Abstract: Engineering graphics is a discipline for technological expression and communication with engineering drawings. The rapid development of graphics computing as well as digital manufacturing has been changing engineering graphics for its present medium, application scope, communicating objects and even the definition of engineering drawing. These tremendous changes are refreshing the connotation of engineering graphics and at the same time are remodeling our conception of engineering representation and communication. This paper will try to discover common fundamental theory and analyze regularity and trend in the changing complex. The development orientation of engineering graphics is discussed and a knowledge system is constructed in line with digital manufacturing. Finally, suggestions for education orientation, series textbook planning and teaching pattern for engineering graphics are proposed.

Key words: engineering drawings, engineering graphics, connotation, descriptive geometry