Hidden lines and Center lines technology

 Hidden lines and Center lines technology

Hidden Lines Technology

• Definition: Hidden lines are used to represent edges, boundaries, or features of an object that are not directly visible in a given view.

  
  
  

• Representation: Drawn as short, evenly spaced dashed lines.

• Purpose:

  • Shows concealed features like holes, slots, grooves, or edges behind solid surfaces.

  • Helps engineers understand the complete geometry of an object.

• Technology Use (in CAD/CAM):

  • CAD software automatically generates hidden lines in 2D drawings from 3D models.

  • In visualization, "hidden line removal technology" is used so that only visible edges are displayed in 3D rendering.

Center Lines Technology

• Definition: Center lines are used to indicate the axes of symmetry for circular, cylindrical, or symmetrical features.

• Representation: Drawn as alternating long and short dashes (e.g., ─ ─ · ─ ─ · ─ ─).

• Purpose:

  • Locates the geometric center of holes, circles, cylinders, arcs, or symmetrical parts.

  • Helps in dimensioning and aligning features accurately.

• Technology Use (in CAD/CAM):

  • CAD software can automatically place center lines when circles, holes, or arcs are drawn.

  • Essential for CNC machining, since the machine toolpaths often reference the part’s center axis.

Key Difference:

• Hidden lines → Show invisible edges.

• Center lines → Show axes of symmetry or centers.