Parallel motion
Manual drafting of design and construction drawings is generally carried out on a drawing board. The drawing board provides a large flat surface to which paper can be attached for the drawing to be created.
Some drawing boards include a parallel motion. This is typically a horizontal guide that is attached to cables, guides or counterweights at either end that allow it to move up and down along the surface of the drawing board so that lines can be dawn that are parallel to one another. Used in conjunction with set squares or protractors and rules, that can slide along the top or bottom edge of the guide, this allows lines to be drawn at any required angle at any point on the paper.
Less expensive drawing boards may use a T-square to achieve a similar result. T-squares are T-shaped guides that are not fixed to the drawing board. The head of the T-square is pushed against the edge of the drawing board and the edge of the blade can then be used to draw lines parallel to the edge of the drawing board.
Some drawing boards have a vertical rather than horizontal parallel motion, and some include complex arrangement of connected arms or rules fixed to the board that allow lines of any angle to be drawn.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Blueprint.
- Drawing board.
- Manual drafting techniques.
- Model.
- North American Paper Sizes
- Paper sizes.
- Perspective.
- Projections.
- Scale drawing.
- Scale rule.
- Scale.
- Symbols on architectural drawings.
- T-square.
- Technical drawing pen sizes.
- Technical drawing.
- Techniques for drawing buildings.
- Types of drawing.
Featured articles and news
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
A brief description of a smart construction dashboard, collecting as-built data, as a s site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure bill oulined
With reactions from IHBC and others on its potential impacts.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.