A drafting instrument is a specialized tool used in the field of drafting or technical drawing, primarily employed to create accurate and precise drawings, plans, or blueprints. It is typically designed to provide precision, control, and measurement capabilities necessary for creating detailed and scaled drawings.
Drafting instruments come in various forms and types, each serving a specific purpose. The most common drafting instruments include:
1. Compass: A tool used to draw circles or arcs of specific radii accurately.
2. Protractor: A device used to measure or draw angles precisely.
3. Scale ruler: A ruler with different measurement scales, such as architectural, engineering, or metric, allowing precise scaling of drawings.
4. T-square: A rigid, L-shaped instrument used for drawing straight lines or guiding other drafting tools.
5. Drafting triangles: Triangular rulers made of transparent material, used to draw and measure angles and lines accurately.
6. French curve: A flexible, curved ruler used to draw smooth and irregular curves or arcs.
7. Templates: Pre-designed shapes or symbols used to quickly replicate standard elements, such as circles, ellipses, polygons, letters, or icons.
These drafting instruments are typically made of durable materials, such as plastic, metal, or transparent materials, to ensure longevity and accuracy in the drafting process. They are often utilized in engineering, architecture, cartography, industrial design, and other disciplines that require precise technical drawings.
