How to draw an ellipse
- 1. How to draw an Ellipse By: Tim Closs
- 2. What is an ellipse? • Basically it is a stretched circle
- 3. What is an Axis? The horizontal line and vertical that pass through the center.
- 4. What is the Minor Axis? The shortest axis. Which in this case is the vertical line.
- 5. What is the Major Axis? The longest of the two axis. Which is the horizontal line.
- 6. Tools you will need • 45/90 Triangle or 30/60 Triangle • A piece of computer paper • T-Square or parallel with drafting board • Masking Tape • Pencil with eraser • Compass
- 7. Step 1 • Line up paper with T-square parallel
- 8. Step 2 • Tape down Top corners
- 9. Step 3 • Tape down Bottom corners
- 10. Step 4 • Find the Center of your paper using the cross technique (see last weeks notes)
- 11. Step 5 Layout vertical axis using : • 45/90 Triangle • T-square • Pencil
- 12. Step 6 Layout horizontal axis using : • T-square • Pencil
- 13. Step 7 Mark Minor Axis • Set compass to aproximatley 2 inches • Mark vertical axis
- 14. Step 8 Mark Major Axis • Set compass to aproximatley 3 1/2 inches • Mark horizontal axis
- 15. Step 9 • Mark center O • Mark major axis A B • Mark minor axis C D
- 16. Step 10 • Set compass from O to C • Make a mark on the right side of major axis • Label E
- 17. Step 11 • Using your triangle draw a Line from C to B
- 18. Step 12 • Set compass to E B • Set compass on C and swing an arc intersecting line C B
- 19. Step 13 • Label intersection F
- 20. Step 14 • Bisect line F B (see earlier lessons on bisecting a line)
- 21. Step 15 • Extend Bisector to make point H
- 22. Step 16 • Mark point G where bisector intersected line AOB
- 23. Step 17 • Set compass O to H • From O make a mark above C and label it K
- 24. Step 18 • Set compass O to G • From O make a mark to the right A and label it J
- 25. Step 19 • Using your triangle draw a Line from H through J
- 26. Step 20 • Using your triangle draw a Line from K through J
- 27. Step 21 • Using your triangle draw a Line from K through G
- 28. Tangency • Line K J • Line H J • Line K G • Line H G
- 29. Step 22 • Set compass to G B • Having the center on G swing an arc to both Tangency lines
- 30. Step 23 • Set compass to J A • Having the center on J swing an arc to both Tangency lines
- 31. Step 24 • Set compass to H C • Having the center on H swing an arc to both Tangency lines
- 32. Step 25 • Set compass to K D • Having the center on K swing an arc to both Tangency lines
- 33. Reference Walker, John and Bernard D. Mathis. Exploring Drafting. Illinois: The Goodheart- Willcox Company, 2012. Print Photos: Taken by T. Closs