How to draw an ellipse by auxiliary circle method

In science, especially technical drawing and mathematics, an ellipse is a plane curve surrounding two focal points, such that for all points on the curve, the sum of the two distances to the focal points is a constant. In this article, we will discuss with you how to draw an ellipse using auxiliary circle method. If you are interested, then let’s start together as everything was explained one by one.

By following the step by step guides and instructions below, you will know how to draw an ellipse without wasting a lot of time. Are a technical drawing student or is technical drawing among the course you offer in your department and you are asked to draw it in an assignment or test? If you want to know how to draw it in a recommended way very fast, then here is your final researching point.

An ellipse is commonly meant to student of engineering and technical drawing. It is a borrow course to some engineering students while it a compulsory course for others. If you are a mechanical engineering student, please don’t play with technical drawing. To draw a neat ellipse, the drawing tools required are pencil, compass, French curve, drawing table (for your comfortable), drawing sheet, eraser, scale ruler.

There are twelve main steps involved in the drawing of an ellipse. Please note that if one step is not taken into consideration, then it would render all your efforts incorrect. Now, let’s start to discuss how to draw an ellipse from start to end step by step.

How to draw an ellipse

Place your drawing table in the right comfortable place make sure you with all your drawing instruments.
Decide what length the major axis will be.
- The major axis is the longest diameter of an ellipse.
Draw one horizontal line of major axis length.
Mark the mid-point with a ruler.
- This is done by taking the length of the major axis and dividing it by two.
Create a circle of this diameter with a compass.
- This is started by taking the compass and setting the spike on the midpoint, then extending the pencil to either end of the major axis.
Decide what length the minor axis will be.
- The minor axis is the shortest diameter of an ellipse.
Draw another line bisecting the major axis (which will be the minor axis) using a protractor at 90 degrees.
- Here, you take the protractor and set its origin on the mid-point of the major axis. Mark the point at 90 degrees. Then swing the protractor 180 degrees and mark that point. Now you can draw the minor axis at its midpoint between or within the two marks.
Create a circle of this diameter with a compass.
- Do it the same way the previous circle was made.
Divide the entire circle into twelve 30 degree parts using a compass.
- This is done by setting your protractor on the major axis on the origin and marking the 30 degree intervals with dots. Then you can connect the dots through the center with lines.
Draw horizontal lines from the inner circle (except on major and minor axis).
- These will be parallel to the major axis, and go outward from all the points where the inner circle and 30 degree lines intersect. Try to draw the lines near the minor axis a little shorter, but draw them a little longer as you move toward the major axis.
Draw vertical lines from the outer circle (except on major and minor axis).
- These will be parallel to the minor axis, and go inward from all the points where the outer circle and 30 degree lines intersect. Try to draw the lines near the minor axis a little longer, but draw them a little shorter as you move toward the major axis. If you detect a horizontal line will be too short you can take a ruler and extend it a little before drawing the vertical line.
Darken all intersecting points including the two ends on the major (horizontal) and minor (vertical) axis.
Join the points using free-hand drawing or a French curve tool (more accurate).
- With free hand drawing, you do your best to draw the curves by hand between the points.

Conclusion

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