GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION

Dr. Yesuenyeagbe A.K. FIAGBE Mr. Joseph Aveyire

Department of Mechanical Department of Agricultural
Engineering Engineering

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
KNUST-Kumasi

1
Basic Geometric Construction
LINES
1. Bisection of line
2. Dividing a line into equal number of parts
3. Line perpendicular to a given line through a given point:
 Point on line
 Point outside line
 Mid way, close to edge

4. Parallel lines:
 Through a given point
 At a given distance

ME 159 TD 2
 Bisector

R 1

A B B
A
2 R 0
1
2
3
4
Perpendicular bisector of a g line 5
6
7
Dividing line into equal
number of parts

ME 159 TD 3
 Perpendicular line
P

R
4
R 1 2
R
A B
r
3 r
2 3
R

R P
R

A 1 r
P B

Perpendicular line A B
through Point in line

1
ME 159 TD 4
Parallel line

R
R
3 P E
P
R

R R r=2P r=2P
A 1 2 B A 2 1 B
R

R R

A 1 2 B
ME 159 TD 5
Geometric Construction
 Angles
 Constructing 900
 Constructing 600
 Bisection of Angles
 Transfer of Angles

ME 159 TD 6
 2
R

4
R R

60o
3 A 1 B
R 2 R

60o construction
R
90o
C
A 1 2 R
P B
3

90o construction B
R
R 1 A
Bisecting Angle

ME 159 TD 7
 C1
C
2 2 R2
A1
R2
B 1

1 R1
R1 A B1

Transferring angles

ME 159 TD 8
Geometric Construction
Circles and Arcs
1. Finding centre of a given Arc
2. Dividing circumference of a circle into a number of equal
parts
3. Determining circumference of circle

ME 159 TD 9
Sector

Concentric Circle

Segment

Eccentric Circles

ME 159 TD 10
 P

A
B
C G

H
F
D
1 2 3 4 5 6
A0 B
1
C
2 E
3
C 4
D
Centre of circle/arc 5
6

7
Dividing Circle into Equal number
parts
ME 159 TD 11
1R=Dia/2
c
R
a 1R
k
M

30o b
2R=Nk
C

1
2

N0 4 1D D 2D 3D
3

Circumference of Circle

ME 159 TD 12
 Arc Length

4 B

R=A1 2
1
A

ME 159 TD 13
Geometric Construction
1. Polygons
 Constructing regular polygon
 Circum- centre of given triangle
 In-centre of given triangle
 Ex-centre of given triangle

2. Inscribed circle of a regular polygon

3. Circumscribed circle of a regular polygon

ME 159 TD 14
 Accurate Method
An “n-sided”
Regular Polygon
E Given The
Length of a Side
O

5 4 3 2 1 0
A B

3
2

1
C 15
ME 159 TD
Approximate Method
9 Regular Polygon Given The
8 Length of a Side
7

5
4

O
A B

ME 159 TD 16
 To draw regular hexagon given
distant between flats

Distant between flats

8
7
6
5
4

60o 45o
A B

Polygon
Distant across corners

To draw regular hexagon given

distant across corners

ME 159 TD 17
 Distance Across Corners P

For n=6
G F

A 1 2 3 4 5 E
 Take distance across 0
6 B
1
corners as diameter
2

 Draw circle and 3

C 4 D
 Divide circle into n- 5
6
equal divisions

ME 159 TD 18
 Circum-centre
In-centre

B
O

A
In-circle

A B
A

R Ex-centre
B

Circumcircle
C

ME 159 TD 19
 ENGINEERING CURVES
Conic Sections

ELLIPSE PARABOLA HYPERBOLA

1. Concentric Circle Method 1.Rectangle Method 1.Rectangular Hyperbola

2. Rectangle Method
3. Oblong Method
4. Arcs of Circle Method
5. Rhombus Method
(coordinates given)
2 Method of Tangents
( Triangle Method) 2 Rectangular Hyperbola
(P-V diagram - Equation given)
3.Basic Locus Method
(Directrix – focus) 3.Basic Locus Method
(Directrix – focus)

