Section Views

SECTION VIEWS

Introduction
A section view is an orthographic projection view drawn to reveal internal or hidden features in an object.
Section views are used to supplement standard orthographic view drawing in order to completely describe an
object. They improve visualization of designs, clarify multi-views and facilitate dimensioning of drawings.
Hence they are an important aspect of design and documentation. Section views are created by defining an
imaginary cutting plane or planes on the object so that the observer can see the internal details. Hidden lines
are generally not shown in sections. Hatch lines (also called section lines) are used to indicate solid
materials that are cut through. A combination of hatch lines is called a pattern. A hatch pattern has certain
attributes such as orientation and line spacing. Some hatch pattern types are used to represent specific
materials or group of materials. Both part and assembly sections can be created. Sometimes, auxiliary
section views may be needed for clarity.

Concept of Sections
In orthographic projection, the standard projection planes are top (horizontal), front (frontal), side (profile).
The frontal and profile planes are vertical, while the top is horizontal. Standard drawing views are created on
these planes with preferred view directions. The view direction for the frontal and profile planes is horizontal
while the view direction for the horizontal plane is vertical. Fig. 1a shows the standard front and top views a
cylinder. Fig. 1b shows the same cylinder in mixed (standard, section, cut isometric) views with the front view
converted to a section view. Several elements associated with the concept of sections are indicated in Fig.
1b. These are i) cutting plane line, ii) view direction, iii) removed portion, iv) retained portion, v) hatching, and
vi) section caption or label.

The cutting plane is an imaginary plane that passes through the object at a position of interest. It is
represented by a line (the edge view of the section plane) in an adjacent view to the section view. In Fig. 1b,
the cutting plane is vertical since its edge view is seen on the horizontal plane. Cutting planes can change
direction within an object. The view direction is the line of sight or the direction an imaginary viewer is facing.
The view direction is indicated by the arrow head and is perpendicular to the cutting plane. In Fig. 1b, the
view direction is horizontal.

Top view

Top view

Section view

Front view

a) Standard views b) Mixed views

Fig. 1 Concept of sections

The removed portion is the portion of an object that is assumed to have been removed in order to expose the
interior. It is the cut-out portion of the object. The viewer is able to directly see the interior of the object when
the cut-out is removed. The retained portion is the portion of an object that is assumed to be left in front of
the viewer. The hatching is the pattern of hatch lines used to indicate solid material. The section label is the
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name given to the section or cutting plane. A very important difference between standard and section views
is the replacement of hidden lines in standard views with visible lines in section views. This is very
fundamental since it indicates the feature is now visible in a section view. Comparing the standard and mixed
views of Fig. 1 shows the clarity advantage of section views. Another advantage of section views is that the
visible lines from hidden lines in standard views can be used for dimensioning; hidden lines are not used for
dimensioning. When parts or assemblies have complex internal features, hidden lines in standard views
become confusing, sections are then indispensable.

Cutting Plane Linestyles

A cutting plane is represented by a line that shows the edge view of the cutting plane. A limited number of
linestyles are used to represent cutting planes. In Fig. 2, the common linestyles for cutting planes are shown.
They are a) thick center line, b) thick phantom line and c) broken visible line. The representation in c) is used
if the cutting plane line would hide important details in a drawing. Each of these lines is usually joined to two
arrows at their ends. The direction of the arrow is the viewer’s line of sight. Cutting plane lines are drawn in
the view adjacent to the section view and may go beyond the boundary of the adjacent view. The thickness
of a cutting plane line should be more than that of normal visible line.

