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PSA: I was reading an old drafting standards book from the 80s and found out they used to recommend a 0.25mm line weight for hidden lines.
I found this in a beat-up copy of the 'ASME Y14.2M-1979' standard at a used bookstore. I always thought hidden lines were supposed to be thinner, like 0.18mm. It makes me wonder if sticking to the absolute newest standard is always the right call, or if some of those older practices had a good reason. What's the oldest drafting rule or trick you still use on a regular basis?
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robert2467mo ago
Check the date on that book, might be older than your CAD software. Some of those old rules just made things easier to read on paper.
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rileyw577mo ago
Ever try to follow one of those old drafting standards on a modern screen? I swear half the rules were just workarounds for bad photocopiers and cheap paper.
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dylan_thompson6mo ago
That 0.25mm line weight is actually pretty bold. I get what @robert246 is saying about old rules being for paper clarity, but thicker hidden lines can really make a drawing messy fast. My old boss swore by the practice of never dimensioning to a hidden line, which is an ancient rule from before my time. I still follow that one because it forces clearer views. Do you think some of these older thickness rules were about making sure the lines held up on those old blueprint machines?
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