Technical lettering
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with technical writing.
Technical lettering is the process of forming letters, numerals, and other characters in technical drawing. It is used to describe, or provide detailed specifications for, an object. With the goals of legibility and uniformity, styles are standardized and lettering ability has little relationship to normal writing ability.
Engineering drawings use a Gothic sans-serif script, formed by a series of short strokes. Lower case letters are rare in most drawings of machines.
There are three methods of forming letters:
- Freehand lettering is done without the assistance of tools. To regulate lettering height, commonly 3 mm (1/8"), guidelines are drawn.
- Mechanical lettering is done using tools such as lettering guides, templates, or using a small mechanical pantograph referred to by the Keuffel & Esser trademark "Leroy"
- Modern drawings are lettered with computer-aided design software.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- "Freehand lettering". Integrated Publishing. http://www.tpub.com/engbas/3-27.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-16.
- Zurbuch (2005-1-24). "Technical Lettering". Kent State University. http://www.personal.kent.edu/~rbavis/lettering.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-16.
- "Unit 3". http://www.hhs.helena.k12.mt.us/Teacherlinks/Holmesl/Unit_3_Text.rtf. Retrieved on 2008-10-16.
- Giesecke, Fredrick; Alva Mitchell, Alva Mitchell, Henry C. Spencer, Ivan Leroy Hill, John Thomas Dygdon, James E. Novak, Shawna D. Lockhart (2008). Technical Drawing 13th Edition. Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780135135273.
