Mechanical Drawing Symbols F.A.Q.

How to Use Mechanical Engineering Design Software

This technical drawing shows the machine parts assembly using joining by threaded fasteners.
"Assembling (joining of the pieces) is done by welding, binding with adhesives, riveting, threaded fasteners, or even yet more bending in the form of a crimped seam. Structural steel and sheet metal are the usual starting materials for fabrication, along with the welding wire, flux, and fasteners that will join the cut pieces. As with other manufacturing processes, both human labor and automation are commonly used. The product resulting from fabrication may be called a fabrication. Shops that specialize in this type of metal work are called fab shops. The end products of other common types of metalworking, such as machining, metal stamping, forging, and casting, may be similar in shape and function, but those processes are not classified as fabrication." [Metal fabrication. Wikipedia]
This mechanical engineering drawing example was designed using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Mechanical Engineering solution from Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

The vector stencils library "Valve assembly" contains 141 symbols of pressure and flow regulators, flow direction indicators, controls, and symbols to design flow paths of control valves.
Use these valve assembly shapes to design the engineering drawings of hydraulic and pneumatic valve assemblies in fluid power systems.
"Control valves are valves used to control conditions such as flow, pressure, temperature, and liquid level by fully or partially opening or closing in response to signals received from controllers that compare a "setpoint" to a "process variable" whose value is provided by sensors that monitor changes in such conditions.
The opening or closing of control valves is usually done automatically by electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators. Positioners are used to control the opening or closing of the actuator based on electric, or pneumatic signals.
A control valve consists of three main parts in which each part exist in several types and designs: Valve's actuator, Valve's positioner, Valve's body.
" [Control valves. Wikipedia]
The shapes example "" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Mechanical Engineering solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

The vector stencils library "Terminals and connectors" contains 43 element symbols of terminals, connectors, plugs, polarized connectors, jacks, coaxial cables, and conductors.
Use it for drawing the wiring diagrams, electrical layouts, electronic schematics, and circuit diagrams.
"An electrical connector is an electro-mechanical device for joining electrical circuits as an interface using a mechanical assembly. Connectors consist of plugs (male-ended) and jacks (female-ended). The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, require a tool for assembly and removal, or serve as a permanent electrical joint between two wires or devices. An adapter can be used to effectively bring together dissimilar connectors.
There are hundreds of types of electrical connectors. Connectors may join two lengths of flexible copper wire or cable, or connect a wire or cable or optical interface to an electrical terminal.
In computing, an electrical connector can also be known as a physical interface... Cable glands, known as cable connectors in the US, connect wires to devices mechanically rather than electrically and are distinct from quick-disconnects performing the latter." [Electrical connector. Wikipedia]
"A terminal is the point at which a conductor from an electrical component, device or network comes to an end and provides a point of connection to external circuits. A terminal may simply be the end of a wire or it may be fitted with a connector or fastener. In network analysis, terminal means a point at which connections can be made to a network in theory and does not necessarily refer to any real physical object. In this context, especially in older documents, it is sometimes called a "pole".
The connection may be temporary, as seen in portable equipment, may require a tool for assembly and removal, or may be a permanent electrical joint between two wires or devices.
All electric cell have two terminals. The first is the positive terminal and the second is the negative terminal. The positive terminal looks like a metal cap and the negative terminal looks like a metal disc. The current flows from the positive terminal, and out through the negative terminal, replicative of current flow (positive (+) to negative (-) flow)." [Terminal (electronics). Wikipedia]
The shapes example "Design elements - Terminals and connectors" was drawn using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Electrical Engineering solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This mechanical systems drawing sample was designed on the base of Wikimedia Commons file: Building services coordinated drawing.JPG.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:Building_ services_ coordinated_ drawing.JPG ]
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. [creativecommons.org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3.0/ deed.en]
"Mechanical systems drawing is a type of technical drawing that shows information about heating, ventilating, air conditioning and transportation around the building (Elevators or Lifts and Escalator). It is a powerful tool that helps analyze complex systems. These drawings are often a set of detailed drawings used for construction projects; it is a requirement for all HVAC work. They are based on the floor and reflected ceiling plans of the architect. After the mechanical drawings are complete, they become part of the construction drawings, which is then used to apply for a building permit. They are also used to determine the price of the project." [Mechanical systems drawing. Wikipedia]
The mechanical systems drawing example "Building services coordinated drawing" was designed using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software extended with HVAC Plans solution from the Building Plans area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This example engineering drawing showing the hydraulic directional control valve usage with floating motor and pressure compensated pump is redesigned using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software from the Wikimedia Commons file: DCV 17.jpg.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:DCV_ 17.jpg]
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
[creativecommons.org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3.0/ deed.en]
"Directional control valves are one of the most fundamental parts in hydraulic machinery as well and pneumatic machinery. They allow fluid flow into different paths from one or more sources. They usually consist of a spool inside a cylinder which is mechanically or electrically controlled. The movement of the spool restricts or permits the flow, thus it controls the fluid flow. ...
The spool (sliding type) consists of lands and grooves.The lands block oil flow through the valve body. The grooves allow oil or gas to flow around the spool and through the valve body. There are two fundamental positions of directional control valve namely normal position where valve returns on removal of actuating force and other is working position which is position of a valve when actuating force is applied. There is another class of valves with 3 or more position that can be spring centered with 2 working position and a normal position. ...
Directional control valves can be classified according to:
(1) number of ports;
(2) number of positions;
(3) actuating methods;
(4) type of spool." [Directional control valve. Wikipedia]
The fluid power equipment drawing example "Directional control valve" is included in the Mechanical Engineering solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

