Drawing Techniques — Grade 10–12 EGD

Why technique matters

An engineering drawing is read by someone who was not there when it was drawn. Line types, lettering and dimensions follow the SANS 10111 rules so that every reader understands the drawing in exactly the same way: a thick line is always an outline, short dashes are always hidden detail, and a figure on a dimension is always the true size.

Your instruments

Pencils: a hard pencil (2H) for light construction lines and a softer one (HB) for outlines and lettering.
Set squares: the 45° and the 30°/60° squares, used on a T-square or ruler, give every multiple of 15°.
Compass: keep the lead sharpened to a chisel edge and the same length as the point.
Scale rule: measure with it; never scale by eye.

Good habits

Lay out the whole drawing lightly in construction lines first, then line it in.
Line in arcs and circles before the straight lines that join them, so the joins are smooth.
Keep your work clean: lift instruments rather than sliding them across finished lines.

Each exercise below prints as a full-scale A3 sheet — the same format used in EGD practical assessments. The reference thumbnail shows the completed drawing; redraw it full-size on paper using correct line types and true measurements. Use your printer's "Actual Size" setting (not "Fit to Page").