6. Basic Locus Method Methods of Drawing

(Directrix – focus) Tangents & Normals
To These Curves.
7. Four Centres Method

ME 159 TD 20
 CONIC SECTIONS
ELLIPSE, PARABOLA AND HYPERBOLA ARE CALLED CONIC SECTIONS
BECAUSE
THESE CURVES APPEAR ON THE SURFACE OF A CONE
WHEN IT IS CUT BY SOME TYPICAL CUTTING PLANES.

Ellipse

Section Plane Section Plane

Through Generators Hyperbola
Parallel to Axis.

Section Plane Parallel

to end generator.
ME 159 TD 21
 ELLIPSE

MATHEMATICALLY, the ELLIPSE is a PLANE CURVE generated by a

POINT moving such that:

• At any POSITION, the SUM of its DISTANCEs from TWO FIXED POINTS (FOCI
is CONSTANT

• And it is EQUAL to the LENGTH of the MAJOR AXIS

ME 159 TD 22
 ELLIPSE
BY CONCENTRIC CIRCLE METHOD
Draw ellipse by concentric circle method.
3
Take major axis 100 mm and minor axis 70 mm long.
2 4

C
1 5
3
2 4

1 5

A B

10 6

10 9 7 6
8
D

9 7
8

ME 159 TD 23
 ELLIPSE
BY FOUR CENTRE METHOD
G
Draw ellipse by Four Centres method.
Take major axis 100 mm and minor axis 70 mm long. N1
C

A M O B

ME 159 TD 24
 ELLIPSE
BY RECTANGULAR / PARALLELOGRAM METHOD
Being given the major axis and minor axis

4 C
3

K L 1 2 M 3 4
A B
O

Draw major and minor axis Draw lines from D to pts 1, 2, and 3 on AO
D
Draw rectangle (parallelogram) Extend the lines to intersect the other lines
Divide AO and AQ into any equal number (4) of parts Draw vertical line from intersection to line AO at K
Draw lines from C to pts 1, 2, and 3 on AQ Extend the line from K by its length

ME 159 TD 25
 ELLIPSE
DRAW RHOMBUS OF 100 MM & 70 MM LONG BY RHOMBUS METHOD
DIAGONALS AND INSCRIBE AN ELLIPSE IN IT.
2

STEPS:
1. Draw rhombus of given
dimensions. A B
2. Mark mid points of all sides &
name Those A,B,C,& D
3. Join these points to the ends of
smaller diagonals.
3 4
4. Mark points 1,2,3,4 as four
centers.
5. Taking 1 as center and 1-A
radius draw an arc AB.
6. Take 2 as center draw an arc CD. D C
7. Similarly taking 3 & 4 as centers
and 3-D radius draw arcs DA & BC.

ME 159 TD 26
 PARABOLA
DRAW Locus of a Point that moves such that its distance from a BY DIRECTRIX METHOD
Fixed Point (Focus) is Equal to its distance from
DIAGONALS AND INSCRIBE AN ELLIPSE IN IT. 2

STEPS:
1. Draw rhombus of given
dimensions. A B
2. Mark mid points of all sides &
name Those A,B,C,& D
3. Join these points to the ends of
smaller diagonals.
3 4
4. Mark points 1,2,3,4 as four
centers.
5. Taking 1 as center and 1-A
radius draw an arc AB.
6. Take 2 as center draw an arc CD. D C
7. Similarly taking 3 & 4 as centers
and 3-D radius draw arcs DA & BC.

