Technical drawings are also called 'engineering drawings,' and they describe three-dimensional parts and components through the means of two-dimensional paper. Producing
technical drawings is often referred to as 'drafting' or 'designing,' These drawings come in various types, such as engineering detail drawings, production drawings, and assembly drawings. But no matter which type of drawing is used, its purpose is the same: they are created as standardized tools for conveying information without verbal exchanges and despite language barriers.
Among the different types of technical drawings, assembly drawings are essential for identifying each part of a machine or system in its operating position and assembly sequence.
Assembly drawings include a
bill of materials (BOM), often called a parts list, sections, weight, and orthogonal plans.
The drawings are a universal graphic language spoken between a technical designer and a skilled operator to convey crucial instructions. Because of this, the draftsperson or designer must have an in-depth technical knowledge of the principles and practices of drafting to avoid misinterpretation and possibly litigation.
Additionally, the person "reading" these drawings must be skilled in understanding the graphical language used in the assembly drawings.
Assembly drawings are prepared either manually or with the help of computer-aided design (CAD) software, including Solidworks, Autodesk Fusion 360, and AutoCAD, the most widely used CAD software.
The drawings are then printed on standard-size paper.
See two assembly drawing samples below (image credit:
https://www.mcgill.ca):