3
Introduction
The term print reading, as used in this textbook, means interpreting and visualizing drawings and
prints. The textbook is based on actual prints from various industries. Most industry practices conform
to national drafting standards. However, some companies vary from standards to meet their specific
needs. In order to provide real-life print reading experiences, these variations are retained on the prints
in this textbook.
Print Reading for Industry is a training course designed to assist beginning and intermediate students
and workers to read and understand industrial prints. This textbook addresses the skills necessary in
reading and understanding “the language of industry.”
Print Reading Procedures
The following steps should be used for reading a print. By performing these steps when reading
prints, your skills will continue to develop.
Step 1: Read the title.
Step 2: Check the drawing number.
Step 3: Read the title block and notes.
Step 4: Read all callouts.
Step 5: Read the revisions and changes.
Step 6: Analyze the part or assembly.
About the Authors
During his career, Dr. Walter C. Brown was a leading authority in the fields of drafting and print
reading. He served as a consultant to industry on design and drafting standards and procedures. He
authored several books in the fields of drafting, print reading, and mathematics and was a professor in
the Division of Technology at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Dr. Ryan K. Brown is an Associate Professor in the Department of Technology at Illinois State
University, Normal, Illinois. He has been involved with drafting education for over thirty years.
His experiences include secondary education at the junior and senior high level; faculty member
at his alma mater, Eastern Kentucky University; drafter for Sargent & Greenleaf, Inc.; geometric
dimensioning and tolerancing consultant; and summer experiences in a wide array of drafting and
graphics-based positions, such as steel detailing and civil engineering applications. His current roles in
drafting education also include the authorship of activities and problems for secondary-level drafting
competitions and architectural drafting applications that include 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and
rendering and animation. Feel free to contact him at: rkbrown@ilstu.edu
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