ME 159 TD 27
 Principles of Tangency
 Line and Circle/Arc

 Two Circle/Arcs
T
T

28
ME 159 TD
 External Tangential Relationship

c T
C
r

R+r

 Three most important points (c, C and T) all lie on a straight line,
 Distance between Cc=R+r
ME 159 TD 29
Internal Tangential Relationship
T

r c

R-r
R C

 Three most important points (c,

C and T) all lie on a straight line,
 Distance between Cc=R-r
ME 159 TD 30
Principles of Tangency
 Semi-Circle Theory= Right Triangle
 Angle by two straight lines within a semi-circle is a right
angle.

A B

ME 159 TD 31
Tangent to a Circle thro’ P on Circle

1. Draw a radial line connecting C and P

P
2. Construct a perpendicular to the
radial line through P
C

ME 159 TD 32
Tangent to a Circle thro’ P Outside the Circle
T

1. Draw a line connecting C and P

2. Bisect CP
4. Right triangle CTP, TangentTP 3. CP as diameter, draw the semi-circle: T
ME 159 TD

33
Common Exterior Tangent To Two
Unequal Circles

C
r

1. Sketch a tangent to the two circles

2. Extend radials to these tangent points
1. Draw a line connecting C and c
4. Extend the lines to meet
5. Translate tangent line by r
6. Bisect C-c: O

ME 159 TD 34
Common Exterior Tangent To Two
Unequal Circles
T

R
2 3
k

1
C
O r

1. Draw a line connecting C and c

2. Bisect C-c: O
3. Centre O, circumscribe the semi-circle
4. Centre C, circumscribe arc R-r, obtain k
5. Draw line k-c
6. Draw line C-k & extend to circle, obtain T
7. Parallel construction of kc, thro T
ME 159 TD 35
 LOCUS
It is a path traced out by a point moving in a plane,
in a particular manner, for one cycle of operation.

INVOLUTE CYCLOID SPIRAL HELIX

1. Involute of a circle 1. General Cycloid 1. Spiral of 1. On Cylinder
One Convolution.
2. Trochoid 2. On a Cone
2. Pole having Composite ( superior) 2. Spiral of
shape. 3. Trochoid Two Convolutions.
( Inferior)
3. Rod Rolling over 4. Epi-Cycloid
a Semicircular Pole.
5. Hypo-Cycloid

ME 159 TD 36
LOCUS
Termnology

ME 159 TD 37
 DEFINITIONS
CYCLOID:
IT IS A LOCUS OF A POINT ON THE
PERIPHERY OF A CIRCLE WHICH
ROLLS ON A STRAIGHT LINE PATH.
SUPERIOR TROCHOID:
IF THE POINT IN THE DEFINITION
OF CYCLOID IS OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE

INFERIOR TROCHOID.:
INVOLUTE: IF IT IS INSIDE THE CIRCLE

IT IS A LOCUS OF A FREE END OF A STRING EPI-CYCLOID

WHEN IT IS WOUND ROUND A CIRCULAR POLE IF THE CIRCLE IS ROLLING ON
ANOTHER CIRCLE FROM OUTSIDE

SPIRAL: HYPO-CYCLOID.
IT IS A CURVE GENERATED BY A POINT IF THE CIRCLE IS ROLLING FROM
WHICH REVOLVES AROUND A FIXED POINT INSIDE THE OTHER CIRCLE,
AND AT THE SAME MOVES TOWARDS IT.

HELIX:
IT IS A CURVE GENERATED BY A POINT WHICH
MOVES AROUND THE SURFACE OF A RIGHT CIRCULAR
CYLINDER / CONE AND AT THE SAME TIME ADVANCES IN AXIAL DIRECTION
AT A SPEED BEARING A CONSTANT RATIO TO THE SPEED OF ROTATION. 38
 CYCLOID
4 P4
5 3 P3 P5

C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6
6 2 P2

7 P1
1
1 4
P T
2 3

1. Draw circle and horizontal line

2. Locate the point P.
3. Divide circle into even number of equal parts with division through P and T
Larger no. of divisions required (arc length ≈ chord length)
4. Determine direction of rotation and label points logically
5. Determine corresponding points on horizontal line.
6. Rotate wheel by a step
a. 1 moves to 11 on the horizontal line (where is C1?)
11=Tangency point: line and a circle
R=TC1
b. For each rotation of wheel, P takes specific levels; from P0
For first step:
Fix wheel and rotate it a step about C0 to obtain P1 level

