Orthographic projection is one of the most important concepts in Engineering Graphics, used to represent three-dimensional objects accurately on a two-dimensional drawing sheet. It is the standard method adopted in engineering to communicate shape, size, and position of an object without ambiguity.
In orthographic projection, the object is imagined to be placed in front of reference planes—the Horizontal Plane (HP) and Vertical Plane (VP). The views obtained on these planes are called the top view and front view respectively. Sometimes, a side view is also used to fully describe the object. Each view shows only two dimensions at a time, but together they provide complete information about the object.
The key feature of orthographic projection is that the projectors are perpendicular to the plane of projection. This ensures true dimensions of the object are represented, making the drawings precise and measurable. Depending on the standard followed, orthographic projection is classified into First Angle Projection and Third Angle Projection, both commonly taught in engineering courses.
A clear understanding of orthographic projection helps students read and create engineering drawings effectively, which is essential for subjects like machine drawing, CAD, and manufacturing. With proper practice, this topic becomes a powerful tool for visualizing and designing real-world engineering components.
At Ayush Engineering Online Classes, we focus on making orthographic projection easy to understand through step-by-step methods and exam-focused explanations.