"A hydraulic circuit is a system comprising an interconnected set of discrete components that transport liquid. The purpose of this system may be to control where fluid flows (as in a network of tubes of coolant in a thermodynamic system) or to control fluid pressure (as in hydraulic amplifiers).
... hydraulic circuit theory works best when the elements (passive component such as pipes or transmission lines or active components such as power packs or pumps) are discrete and linear. This usually means that hydraulic circuit analysis works best for long, thin tubes with discrete pumps, as found in chemical process flow systems or microscale devices." [Hydraulic circuit. Wikipedia]
The engineering drawing example "Hydraulic circuits" was redrawn using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software from the Wikimedia Commons file: Hydraulic circuits.png.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:Hydraulic_ circuits.png]
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
[creativecommons.org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3.0/ deed.en]
The engineering drawing example "Hydraulic circuits" is included in the Mechanical Engineering solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

"Directional control valves are one of the most fundamental parts in hydraulic machinery as well and pneumatic machinery. They allow fluid flow into different paths from one or more sources. They usually consist of a spool inside a cylinder which is mechanically or electrically controlled. The movement of the spool restricts or permits the flow, thus it controls the fluid flow." [Directional control valve. Wikipedia]
This example engineering drawing showing the directional control valve usage with fixed volume pump and hydraulic cylinder is redesigned using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software from Wikimedia Commons file: DCV 19.jpg.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:DCV_ 19.jpg]
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
[creativecommons.org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3.0/ deed.en]
The fluid power equipment drawing example "Directional control valve" is included in the Mechanical Engineering solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

Retract resistor check valve application: pneumatic cylinder, piston driven by Compressed air through 2 Retract resistor check valves.
"A check valve, clack valve, non-return valve or one-way valve is a valve that normally allows fluid (liquid or gas) to flow through it in only one direction.
Check valves are two-port valves, meaning they have two openings in the body, one for fluid to enter and the other for fluid to leave. There are various types of check valves used in a wide variety of applications. Check valves are often part of common household items. Although they are available in a wide range of sizes and costs, check valves generally are very small, simple, or inexpensive. Check valves work automatically and most are not controlled by a person or any external control; accordingly, most do not have any valve handle or stem. The bodies (external shells) of most check valves are made of plastic or metal.
An important concept in check valves is the cracking pressure which is the minimum upstream pressure at which the valve will operate. Typically the check valve is designed for and can therefore be specified for a specific cracking pressure.
Heart valves are essentially inlet and outlet check valves for the heart ventricles, since the ventricles act as pumps." [Check valve. Wikipedia]
This hydraulic schematic example was redrawn using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software from the Wikimedia Commons file: Retract resistor check valve application.png.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:Retract_ resistor_ check_ valve_ application.png]
The hydraulic engineering drawing example "Retract resistor check valve application" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Mechanical Engineering solution from the Engineering area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.