a) Thick centerline b) Thick phantom line c) Broken visible line

Fig. 2 Cutting plane linestyles

Hatch Patterns
Hatch lines are thin lines and when they are laid out in a specific angle and spacing, a hatch pattern is
formed. A hatch pattern is always within a closed boundary. If there is a gap in an section, hatching will not
occur when using CAD systems. Spacing of hatch lines should enhance readability. Depending on the size
of the drawing, it may be between 1.5 mm (0.06 in) to 6 mm (0.25 in) in relatively small drawings. Likewise,
the inclination of hatch lines should be guided by clarity. The angle of inclination for hatch lines normally
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varies between 15 and 75 . Popular angles are 15 , 30 , 45 , 60 , and 75 . The angle 45 is the default
angle in most CAD software. Hatch lines must not be drawn or placed parallel to object lines or features in a
section. In Fig. 3, the left column views have hatch lines parallel to some object features and they are,
therefore, unacceptable. The acceptable representations are shown in the right column views. The angle of
inclination of the hatch lines must be different from the angles of inclination of all the features forming the
boundary of a hatch pattern. Fig. 4 shows some examples of assembly hatch patterns. When components
are assembled, the hatch patterns must not be parallel to object lines or features of hatch boundary. Also,
hatch lines are inclined at different angles in each component in order to distinguish them.

Fig. 3 Hatch pattern layout Fig. 4 Assembly hatch patterns

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Conventionally, some hatch patterns are associated with specific materials. However, the proliferation of
available materials today makes it impractical to have a unique hatch pattern for material types and grades.
Thus selected material hatch patterns are in common use. In architectural drawings, some material hatch
patterns are in popular use. Machine drawings use few material hatch patterns and ANSI 31 pattern for cast
iron in Fig. 6 is the recommended today for machine drawings. This pattern may be used for all types of
materials in machine drawings. Fig. 6 shows some material hatch pattern types.

Fig. 6 Material type hatch patterns

Section View Representation and Placement

Proper representation of section features is very important. Every feature directly exposed to the view needs
to be included as visible entities in the section view. Gaps between feature segments must not be allowed. In
Fig. 7, two section view representations are given. The left representation is right while the right
representation is wrong because of gaps between the view segments. The line features omitted in the right
representation are clearly visible in the indicated section plane.

a) Right b) Wrong
Fig. 7 Section view representation

a) Top section view b) Front section view c) Right section view

Fig. 8 Placement of section views

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Section view position in a drawing has a definite relationship with the view direction. A section view should
be placed behind the tail end of the view direction arrow. Fig. 7 illustrates the application of this principle for
a) top section view, b) front section view, and c) right section view. Sufficient gap should be allowed between
the section and the adjacent view it is derived from. This gap is very important because sufficient space must
be made available for dimension placement.

Section View Types

Section views may be classified in different ways. For our discussions, we shall group them into full, partial,
and special section views. In full section views the whole cross-section of the object in shown in straight or
connected cutting planes from one edge to the other. Examples of full sections are regular, offset, aligned,
removed, and revolved. Partial section views do not reveal the whole sections, but show a portion of the
interior. Examples of partial sections are half, broken, and detail sections. Special sections include auxiliary
sections, assembly sections, and un-sectioned features.

Full Section Views

Regular Sections
A regular section is also called a full or straight section. The cutting plane for a regular sections cuts straight
through the middle of the object so that one half of it is revealed after the second half is imagined removed.
In multiview drawings, a section view can replace a standard view, and regular sections are commonly thus
employed. Fig. 9 shows and example of a regular section view.

Fig. 9 Regular section view Fig.10 Offset section view Fig. 11 Removed section views

Offset Sections
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Offset sections are similar to straight section except the cutting plane changes direction at 90 at a time as it
goes through the object. They are used for complex part with a number of important features that do not lie
on the same plane. Fig. 10 is an example of an offset section view with three cutting planes offset from one
another. Note that in the section view, the offset cutting planes appear collinear. Multiple offset sections are
possible in irregular objects.

Removed Sections
Removed sections are full section views placed at a convenient position from the adjacent view but linked
with the cutting plane either by a line or view label as shown in Fig. 11. They are displaced from the normal
view position and do not need to be of the same scale as the adjacent view they are derived from. If the
scale for the removed view is different from the adjacent view, it should be indicated as a local note. It is
convenient to display different removed section views along the length of an object if it has varying cross-
sections in that direction; see Fig. 11.

Revolved Sections
A revolved section is similar to a removed section except that the section view is superimposed on the
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cutting plane after the section has been rotated through 90 . The axis of revolution is indicated with a
centerline as shown in Fig. 12. This representation is attractive when space constraint is an issue. The
section view scale is the same as the standard view. The section views can be placed with or without
breaking the visible lines adjacent to them on the standard view. Feature lines from the standard view within
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the revolved view should be removed completely. Revolved section views should be drawn as seen in from
the view direction. Sections of bars, lever arms, spokes and other elongated objects are commonly
represented in revolved section view.

