Geometric and Engineering Drawing68
Figure 6.2 shows how we attempt to overcome this distortion.
Tr ue
length
Tr ue
length
1
3
Tr ue
length
2
3
1
2
30°
60°
45°
Figure 6.2 Oblique projection with reduction in lengths at the oblique angle.
The oblique lengths have been altered. The degree of alteration has been deter-
mined by the oblique angle. An oblique angle of 60 ° causes a large distortion and the
oblique length is thus altered to
1
3
the true length. An oblique angle of 30 ° causes
less distortion and the oblique length is only altered to
2
3
the true length. At 45 °
the true length is reduced by half. These alterations need not be rigidly adhered to.
The ones illustrated are chosen because they produce a reasonably true to life picture
of the block, but a complicated component might have to be drawn with no reduction
at all in order to show all the details clearly.
If an oblique drawing is made without any reduction in oblique length, this is
sometimes known as ‘ cavalier projection ’ . If a reduction in oblique length is made,
this is sometimes known as ‘ cabinet projection ’ .
If you were now asked to draw an object in oblique projection, you would prob-
ably be very confused when trying to decide which angle to choose and what reduc-
tion to make on the oblique lines. If you are asked to produce an oblique drawing,
draw at an oblique angle of 45 ° and reduce all your oblique dimensions by half,
unless you are given other specific instructions.
Circles and Curves in Oblique Projection
Oblique projection has one very big advantage over isometric projection. Since the
front face is drawn in the plane of the paper, any circles on this face are true circles
and not ellipses as was the case with isometric projection. Figure 6.3 shows an
oblique drawing of a bolt. If the bolt had been drawn in isometric projection, it would
have been a long and tedious drawing to make.