Blueprint Reading

Blueprints are documents that contain three major elements: the drawing, dimensions, and notes. The drawing illustrates the views of the part necessary to show its features. Together, the extension and dimension lines on the drawing indicate dimensions and specific tolerance information of each feature. The notes contain administrative and global information about the part. A blueprint contains all instructions and requirements necessary to manufacture and inspect a part. An understanding of how to read a blueprint is critical to manufacture and inspect parts to accurate specifications. Accurate blueprint creation helps to ensure that finished parts will function in a way that meets the original intent. After taking this class, users should be able to read a basic blueprint and determine the critical features on a part that need to be measured.