ME 159 TD 39
 CYCLOID
4 P4
p3
5
3 P3 P5

C0 p2 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6
6 2 P2

p1
1 P1
7
p0 1 2 4
3
T

1.
1. For
1. Forfirst
For firststep
first stepof
step ofrotation:
of rotation: CCC0000
rotation: CCC11;11;;where
whereisisisPPP11?11??
where
a. PPP1 11can
a.
a. canbe befoundfoundononPP-level -level
1 can be found on P111 1-level

b.
b. PPP11C
b. C11=P
1C
1 =P00C
1=P
1 C0000
0C
0
With
WithCCC1111located,
With located,PPP1111must
located, mustbe
must beon
be onaaacircle
on circleabout
circle aboutCCC1111
about
Twopossible
Two
Two possiblepoints
possible pointsare
points areobtained
are obtained
obtained
c.
c. Logic
c. Logicmovement
Logic movementof
movement ofPPPwill
of willlocate
will locatePPP1111
locate
2.
2. Subsequently,
2. Subsequently,locate
Subsequently, locateP2,
locate P2,P3
P2, P3etc..
P3 etc..
etc..

ME 159 TD 40
 SUPERIOR TROCHOID
P5
4
P4
5 3

C C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
6 2 P3

7 1
T
0 1 P 4 5 P0 P2
2 3
P1

1. Draw circle and horizontal line

2. Locate the point P
3. Divide circle into even number of equal parts with division through P and T
Larger no. of divisions required (arc length ≈ chord length)
4. Determine direction of rotation and label points logically
5. Determine corresponding points on horizontal line.
6. Rotate wheel: 1 moves to 11 on the horizontal line (where is C1?)
11=Tangency point: line and a circle
R=TC1
b. For each rotation of wheel, P takes specific levels; from P0 level
ME 159 TD 41
 SUPERIOR TROCHOID
p5
P5
P5
4 p4
P4
5 3 P4
P3
C1 p3
C C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
6 2 P3

7 1
T P2
0 p2 1 P P 2 4 5 P0 P2
1
3
P1
p1

1. For first step of rotation: C0 C1; where is P1?

a. P1 can be found on P1-level
b. P1C1=P0C0
With C1 located, P1 must be on a circle about C1
Are there two possible solutions?
If no, that is point P1
c. If yes, apply logical movement of P to locate P1
2. Subsequently, locate P2, P3 etc..
ME 159 TD 42
 EPI CYCLOID

1. Draw rolling and directing circles.

2. Locate point P (generating circle)
3. Divide rolling and generating 4 3
circle into equal and even parts. 2
4. Ensure arc length ≈ chord length 5 C2
5. Determine direction of rotation
P 1
and label points logically 6
1 2
6. Determine corresponding points 7 0
3
4
on directing circle 5
6. Rotate wheel: 1 moves to 11 on
the directing circle (where is C1?)
11=T: external tangency P5
Straight line
Sum of radii P1
7. For each rotation of wheel, P
P4
P0 P3 P6
C
takes specific levels; from P0 P2
level

ME 159 TD
 EPI CYCLOID

1. First step of rotation: C0 C1 ;

where is P1?
a. P1 can be found on P1-level 4 3
b. P1C1=P0C0 2
P3
P4
P4
With C1 located, P1 must be on 5
P2
C2 P2
a circle about C1 P3 P5
P1
P 1 P5
Are there two possible solutions? 6 P1
1 2 3
If no, that is point P1 7 0 4

