IST Blueprint Reading and Technical Drawings 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the notation 'TYP' (typical) mean when used with a dimension on a blueprint?
- The dimension is approximate and may vary
- The same dimension applies to all identical or similar features on the drawing (Correct answer)
- The dimension has been revised from a previous version
- The feature shown is optional
Correct answer: The same dimension applies to all identical or similar features on the drawing
'TYP' means the specified dimension or feature applies to every identical or similar feature throughout the drawing, eliminating the need to dimension each one individually.
Question 2: What does a section view reveal in a technical drawing?
- The complete external outline of the entire part from above
- Internal features exposed by an imaginary cutting plane sliced through the object (Correct answer)
- Only the hidden lines present inside the part
- A top-down pictorial view of the assembly
Correct answer: Internal features exposed by an imaginary cutting plane sliced through the object
A section view is created by imagining a cutting plane slicing through the object, revealing internal features such as holes, grooves, and wall thicknesses that would otherwise be hidden.
Question 3: What does placing a dimension in parentheses — such as (2.500) — indicate on a blueprint?
- The dimension has a tight tolerance
- The dimension is a reference only and is not used to control manufacturing (Correct answer)
- The dimension applies to the mating part
- The dimension is in millimeters
Correct answer: The dimension is a reference only and is not used to control manufacturing
A dimension in parentheses is a reference dimension, provided for information and context only; it is not used to control or inspect the manufactured part.
Question 4: What is an isometric drawing?
- A drawing showing only the front orthographic view of an object
- A three-dimensional pictorial drawing showing three faces with all axes at 120° to each other (Correct answer)
- A cross-sectional view cut through the middle of an object
- A drawing that displays only hidden lines and internal features
Correct answer: A three-dimensional pictorial drawing showing three faces with all axes at 120° to each other
An isometric drawing is a pictorial representation showing three faces simultaneously with all three principal axes drawn at 120° to each other (30° from horizontal), giving a 3D appearance without perspective distortion.
Question 5: On a blueprint, what does 'MAX' following a dimension (e.g., .750 MAX) indicate?
- The nominal target size the part should match exactly
- A limit dimension specifying the largest acceptable size for that feature (Correct answer)
- The maximum torque to apply during assembly
- The measurement was taken using special precision equipment
Correct answer: A limit dimension specifying the largest acceptable size for that feature
MAX following a dimension specifies a one-sided limit — the feature must not exceed that value; this controls features where only the upper boundary matters, such as a gap or clearance.
Question 6: What does the cutting plane line on a blueprint indicate?
- Where material will be removed by a milling cutter
- The location and direction of the imaginary cut used to create a section view (Correct answer)
- The outline of a removable cover or panel
- A boundary between two different materials
Correct answer: The location and direction of the imaginary cut used to create a section view
The cutting plane line shows where and in which direction the imaginary cut is made through the object to produce the associated section view, with arrows indicating the viewing direction.
Question 7: In GD&T, what does the concentricity symbol (two concentric circles ◎) control?
- The flatness of a planar surface within a tolerance zone
- The relationship between the median points of a cylindrical feature and a datum axis (Correct answer)
- The perpendicularity of a surface to a reference plane
- The position of a pattern of holes relative to a datum
Correct answer: The relationship between the median points of a cylindrical feature and a datum axis
The concentricity symbol controls the relationship of the derived median points of a cylindrical or conical feature to a specified datum axis, ensuring features are centered on the same axis.
IST Blueprint Reading and Technical Drawings 2
What does the notation 'TYP' (typical) mean when used with a dimension on a blueprint?