Translation between Working Drawings, Pictorial Drawings and Nets Developments

Working Drawings

Working drawings are technical drawings which provide comprehensive detail about a design that allows it to be produced.
These drawings illustrate dimensions, material specifications, assembly sequences and installation details.
Working drawings are interpreted by a manufacturer and as such, they follow a standard layout, symbols, conventions and units.
These are intended to communicate complex detail such as components and their interconnections, profiles, cross-sectional views and measurements.

Pictorial drawings are often used during the design process to convey a concept or idea in three dimensions.
They serve as an effective tool to visualise designs and enable the understanding of how the object will appear in 3D space.
The three common types of pictorial drawings are isometric, oblique, and perspective.
They do not generally show precise dimensions, and are primarily for visualisation rather than manufacturing.

The key to translating between working and pictorial drawings lies in understanding the purpose and nature of each type of drawing.
Working drawings are used for manufacturing and should contain precise technical details.
Pictorial drawings are used to convey the 3D visual orientation that working drawings can’t explain.
Thus, when translating from a working drawing to a pictorial drawing, be sure to maintain the integrity of the object, but lose the technical details. Conversely, when translating from a pictorial drawing to a working drawing, you’ll need to incorporate precise measurements, multiple views and technical attributes.

Nets (also known as development drawings) represent a 3D shape unfolded into a 2D shape.
Nets are generally used to design packaging or sheet-metal constructions where a single flat sheet is being converted into a 3D structure.
It should be noted that nets are used for more complex 3D shapes, involving more challenging geometry.

Transposing 3D forms into net drawings involves laying out the faces of the 3D object on a flat plane.
Visualising net drawings in 3D involves a clear understanding of form and shape, and often requires one to mentally “fold” the 2D net into its 3D form.
Typically, this process involves a comprehensive understanding of geometrical principles and shapes.

The translation process can be challenging, particularly when working with complex designs or shapes.
Aspects such as folding, creasing, joining and flaps become difficult to interpret in the translation from 3D to 2D.
Resolution may be through a detailed working drawing, using dotted lines to show hidden detail, and clearly marked dimensions.
Dimensional accuracy and the ability to visualise shapes in different orientations are critical skills required in the translation process.