Putting it all together
Now that we have explored creating 2D primitive shapes, let's talk about how we put it all together.
When we draw in 2D (no perspective), we start by grouping together shapes to get an overall complex form.
We can group together 2D primitives like rectangles, circles, triangles, and other polygons and then we can use chamfers and fillets to define outlines and borders. See example below
Here we have two primitive shapes grouped together
We can combine them and draw their border.
We can also add in chamfers and fillets to create a visually more complex shape
Chamfers are straight angled transitions from one line to the next.
Fillets are smooth rounded transitions from one line to the next.
pronounced "Fill-its" not "Fill-lays". The former is for fabrication, the latter is for fish and cuts of meat.
2D Drawing
The example above shows how we can combine two shapes but let's use something a little more "real-world".
All objects, both in 2D and in 3D, can be broken down into groupings of shapes (or primitive forms).
Below is an example of how we can analyze an object, break it into primitive shapes, and then add details.
You do not need to draw this.
This is the Milling Machine from the LWHS Metal Shop.
If we wanted to draw this using 2D construction:
We first decipher the primitives. Look at the object and decipher what are the primary shapes that make up the milling machine.
In this case, it could be a grouping of rectangles and one triangle. If we lay out the shapes together so they give an impression of the shape and proportion of the object, we can then start adding to it to make our drawing more detailed and visually informative.
Start with the basic shapes of the object
Here we have the same groupings of rectangles and a triangle that we saw from the image above.
Raise the resolution
We can then continue to study the original image and begin blocking in more of the shapes.
There are some smaller parts of the machine that are rounded or that have multiple tiers. By adding in a circle and more precise rectangles over the original shapes, the smaller parts of the machine start to come to life.
Go closer!
Continue adding smaller and smaller details to start make your object more recognizable. Once you have enough shapes grouped together you can then start carving out your object even more by chamfering and filleting your shapes to refine your drawing.
Adding shapes together works on nearly everything if you look at things with a creative eye. A blender can start with three rectangles