5

Construction Of
Geometric Figures
Tangency
Blending of Lines
& Curves

1 Construction of Geometric Figures

Engineering drawings require the use of a number of simple
geometrical

constructions

and

engineering

curves.

The

constructions are mostly based on simple theorems of plane

geometry. A few methods are illustrated hereafter.

1.1 Dividing a straight line into a given number of

equal parts

(DIVISION BY GEOMETRIC METHOD)

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1.2 Dividing a line in the ratio 1:3:4

1.3 Constructing parallel lines

1.4 Bisecting a line

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1.5 Drawing a perpendicular from a point on a line

1.6 Drawing a perpendicular from a point to a line

1.7 Bisecting an angle

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1.8 Bisecting the angle formed by two converging lines

1.9 Constructing a 60 angle

Construct 30, 90 and 45 angles.

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1.10
Constructing any given regular polygon, given
the length of a side
1.10.1

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Method 1

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1.10.2

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Method 2

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1.10.3

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Method 3

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2 Tangency
A tangent to a curve is a straight line that touches the curve at
one point only. Particular attention is devoted here to the
construction of tangents to circles.

2.1 Tangent to a circle from any point on the

circumference

2.2 Tangent from a point P to a circle centre 0

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2.3 Constructing an external tangent to two circles

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2.4 Constructing an internal tangent to two circles

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3 Blending of Lines & Curves

A curve will only blend properly with another curve or line when
the centre of the curve has been correctly found. If the centre is
found exactly, the curve is bound to blend exactly.

3.1 Blending of an arc (radius r) with straight lines

meeting at right angles

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3.2 Blending of an arc (radius r) with straight lines

meeting at any angles

3.3 Blending of an arc (radius r) passing through a

point P, with a straight line

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3.4 Blending of an arc (radius R) with a line and a

circle (centre B, radius r)
3.4.1Option 1

3.4.2Option 2

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