ME 1102 - Engineering Drawing

Auxiliary Elevations and Auxiliary Plans

So far, we have been able to draw four different views of the same block using the principal planes.
In most engineering drawings, these are sufficient to solve many graphic problems. However to
solve problems involving inclined (slanted) surfaces other views are necessary, perhaps drawn on
auxiliary (additional) planes to clarify a particular point.
1. Surfaces
A surface is a finite portion of a plane or the outer face of an object bounded by an identifiable
perimeter. It is a geometric entity having no thickness but have an area but not volume. The fender
of an automobile and the aeroplane wing are example of complex 3-D surfaces.
Just as a line represent the path of a moving point, a surface represents the path of a moving line,
called a generator. The path that the generator travels is called the directrix. A directrix can be a
point, a straight line, or a curved line. Figure 1 illustrates the shapes.
The shape of a surface is determined by the constraints place on the moving line used to generate
the surface. Surfaces are generally classified as planer, single curved, double-curved, warped, and
freeform.
Line (Generator)
Let us first consider the problems involving planer surfaces
of the object, which are inclined (slanted) to planes of
projections (Vertical, Profile and Horizontal planes).
1.2 Planer surface.
Depending on the inclination of the surface with plane of
projection, three types of inclined surfaces could be
identified
They are categorized as Normal Surface, Inclined Surface,
and Oblique Surface.

Directrix
Figure 1

1.2.1. Normal Surface.

A normal surface is a plane surface that is parallel to a plane of projection. It appear in true size
and true shape on the plane to which it is parallel, and as a vertical or a horizontal line on adjacent
planes of projection.
1.2.2. Inclined Surface.
An inclined surface is a plane surface that is perpendicular to one plane of projection but inclined to
adjacent planes of projection. An inclined surface will project a straight line on the plane to which
it is perpendicular and will appear foreshortened on planes to which it is inclined.
1.2.3. Oblique Surface.
An oblique surface is a plane that is oblique to all planes of projection. It is not perpendicular to
any principle plane of projection. It will always appear as a foreshortened surface in all views. It
will never appear as a line or true size and shape plane in any principal view

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ME 1102 - Engineering Drawing

2. Inclined plane in multi view projection
If the surface of an object lays horizontal or a vertical
position, as a normal surface, the surface appear in their
A
true size and shape in one of the three views, and these
surfaces appear as a line in the other two views.
When a surface is inclined or sloped in only one
direction, then that surface is not seen in its true shape in
Width of A
the plan, front, or side view.
The true length of surfaces A and B in figure 1 is seen in
A
the front view only. In the plan and side views, only the
width of the surfaces A and B appears in its true size. The
B
length of these surfaces is foreshortened.
Where an inclined surface has important features that
must be shown, clearly and without distortion, an
auxiliary or helper view must be used.

True length of A
B

A
Figure 1

Figure 2 shows another

example where a view
other than a Front view or
an End view is needed to
show
very
important
features of a flanged pipe.
These extra elevations are
called auxiliary views
(elevations)
(AV)
or
auxiliary plans (AP).

Side view

Front view

Plan view

Figure 2

However, a view on a plane parallel to the inclined surface (top surface of the flange) as at figure 3
does show its true size and shape. It describes the object better than the views at figure 2.

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ME 1102 - Engineering Drawing

An auxiliary view is a projection on an auxiliary
plane that is parallel to an inclined (slanting)
surface. It is a view looking directly at the
inclined surface in a direction perpendicular to
it.

3. Kinds of auxiliary views

Auxiliary views are classified according to
which of the three principal (regular) planes
they are developed from. There are three
primary auxiliary views. Each is developed by
projecting from on of the three regular views
using as a primary reference. A dimension
height, width, or depth is taken from another
regular view.
3.1 The front auxiliary view
Hinged to
front view
M

Figure 3.
Auxiliary view showing the
face of the flanged pipe.

D
N

D
H
V
Figure 4

The first primary auxiliary view,

the front auxiliary view is shown at
Figure 4.The inclined surface is
perpendicular to the vertical plane
but not perpendicular to the profile
plane (side plane) and horizontal
plane. The primary reference is the
depth (D).
The true profile of the inclined
surface is projected to the auxiliary
plane.
The auxiliary plane is unfolded
through an angle of 90 along the
hinge MN as shown in the figure.

3.2 Top auxiliary view

The second auxiliary view is the top auxiliary view, shown in figure 5. The inclined surface is
perpendicular to the Horizontal plane. Therefore, it is hinged on the top view and its primary
reference is the height.
3

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ME 1102 - Engineering Drawing

Hinged to
top View
H

N
H

Partial
view

P
M

A
Figure 5

3.3 Side auxiliary view

The third auxiliary view is the side auxiliary view, shown in figure 6. The inclined surface is
perpendicular to the Profile plane. In this example right side is selected as the side view. Therefore,
it is hinged on the right side view and its primary reference is the width.

Hinged to
Right side

N
W

A
M

V
P
V

Figure 6

In the previous examples the three principal planes

always show the auxiliary plane as an inclined line
(MN)
4.Oblique surfaces
When a surface is sloped so that it is not perpendicular
to any of the viewing planes, it will appear as a surface
in all three views but never in its true shape.
This is referred to as an oblique surface. Since the
oblique surface is not perpendicular to the viewing
planes, it cannot be parallel to them and consequently
appears foreshortened. If a true view is required for
this surface, two auxiliary views, a primary and a
secondary view is needed to be constructed.
Figure 7 shows an oblique plane obtained by cutting a
peg from a corner of a cuboids.

Surface A
(Oblique)

Top
Front

Side

A
Figure 7 Oblique surface not true shape
in any of the three views
4

The Advanced Technological Institute, Labuduwa, Academic Year 2013