Chapter 4

Principles of first and third angle

orthographic projection

First angle projection
Assume that a small block is made 35 mm × 30 mm ×
20 mm and that two of the corners are cut away as
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shown below in three stages.
Figure 4.2 illustrates a pictorial view of the block
and this has been arranged in an arbitrary way because
none of the faces are more important than the others.
In order to describe the orthographic views we need to
select a principal view and in this case we have chosen
the view in direction of arrow A to be the view from
the front.
20 30
35
The five arrows point to different surfaces of the
block and five views will result. The arrows themselves
are positioned square to the surfaces, that is at 90° to
the surfaces and they are also at 90°, or multiples of
90° to each other. The views are designated as follows:
View in direction A is the view from the front,
View in direction B is the view from the left,
View in direction C is the view from the right,
View in direction D is the view from above,
View in direction E is the view from below.
In first angle projection the views in the directions
of arrows B, C, D and E are arranged with reference to
the front view as follows:
The view from B is placed on the right,
The view from C is placed on the left,
The view from D is placed underneath,
The view from E is placed above.
The experienced draughtsman will commit the above
rules to memory. It is customary to state the projection
used on orthographic drawings to remove all doubt, or
use the distinguishing symbol which is shown on the

arrangement in Fig. 4.3.

D
10
25

15
10

A
B

Fig. 4.1 Fig. 4.2

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 34 Manual of Engineering Drawing
View E
View C View A View B
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View D
Projection symbol
Fig. 4.3 First angle projection arrangement. Dotted lines indicate
hidden edges and corners
Third angle projection
The difference between first and third angle projection
is in the arrangement of views and, with reference to
the illustration in Fig. 4.4, views are now positioned
as follows:
View B from the left is placed on the left,
View C from the right is placed on the right,
View D from above is placed above,
View E from below is placed underneath.
Study the rearrangement shown below in Fig. 4.4
and remember the above rules because it is vital that
the principles of first and third angle projection are
understood. The distinguishing symbol for this method
is also shown.
If a model is made of the block in Fig. 4.1, and this
can easily be cut from polystyrene foam used in packing,
then a simple demonstration of first and third angle
projection can be arranged by placing the block on the
drawing board and moving it in the direction of the
four chain dotted lines terminating in arrows in Fig.
4.5. Figure 4.5(a) shows the positioning for first angle
and Fig. 4.5(b) for third angle projection. The view in
each case in the direction of the large arrow will give
the five views already explained.
The terms first and third angle correspond with the
notation used in mathematics for the quadrants of a
circle in Fig. 4.6 the block is shown pictorially in the
first quadrant with three of the surfaces on which views
are projected. The surfaces are known as planes and
the principal view in direction of arrow A is projected
on to the principal vertical plane. The view from D is
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View D
View B View A View C
View E
Projection symbol
Fig. 4.4 Third angle projection arrangement
projected on to a horizontal plane. View B is also
projected on to a vertical plane at 90° to the principal
vertical plane and the horizontal plane and this is known
as an auxiliary vertical plane. Another horizontal plane
can be positioned above for the projection from arrow
E, also a second auxiliary vertical plane on the left for
the projection of view C. Notice that the projections to
each of the planes are all parallel, meeting the planes
at right angles and this a feature of orthographic
projection.
The intersection of the vertical and horizontal planes
give a line which is the ground line GL. This line is
often referred to as the XY line; this is useful in projection
problems since it represents the position of the horizontal
plane with reference to a front view and also the position
of the vertical plane with reference to a plan view.
Many examples follow in the text.
If the planes containing the three views are folded
back into the plane of the drawing board, then the
result is shown in Fig. 4.7 where dimensions have also
been added. The draughtsman adjusts the distances
between views to provide adequate spaces for the
dimensions and notes.
To describe a simple object, a draughtsman does
not need to draw all five views and it is customary to
draw only the minimum number which completely
illustrate the component. You will note in this particular
case that we have omitted views which contain dotted
lines in preference to those where corners and edges
face the observer. Many parts do not have a definite
‘front’, ‘top’ or ‘side’ and the orientation is decided by
the draughtsman, who selects views to give the
maximum visual information.
 Principles of first and third angle orthographic projection 35

D
VP AVP

B
2 GL A

3
Projector
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(a) 4
HP

Projection

Fig. 4.6 VP is the vertical plane. HP is the horizontal plane. AVP the
auxiliary vertical plane. GL is the ground line

20

35
25

10

5 30

(b)

Fig. 4.5 (a) First angle arrangement (b) Third angle arrangement

Fig. 4.7

Traditionally, front views are also known as front

elevations, side views are often known as side or end
elevations and the views from above or beneath are
referred to as plans. All of these terms are freely used
in industrial drawing offices.
Projection symbols
First angle projection is widely used throughout all
parts of Europe and often called European projection.
Third angle in the system used in North America and
alternatively described as American projection. In the
British Isles, where industry works in co-operation
with the rest of the world, both systems of projection
are regularly in use. The current British and ISO
standards state that both systems of projection are
equally acceptable but they should never be mixed on
the same drawing. The projection symbol must be added
to the completed drawing to indicate which system
has been used.
Figure 4.8 shows the recommended proportions of
the two projection symbols.
Figure 4.9 indicates how the First angle symbol
was obtained from projections of a tapered roller. The
Third angle alternative is given in Fig. 4.10.
Please note the movement suggested by the arrow
in Fig. 4.9, Fig. 4.10 and also in Fig. 4.8, since
orientation is the main clue to understanding the
fundamental differences in projection systems.
An experienced draughtsman must be fully con-
versant with all forms of orthographic and pictorial
projection and be able to produce a drawing where no
doubt or ambiguity relating to its interpretation can
exist.

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