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By definition, a technical drawing—also known as an engineering drawing—is a detailed, precise diagram or plan that conveys information about how an object functions or is constructed. Engineers, electricians, and contractors all use these drawings as deliverables and (often legally guarded) constructable documents when constructing or repairing objects and buildings. These can be drafted by hand, or technical drawings can utilize CAD software for digital copies.
Using technical drawing software can greatly speed up workflows by automating common tasks, assisting with precise geometry, and making detailed annotation easier. Autodesk technical drawing software like AutoCAD also lets you work anywhere securely—from computers, mobile devices, or a web browser—without having to install software. You can even collaborate in real time with multiple users around the world.
Technical drawings bridge communication between designers, who come up with ideas; and producers, who put those ideas into practice as they convey design intent in translating calculated outcomes into 2D and 3D deliverable documents.
These drawings are important because their technical symbols and documentation data like dimensions, tolerances, and materials ensure that the communication between designers and producers is clear and precise, even if the information is complex. The better that communication is, the more efficient production and operations can be. Also, because technical drawings are standardized in their symbols, measurements, and other data, they can be trusted for keeping production consistent and maintaining quality control. And, due to flexibility in scaling, they allow very detailed information to be added to convey 100%-accurate intent. Their data also comes in handy as a record for future reference.
Using technical drawing software helps to solidify those benefits by helping ensure precision and accuracy and making real-time collaboration between team members and stakeholders easier. The software can also produce realistic 3D visualizations based on the technical drawings to better convey design intent and make informed decisions.
Technical drawings contain many basic elements that are easier to change and manage when working within technical drawing software. For example, it can be much more precise, and faster, to manipulate the basic lines, curves, and arcs of technical drawings within software. Also, the geometric dimensions and tolerances (GD&T) and other annotations vital for creating accurate technical drawings are easier to manage within software, which can automate their updated values when you make changes to the drawing. Along the same lines, symbols within technical drawings—like architectural, plumbing, or electrical symbols—represent different features for objects within the drawing, and software can help manage and assign symbols.
Technical drawing software also makes it easy to control the status and properties of sections views and layers, which contain different groupings of objects or components that the software can hide, make transparent, and filter.
Technical drawings vary based on the discipline they serve, from buildings to products and more, learn about the most common types of technical drawings from Autodesk.
Mechanical engineering drawings are used to define the requirements for engineering products/components. They serve as technical manuals and as troubleshooting tools for identifying the weak spots in a mechanical design. Mechanical drawings rely on precise mathematical equations to accurately depict the mechanism and its component parts.
Electrical drawings are technical documents that depict and notate designs for electrical systems. They convey relevant information about lighting, wiring, power sources, voltage, and capacity. Technicians rely on electrical drawings during a building’s construction or when repairing a building’s electrical system.
Architectural drawings are detailed, precise depictions of every aspect of the construction being proposed. Architects use the drawings to visualize ideas and concepts, turn a design idea into a coherent plan for a building, and decide the type of supplies and labor needed for the project.
Structural drawings are detailed drawings that depict the various members, components, connections, dimensions, etc. that clearly communicate the structural framework necessary for any building or infrastructure project. These drawings help ensure the project is built to withstand code-required loads and forces.
Civil site drawings, also known as site plans or site layout drawings, are technical drawings that depict the layout and design of a construction site. These drawings provide a visual representation of the site and its various components, including buildings, roads, parking lots, utilities, landscaping, and other site features.
MEP drawings, also known as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings, are technical drawings that illustrate the layout and design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems within a building or infrastructure project. These drawings provide detailed information about the installation and coordination of these systems.
Discover top technical drawing tools and features available with Autodesk software.
With 2D CAD drafting, architects, engineers, and product designers can create precise technical drawings faster, getting results quickly with technological assistance like inserting commonly used building parts, adjustable line styles, easy annotation, reusable design elements, dynamic blocks, and real-time collaboration with multiple users.
When making technical drawings in AutoCAD software, layers help manage all the objects in a drawing. The Layers Properties Manager lets you control layer filters and layer display states; create, search, and delete layers; make objects transparent; edit layer properties; and more.
With parametric modeling, 3D models contain dimensions, constraints, and other variables that intelligently update the model when changes are made. Autodesk’s technical drawing software includes parametric modeling that uses the shapes and dimensions from 2D technical drawings. The models can also be used to generate customized 2D drawings, highly annotated with materials, part numbers, dimensions, and other documentation.
Autodesk’s technical drawing software includes 3D rendering and visualization features for producing highly accurate still images and animations from computer models and technical drawings. Rendered images can include visual effects like shading, texture mapping, shadows, reflections, and other details that make them appear photorealistic. This visualization helps designers and product developers present their projects to clients and market products to customers.
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See how customers are using Autodesk software to create technical drawings.
GÜRALP
A designer and manufacturer of crane systems, Güralp delivers specialized hoists and lifts to customers in more than 65 countries. Learn how Güralp adopted the Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection for its design and technical drawing software, which helped to speed up product development, manage data, reduce defects, streamline processes, and focus on eco-friendly design.
HR WALLINGFORD
To build a better flood management system for Florence, Italy, water infrastructure expert HR Wallingford turned to Autodesk InfraWorks ICM hydraulic and hydrologic software to model the effects of high-intensity rainfall on the city. In the process, the project team consulted and digitized technical drawings over a century old from medieval-era buildings to gain insight into the urban sewer network.
YSA DESIGN
A leading interior designer for cruise ships, YSA Design switched from handling its technical drawings in 2D drafting software to 3D BIM modeling in Autodesk Revit. The change created a single source of truth from a central model and made workflows and client communication smoother, shortening 3D visualization time from weeks to seconds.
LIXIL
When this global manufacturer of home water products (showers, faucets, toilets, etc.) created an automated drafting system for quickly processing technical drawing, its popularity caused problems with scaling up the system. Integrating the system into the cloud with Autodesk Platform Services made it scalable, reduced technical drawing drafting time by 15–30%, and cut associated costs.
Learn more about technical drawing software with these helpful resources from Autodesk.
Quickly learn how to generate a printable or exportable 2D drawing to your specifications from a 3D design in Autodesk Fusion technical drawing software.
Learn what CAD drawing software can do for AEC and manufacturing businesses, how others are using it, and which CAD and technical drawing software solutions will work best for you.
Both students and educators can receive free educational access to Autodesk technical drawing software such as Tinkercad, Autodesk Fusion, Revit, AutoCAD, and much more. Find out how today.
Startups and nonprofits committed to using design to do environmental and social good can apply to Autodesk’s Technology Impact Program to receive free software for technical drawing, photogrammetry, 3D design, engineering, visualization, and simulation.
Take this professional AutoCAD course to build technical drawing software skills in templating, advanced object creation and editing, measurement tools and methods, Design Center workflows, and more.
Learn more about technical drawing software and tools with these top questions frequently asked by users.
The five main types of technical drawing cover mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering; manufacturing assembly; and architecture. Designers and engineers in each discipline all produce and use precise technical drawings that convey how an object or structure functions and/or how to construct it.
Sectioning in technical drawing shows the internal configuration of a part or object, as if the object has been sliced through. When a technical drawing is rendered in sections, it reveals the interior construction of an object and the relationship between different parts or components and space. The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection delivers integrated tools for streamlined 2D and 3D technical drawing.
Perspective drawing is a way to represent 3D objects on a flat surface. Using perspective drawing conveys depth, space, and extension of an object, tool, part, or building. Autodesk Inventor software makes it easy to apply perspective to a custom technical drawing view.
Detailed technical drawings communicate the design intent of the item to be manufactured and assembled. They help the manufacturer understand how to build or construct something to a specific size, form, and function so it will work correctly. Technical drawing details help streamline the manufacturing process in two ways: Reducing the time spent from design cycle to production and eliminating errors and waste associated with missing or incomplete manufacturing information.
To read technical drawings, refer to the many information blocks provided on the drawing.
The title block, located on the bottom right corner of the drawing, includes a description of the drawing, information about the materials to be used, scale, tolerances, size, part numbers, and more. The revision block, located in the upper right corner, explains revision details or changes made to the original drawing. The bill of materials block, above the title block or on the upper left corner, includes a list of all the items or quantities of materials needed to assemble the object or structure. The drawing key explains various symbols and lines that can identify the different features of an object or structure. Finally, the scale number will explain the scale at which to produce the drawing. For example, 1:1 means the drawing represents the actual size of the object, and 100:1 means the actual object is 100 times the size of the drawing.
Pattern development in technical drawing is the creation of a flat representation of a three-dimensional object. True pattern development uses parallel lines, radial lines, or triangulation so that every surface on the pattern is the same size and shape as the corresponding surface of the 3D object.
Technical drawing is an important component of architecture because it provides insight into what the final structure will look like and its relationship to its surroundings. Architecture technical drawings illustrate a finished structure, show exact dimensions for construction, present how different parts of the structure fit together, diagram the arrangement of species within the structure, and reveal mechanical and material details necessary in constructing the project. Autodesk’s architecture software empowers efficient and seamless technical drawing for architects.
Both architectural drawing and engineering drawing are types of technical drawing used on construction projects. Architects produce architectural drawings to convey their design intent for a building, including layout plans for floors, sections, elevations, and exterior and interior details.
The difference between architectural and engineering drawings is that engineers create technical engineering drawings that focus on the technical details of the building’s structure and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing).
Both types of technical drawing contribute to a construction project’s success.
Yes, you can use technical drawing software for both 2D and 3D designs. Many programs combine the capability of both 2D and 3D technical drawing into one software, such as Autodesk AutoCAD. For a more cost-effective way to focus on just 2D design, AutoCAD LT uses innovative automation features to accelerate 2D technical drawing, drafting, and documentation.