Fig. 12 Revolved section views

Aligned Sections
In aligned sections the cutting planes are not collinear but inclined. The line of intersection is usually at the
center of the object. Like offset sections, the cutting planes are made to pass through features of interest as
shown in Fig. 13. In the section view representation, one of the planes is rotated through some angle to align
it with the other as indicated in Fig. 13a. The feature is then projected on the aligned plane. This forced
alignment makes the section view looks pleasing and easier to visualize. Practical considerations or
conventional rules thus override strict projection principles in aligned section views.

a) Component with arms b) Component without arms

Fig. 13 Aligned Section views

Partial Section Views

Half Section
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The cutting planes for a half section are inclined at 90 allowing a quarter of the object to be imagined
removed. A centerline is used to demarcate the sectioned portion from the un-sectioned portion in the
section view as shown in Fig. 14. Sometimes, hidden lines are shown on the un-sectioned part.

Fig. 14 Half section Fig. 15 Broken section Fig. 16 Detail section view

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Broken Section Views

A broken section is a section exposed by a cut out of a portion of an object as shown in Fig. 15. A brake-line
is used to show the boundary between the sectioned and un-sectioned portion of the drawing. A cutting
plane is not shown in a broken section. Broken section is used to limit the area of interest in a object. It saves
time and could substitute for full or half section.

Detail Section Views

A detail section view is similar to a broken section view except it is positioned outside the standard view.
Also, it is usually of enlarged scale so as to reveal greater detail around the area of interest in the object.
This gives more clarity and it is often easier to place dimensions on detail section views. Fig. 16 shows a
detail view of a keyway.

Special Section Views

Section views derived from non-principal views such auxiliary sections may be considered as special section
views. Similarly, special application section views such as assembly sections and features or parts that are
not sectioned in drawings by convention are special section views.

Auxiliary Sections
Auxiliary views (full or partial) may be sectioned and standard section conventions apply to them. For
example, the section view should be placed on the tail end side of the view direction arrow and there should
be a visible gap between the section view and adjacent standard view. Hatch pattern should be placed with
care since the auxiliary view is inclined in position and hatch lines must not be parallel to boundary line
features. Fig. 17 shows an example of an auxiliary section view.

Fig. 17 Auxiliary section view Fig. 18 Assembly section view

Assembly sections
Assembly sections are section views with more than one component shown in their fitted relative positions.
They are very useful in checking clashes or interferences of adjacent components in a unit. Adjacent
components in an assembly section are hatched at different angles to clarify drawing. Components are
usually numbered and a bill of materials (BOM) or parts list is attached to the drawing. Fig. 18 is an example
of an assembly (full) section view but without a parts list. Assembly sections may be full or half section
orthographic or pictorial views of the unit or product.

Un-sectioned Features
Some features are not sectioned in section views if the cutting plane is parallel to their axes. Such features
are normally thin and include ribs, webs, lugs, and spokes. However, if the cutting plane is perpendicular to
their axes, they may be sectioned. Fig. 19 shows the cutting planes are parallel to a lug and spokes. In
section view, these features are un-hatched or un-sectioned because of this parallel geometric relationship.
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In Fig. 20, the cutting planes are parallel to a rib and web in the A-A section views and the rib and wed are
un-hatched or un-sectioned. The cutting planes for the B-B sections are defined

Fig. 19 Un-sectioned features

Fig. 20 Hatching un-sectioned features

Fig. 21 Un-sectioned parts

perpendicular to the rib and web. In this case, the rib and web are hatched or sectioned because of the
perpendicular geometric relationship. Fig. 21 shows a shaft, key, bolt and nut in section. By convention,
these components are not hatched as indicated. Some other standard parts or components not hatched in
section views include pins, dowels, fasteners, gears, bearings, and springs.

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Conventional Breaks
When objects are long and of constant cross-section, their length may be reduced with break lines. Break
lines are effective in saving time, space and in increasing the scale of a drawing. Fig. 15 shows examples of
conventional break lines.

Fig. 15 Break lines for different shapes and materials

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