Skip to main content
B
bmozley1-Visitor
1-Visitor
June 1, 2011
Question

Upper and lower case

  • June 1, 2011
  • 16 replies
  • 11683 views
Pro E users,



Per standard ASME Y14.5-1994, paragraph 1.1.5. states that capital
letters are still required on engineering drawings. Do most people use
upper case text on engineering drawings?



Brad

WF3 - W7










16 replies

Show previous replies
T
TimKnier1-Visitor
1-Visitor
June 3, 2011
I'm not one that always buys the line "We've always done it this way" either but in this case I think always using uppercase provides consistency and clarity as drawings are shared among customers and vendors. Standards/Guidelines (keep to the code) do help to make it easier for the people who actually have to read and use our drawings.

And, omg, when do we get into the debate about using texting abbreviations on drawings to help reduce keyboard entry time? lol

Tim Knier
QG Product & Support Engineering
QuadTech
A Subsidiary of Quad/Graphics
Sussex, Wisconsin
414-566-7439 phone
-
www.quadtechworld.com
S
23-Emerald III
StephenW23-Emerald III
23-Emerald III
June 3, 2011
IDK but, IMHO I think texting abbreviations would lend a new challenge that would make life interesting for manufacturing and engineering.

Wait, that is what most government programs have been doing for years only they call it acronyms and there is probably a congressional sub-committee responsible for making the rules.

roflmao
M
mpeterson1-Visitor
1-Visitor
June 3, 2011
I still use capital letters on drawings even though I don't have to comply with
industry drawing standards. I have to believe that these standards were created
to keep lettering consistent in the day when done by hand and thus I also have
experience with the Leroy Lettering set too. I am all for consistency, but it
might be time to make changes with most all drawing done by computer and also
the fact that using upper and lower case IS easier to read. Just a thought and
will continue with all caps for now.

Mark A. Peterson
Sr Design Engineer
Igloo Products Corp
-


    D
    designerdude1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    June 3, 2011
    Back in the good old days of hand drawings, they were photographed and put on Micro-phish (sp?) index cards.
    Lower case was too hard to read. Also no punctuations, only when an abbreviation spelled another word.



    Michael R. Deering

    Engineer 2
    Northrop Grumman Information Systems
    Intelligence Systems Division
    Cyber & SIGINT Systems
    5441 Luce Ave.
    McClellan, CA 95652
    916-570-4419 (Office phone)
    916-570-4209 (Fax)



      J
      JonathanHodgson13-Aquamarine
      13-Aquamarine
      June 6, 2011
      Per Robert Frindt:



      "Although, (since it's Friday) I have read that all upper case is more
      dificult to read."



      We'd probably make the counter-argument that, if you've got a note long
      enough for this to become relevant, there are too many words!
      Simplicity and clarity are the aims above all else.



      All caps here (UK working more-or-less to BS.8888) although I'd agree
      that units must use the correct case.



      Jonathan
      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
      This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.Please note that any views or opinions presented in this e-mail are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ricardo (save for reports and other documentation formally approved and signed for release to the intended recipient).Only Directors are authorised to enter into legally binding obligations on behalf of Ricardo. Ricardo may monitor outgoing and incoming e-mails and other telecommunications systems.
      By replying to this e-mail you give consent to such monitoring.The recipient should check e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Ricardo accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. "Ricardo" means Ricardo plc and its subsidiary companies.
      Ricardo plc is a public limited company registered in England with registered number 00222915.
      The registered office of Ricardo plc is Shoreham Technical Centre, Shoreham-by Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5FG.
      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
      J
      JXochimitl3-Newcomer
      3-Newcomer
      August 24, 2019

      Just an update for those who may still have this question.

       

      Section 1 of any of these ASME Y.14.xx standards is introductory material, and applies to information within the document (the standard), which in this case, is ASME Y14.5-1994. It does not apply to the subject of the standard, which is per the title of the document.

       

      As for the question, the answer is still yes, at least for those adhering to the requirement in Subsection 6.3 Letters - Uppercase and Lowercase of ASME Y14.2-2014, which states: "Uppercase letters shall be used for all lettering on drawings unless lowercase letters are required. See Figs. 6-1 and 6-2."

       

      In ASME Y14.100-2017, Subsection 3.67 Special Characters defines lowercase letters as special characters.

      The ability to reserve lowercase characters for use as special characters (e.g. mL, mm, kJ, g, etc.) may be of the best arguments for remaining true to the requirement of using all uppercase lettering in engineering drawings.

       

       

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement