Print Reading

Hello Team Members;

  Over the next few weeks, we will go over Print Reading and the benefits that it has when troubleshooting, making repairs, conducting preventative maintenance or upgrading electrical/mechanical systems. Far too often, technicians disregard the importance of reading the blueprints, schematics or the OEM (original manufactures manual) to help resolve the pressing issue; and go right into the equipment that is down and start with their tools first. That approach will solve the problem, eventually, but valuable time was lost. When critical equipment is down or in need of a repair quickly, identifying the right prints will save the technician of second-guessing and unnecessary work. 

  Having a strong understanding in reading and interpretation of the engineering prints, you could solve complex problems quickly. Without the understanding and knowledge of how the systems work, you could waste valuable time trying to find a problem that could have been located by reading the prints. Most of the time, equipment comes with an owner’s manual and/or service manual. If you do not have the manuals, knowing what company made the equipment and with a Google search, you could find a manual and download it. Most companies will send you a manual; but generally for a price. This is why I teach people to “data-mine” the web before buying expensive manuals.

  One of the things that I strongly press to those that I train and teach, is always start with the prints, whether it’s mechanical or electrical, and start with understand the piece of equipment that you are working with. There are many different types of prints that was designed with each piece of equipment, and some of them have several prints. Here is a small list of what you could find in the industrial/construction environment...

• Piping and Instrument Drawings
• Electrical Single Lines and Schematics
• Electronic Diagrams and Schematics
• Logic Diagrams and Prints
• Fabrication, Construction, and Architectural Drawings
• Single Line Drawings
• Pictorial or Double Line Drawings
• Assembly Drawings
• Cutaway Drawings
• Orthographic Projections
• Isometric Projection

Piping and Instrument Drawings

 

Electrical Single Lines and Schematics

 

Logic Diagrams and Prints

 

Assembly Drawings

 

  These are just a few examples that I have found to help show the technician what they could see inside the facility/construction site. There is many resources online that I will share with you that will help you in your understanding of print reading and being able to interpretation of the symbols. Throughout the years, I have collected many resources that I have shared with fellow technicians. Over the course of my blog, I will post some of those for you to copy and down load for your enhancement of your knowledge. A lot of the PDF’s that I have come from online training programs; and I’ll share them with you as we go on this journey together!

This is one of my favorite PDF’s that I have found online… 

  This site is from the US Navy, “Blueprint Reading and Sketching”, I have used this several times when I was taking tests in the technician field; this will help any technician with the understanding of print reading. As I teach new (and old) technicians, I show them how to data-mine new info online to get the exact information that it is that they’ll need to complete their understanding. Always start with OEM if there is one available or research for one online and down load it.

  The first PDF that I had provided was written 1994, the second one was written in 2015. Both are very good and very helpful with the content. Please check out the 2015 Blueprint Reading and Sketching and down load it!!

  As a technician in a major Fulfillment Center, I will always place good and practical book ideas first that will help you on your journey. The book “Beginner's Guide to Reading Schematics, Second Edition” is a good one to buy and study. Another good resource is to look up community college courses and see what books they recommend to their student technician in training and purchase them too.

I have one in my personal library, and many others to share with you.

  As we started off, there has been many mistakes throughout time due to not having the clear understanding and knowledge of print reading and interpretation of equipment and systems. Before any piece of equipment is built, it has been designed on paper first. A copy of the plan has been made and is generally available to owner of the equipment. It will make your job as a technician easier when you know where they are and how to use them where when making repairs, adjustments, troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on them.

As you read this week’s blog, you now have a better understanding of “Print Reading and Sketching”, one of the first items on the RME Assessment Categories. I hope that you look at both of the Navel PDF’s and get them down loaded for your use!

Red Vector in the Spotlight! 
  I have this PDF, "Reading and Understanding Schematics" and many others to send out. If you would like a copy of this short guide, 22 pages, I can email it to you!! I will also post others as we go along this journey.

  In Conclusion my friends; what are some of this topics that we talked about here supported your needs? What are some of the challenges in print reading do you need support on? Over the next few weeks, we will go many different types of prints and formats to support your understanding of them.

  I hope that this blog supports your needs and delivered good content for you! Please feel free to leave a comment!

Best Regards. Joe DeLoach