If yes, apply logical movement of P to 5

locate P1
P5

P1
P4
P0 P3 P6
C
P2

ME 159 TD
 HYPO CYCLOID

P 7
Solution Steps:
1) Smaller circle is rolling P1
6
here, inside the larger
circle. It has to rotate 1 P2
anticlockwise to move
ahead.
2) Same steps should be P3 5
taken as in case of EPI– 2
CYCLOID. Only change is
in numbering direction of 4 P4
3
8 number of equal parts P8
on the smaller circle. P5
P6 P7
3) From next to P in
anticlockwise direction,
name 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. r
3600
=
4) Further all steps are R
O
that of epi–cycloid. This is
called
HYPO–CYCLOID.
OC = R ( Radius of Directing Circle)
CP = r (Radius of Generating Circle)

ME 159 TD 45
 INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE
Solution Steps:
1) Point or end P of string AP is
exactly D distance away from A.
Means if this string is wound round
the circle, it will completely cover P2
given circle. B will meet A after
winding.
2) Divide D (AP) distance into 8 P3
number of equal parts. P1
3) Divide circle also into 8 number
of equal parts.
4) Name after A, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. up
to 8 on D line AP as well as on
circle (in anticlockwise direction).
5) To radius C-1, C-2, C-3 up to C-8
draw tangents (from 1,2,3,4,etc to 4 to p
circle). P4
4
6) Take distance 1 to P in compass 3
and mark it on tangent from point 1 5
on circle (means one division less 2
than distance AP). 6
7) Name this point P1 1
8) Take 2-B distance in compass 7 A
and mark it on the tangent from
8
P5 P
point 2. Name it point P2. P8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9) Similarly take 3 to P, 4 to P, 5 to P7
P up to 7 to P distance in compass P6 
and mark on respective tangents
and locate P3, P4, P5 up to P8 (i.e. D
A) points and join them in smooth
curve it is an INVOLUTE of a given
circle. ME 159 TD 46
 INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE
Solution Steps: String length LESS than D
In this case string length is Less
than  D.
P2
But remember!
Whatever may be the length of
string, mark  D distance
horizontal i.e.along the string and P3
divide it in 8 number of equal P1
parts, and not any other distance.
Rest all steps are same as
previous INVOLUTE. Draw the
curve completely.

4 to p
P4 4
3
5
2
6
1
P5 7 P
8
P7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P6
150 mm
(Less than D)

D

ME 159 TD 47
 INVOLUTE
OF
COMPOSIT SHAPED POLE

P1
SOLUTION STEPS:
Draw pole shape as per P
dimensions.
Divide semicircle in 4 parts P2
and name those along with

1 to P
corners of hexagon.
Calculate perimeter length.
Show it as string AP.
On this line mark 30mm
from A
Mark and name it 1
Mark D/2 distance on it
from 1
P3
And dividing it in 4 parts 3 to P 3
name 2,3,4,5. 4
Mark point 6 on line 30 mm
2
from 5 5 1
Now draw tangents from all
points of pole
and proper lengths as done 6 A
in all previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 P
involute’s problems and
P4 D/2
complete the curve. P6
P5
ME 159 TD 48
 HELIX
P8
ON A CYLINDER 8
P7
7
P6
6
P5
SOLUTION: 5
• Draw projections of a cylinder. 4 P4
• Divide circle and axis in to same no. of
3
equal parts. P3
• Name those as shown. 2 P2
• Mark initial position of point ‘P’ 1 P1
• Mark various positions of P as shown in
P
animation. 6
• The axial advance during one 7 5
complete revolution is called the
pitch of the helix
• Join all points by smooth possible P 4
curve. .
1 3

ME 159 TD 49
 HELIX P8

ON A CONE P7
P6

P5
SOLUTION:
• Draw projections of a cone P4
• Divide circle and axis in to even
number of equal parts. P3
• Name those as shown.
• Mark initial position of point ‘P’ P2

• Mark various positions of P as P1

shown in animation. X P Y

• Join all points by smooth possible 6

curve. 5
7

P6 P5
P7 P4
P 4
P8

P1 P3
1 3
P2
2
ME 159 TD 50