2. Prints: The Language of Industry1
Prints: The Language of Industry

3. Identify the importance of prints.
Discuss historical processes and technologies related to prints.
Identify and define terms related to prints.
Explain how prints are produced.
Identify two important elements of print reading.

4. Identify ways in which to care for prints.
Identify and discuss options for using prints in an electronic (digital) format.
Discuss the role of various organizations in the standardization of drawings.

5. Importance of Print Reading
Drawings are the universal language of industry
Engineers, designers, technicians, and skilled workers all use drawings
A print is a copy of a drawing

6. Importance of Print Reading
Prints provide the worker with the details of:
Size
Shape
Tolerance
Materials used
Finish
Other special treatments

7. Print Reading and Drafting
Print reading is closely related to the study of drafting
Drafting is the field of study that focuses on the creation of technical drawings
Blueprint is a term originating from one of the earlier copying processes for technical drawings

8. Print Reading and Drafting
Prints used to be called blueprints

9. How Prints Are Made Prints are basically a “hardcopy” of a drawing
CAD systems can create paper drawings using printers and plotters
Printers and cartridge-based plotters create raster images
Pen-based plotters create vector images

10. How Prints Are Made
Cartridge-based plotters create raster images

11. Print Reading Elements
Reading a print involves two principal elements: visualization and interpretation
Visualization is the ability to “see” the shape of the object based on the various views shown on a print
Interpretation is the ability to understand the meanings of the lines, symbols, dimensions, and notes on a print

12. Print Reading Elements
Visualization is “seeing” the object based on the views shown on a print

13. Care of Prints When working with prints, observe these rules:
Never write on a print
Keep prints clean
Be careful when folding and unfolding prints
Do not lay sharp tools and parts on a print

14. Care of Prints
Use care when folding and unfolding prints

15. Electronic Formats for Drawings
Electronic formats are available that enhance the ability to share prints without sharing the actual CAD data
Portable document format (PDF) is a file format from Adobe and very common
Design web format (DWF) is a file format from Autodesk and common in environments that use AutoCAD and other Autodesk products
Free viewers are available for both formats

16. Standards for Industrial Prints
A standard is a voluntary guideline
The standardization of engineering drawings for prints has long been established through the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

17. Standards for Industrial Prints
The American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is the professional organization that authors and publishes engineering standards related to industrial prints

18. Standards for Industrial Prints
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the umbrella organization that serves as an overseeing body for numerous American standards

19. Standards for Industrial Prints
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an organization that provides over 18,000 standards on a variety of subjects in the international and global arena

20. List factors that make print reading important.
Prints provide the details of size, shape, tolerances, materials used, finish, and other special treatments needed to manufacture a product

21. Describe historical processes and technologies related to prints.
An early copying process was a wet process that resulted in white lines on a blue background (a blueprint). A dry process (diazo) was later developed that resulted in blue lines on a white background (a whiteprint or blue-line print). Today, prints are often output from a CAD system to an inkjet or laser printer/plotter.

22. List some terms related to prints.
Print, engineering graphics, blueprint, whiteprint, vellum, visualization, interpretation, and standards, among others

23. In general, describe how prints are produced.
A print is a copy of a drawing. Traditionally, a print was made with either a wet or dry process (blueprints and whiteprints), but now prints are often output from a CAD system to a printer or plotter.

24. What are two important elements of print reading?
Visualization and interpretation

25. List four points related to the care of prints.
A) Never write on a print
B) Keep prints clean
C) Very carefully fold and unfold prints
D) Do not lay sharp objects on prints

26. How can prints be used in electronic (digital) format?
By distributing a DWF or PDF file, for example, to the print reader

27. What are the two organizations that have a role in developing standards documents for engineering drawings?
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)