unnecessary tearing down or destroying. These results are all easy to accomplish after a little study, and every owner who contemplates remodeling should give consideration to the problem before he buys a place, in order to begin right by having the right kind of house to start with.
In remodeling, every step should be well planned in advance in order to prevent false steps and save the money lost in experimental building and tearing down again.
Frequently the mere elimination of false ornamental trimmings on an old house will accomplish results quite surprising. Some of the old-time builders who nourished at a later period than the really good designers of Colonial times, wanted to nail ornamental boards and fancy shingles on the gable ends of their houses, producing a result not popular to-day.
What does it cost to remodel? This is usually the first question asked by the average owner, and a very live question it is, — and one very difficult to answer. What does it cost to run an automobile? How much coal will a furnace burn? How many miles from Boston to New York ? These are questions to which a like answer may be given, — it depends — depends upon conditions. If you go to Boston from New York by way of the sea, it is one • distance, and another if you go by rail. A furnace will burn as much coal as you are willing to shovel into it, — sometimes more, — though scientific stoking greatly cuts down the amount needed to warm a house comfortably. Some men run an automobile on $100 a month, and others hardly squeeze along on $400, depending upon the size and make of car, amount of service, and ability of the man who runs it.
When it comes to remodeling an old house, no two owners have quite the same experience. One man modernizes in a simple way at a cost of $10,000, while another spends $50,000, and wishes he had more in order to get what he thinks he wants. But some idea of cost can be obtained of course, and no owner should embark in a remodeling project until he knows somewhere near what the price will be. It is difficult to make a definite estimate on alterations, certainly, but some idea can be gathered by consulting with an expert, one who is familiar with building costs in your neighborhood and therefore qualified to give good advice. But you should remember that the expert can give no information until he knows how extensive the work is to be; so here is where you, Mr. Owner, must give study to the problem, yourself.
In a remodeling project the first thing to do is to examine the old building and determine just what repairs are needed to put the house in good condition, for it is never wise to spend money on remodeling unless the entire building is to be put in good repair at the same time. Rearranged rooms, installation of plumbing, heating, and lighting, and repainting or decorating are thrown away if the balance of the house is not put in just as good condition as the new part. Otherwise, you would be repairing, every year, spots in the house which should have been put in good condition in the first place.
Next, you should draw on a sheet of paper the two floor plans showing the arrangement of rooms as they exist. Make something more than a rough sketch, if possible, for this diagram is to be the groundwork which you or your architect will study for a solution of your problem. On this account the best way is to measure up each room and locate it, carefully drawn to scale (one quarter of an inch to the foot is the most used scale), on your diagram, showing every window, door, and closet. If you have choice pieces of furniture and wish to use them in the remodeled house, show them on your sketch plan so that you may provide space for them in the new scheme.
No matter how familiar with the old house you may be, it is difficult to grasp an arrangement of rooms. Walk from room to room as much as you will, trying to determine how to modernize the house, and you will have but a confused idea about the arrangement. But if you make an accurate sketch plan, a plan which can be afterwards examined and studied at leisure, you will have taken the wisest step possible, and your sketch plan will likely lead to a correct solution of the problem. Take this plan, study it, and determine what is necessary to be done to get the arrangement of rooms desired, bearing in mind, however, that when you remove one partition between two rooms on the first floor for a larger living room, the second-story partition overhead Two old rooms made into one cannot be depended upon to hold itself in place. Beams or some such structural members must be built in to support the second story.
Take care that the new arrangement will not wreck the old building. Modify your desires to suit the character of the old building, instead of arbitrarily demanding that rooms shall be precisely this way or that. The style of the new structure should be determined largely by the style of the old. Plain, old houses are usually more easily remodeled along Colonial lines than any other style.
To learn to draw house plans, please go to http://houseplandrafting101.com
Exert from: Successful houses and how to build them.1912
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