SECTIONAL VIEWS

Contents
1. Cutting Plane
2. Cutting Plane Line
3. Section Lining
4. Full Sections
5. Half Sections
6. Broken Out Sections
7. Revolved Sections
8. Offset Sections
9. Removed Sections

When making multi-view drawings, hidden edges and surfaces are usually shown with
hidden (dash) lines.

For complex objects, as in the case of an automobile engine block, a clearer presentation of the
interior can be made by sketching the object as it would look if it were cut apart. In that way,
the many hidden lines on the sketch are eliminated.

The process of sketching the internal configuration of an object by showing it cut apart is
known as sectioning. Sectioning is used frequently on a wide variety of Industrial drawings.

In this example, blocks A and B result after the block in figure 1 has been “Sectioned”. When
you cut an apple in half you have sectioned it. Just as an apple can be sectioned any way you
choose, so can an object in a sectional view of a drawing or sketch.

Cutting Plane
A surface cut by the saw in the drawing above is a cutting plane. Actually, it is an imaginary
cutting plane taken through the object, since the object is imagined as being cut through at a
desired location.

Cutting Plane Line

A cutting plane is shown on a drawing by a cutting plane line. This is a heavy long-short-
short-long kind of line terminated with arrows. The arrows in show the direction of view.
Here is a graphic example of a cutting plane line and the section that develops from it.

Section Lining
Section lining, or hatching, uses thin, parallel lines to show solid material cut by an imaginary
plane in technical drawings, distinguishing it from empty space (holes) and improving
clarity, typically at 45° but with variations for material identification or assembly clarity,
using different angles (like 30°, 60°) or specific symbols for different materials.

Features of Hatching
1. Purpose: To visually represent solid areas exposed by a cutting plane, revealing internal
features.
2. Appearance: Thin, continuous lines, usually at 45° to the outlines, but can be 30° or 60° if
the outline is at 45°.
3. Consistency: Lines should be evenly spaced and consistent in thickness (lighter than visible
outlines).
4. Material Indication: Different patterns (angles or symbols) can denote different materials,
especially in assemblies (e.g., cast iron, steel, wood).
5. Exclusions: Holes, threads, and other non-material areas are not hatched.
6. Placement: Hatching is bounded by visible lines, never hidden lines, and dimensions/notes
are usually placed in unhatched areas.

The lines in the figure above, which look like saw marks, are called section lining. They are
found on most sectional views, and indicate the surface which has been exposed by the
cutting plane. Notice that the square hole in the object has no section lining, since it was not
changed by sectioning.

Different kinds of section lining are used to identify different materials. When an object is
made of a combination of materials, a variety of section lining symbols makes materials
identification easier. Here are a few examples:

Section lines are very light. When sketching an object or part that requires a sectional view,
they are drawn by eye at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and are spaced about 1/8”
apart. Since they are used to set off a section, they must be drawn with care.

It is best to use the symbol for the material being shown as a section on a sketch. If that symbol
is not known, use the general-purpose symbol, which is also the symbol for cast iron.
TYPES OF SECTIONS/METHODS OF SECTIONING
Full Sections
When a cutting plane line passes entirely through an object, the resulting section is called a
full section Fig. 7 illustrates a full section.

It is possible to section an object whenever a closer look intentionally is desired. Here is an

object sectioned from two different directions.

Half Sections
If the cutting plane is passed halfway through an object, and one-quarter of the object is
removed, the resulting section is a half section. A half section has the advantage of showing
both inside and outside configurations.

It is frequently used for symmetrical objects. Hidden lines are usually not shown on the un-
sectioned half unless they are needed for clearness or for dimensioning purposes. As in all
sectional drawings, the cutting plane takes precedence over the center line.
Here is another example of a half section. Remember that only one fourth of the object is
removed with a half section, whereas half of the object is removed with a full section.

This manufacturer’s drawing, using both full and half section, illustrates the advantages of
sectional views. The different line directions indicate different parts and materials used in the
assembly of this valve.

Quiz
Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, complete the section view.
Broken-Out Sections
In many cases only a small part of a view needs to be sectioned in order to show some internal
detail. In the figure below, the broken-out section is removed by a freehand break line. A
cutting plane line does not need to be shown, since the location of the cut is obvious.

Revolved Sections
A revolved section shows the shape of an object by rotating a section 90 degrees to face the
viewer. The three revolved sections illustrated in the spear-like object of figure 12 show the
changes that take place in its shape.

Offset Sections
An offset section is a means of including in a single section several features of an object that
are not in a straight line. To do this, the cutting plane line is bent, or “OFFSET” to pass through
the features of the part.

Removed Sections
A section removed from its normal projected position in the standard arrangement of views
is called a “removed” section. Such sections are labeled SECTION A-A, SECTION B-B, etc.,
corresponding to the letter designation at the ends of the cutting plane line. Removed sections
may be partial sections and are often drawn to a different scale.
PURPOSES OF SECTIONING
1. Improve the visualization and clarity of new designs,
2. Clarify Multiview drawings,
3. Reveal interior features of parts, and
4. Facilitate the dimensioning of drawings.

For mechanical drawings section views are used to reveal interior features of an object when
hidden lines cannot properly represent them (e.g., with multiple interior features and
excessive overlaying hidden lines). In other words, a primary reason for creating a section
view is the elimination of hidden lines.

Sectional drawings are multi-view technical drawings that contain special views of a part or
parts, which reveal interior features. Sectioning uses a technique that is based on passing an
imaginary cutting plane through a part.

In the figure, views a are Standard Multiview projections. Views b is Multiview projection
with cutting plane placement and Section view. As you can see, the hidden features can be
explicitly seen after sectioning.
PRINCIPLES OF SECTIONING
1. A sectional view represents the part of an object remaining after a portion is assumed
to have been cut and removed.
2. The exposed cut surface is then indicated by section lines.
3. Hidden features behind the cutting plane are omitted, unless required for
dimensioning or for definition of the part.

From the figure above, the lines of the edges between surfaces on the rear side of the part,
shown as hidden lines on the non-cut Multiview drawing, disappear from the section view.
Visible surfaces and edges that represent a change of planes or surfaces behind the cutting
plane are drawn in a section view:
Diagram: (A) Standard Multiview: Hidden lines of intersection of surfaces; (B) Incorrect
section view: Intersection line missing; (C) Correct section view: Visible line of intersection of
surfaces. All hidden lines behind the cutting plane must not be shown, but all visible lines
should be shown!

SECTION LINES AND SYMBOLS

Section lines, or hatching represent the cut surface usually consist of thin parallel lines, as
shown below, drawn at approximately 45° to the principal edges or axes of the part. For most
purposes, the general use symbol of cast iron is used. When it is desired to indicate differences
in materials, for example on assembly drawings involving a variety of materials, other
symbolic section lines may be used.

A. Cast or malleable iron and general use for all materials

B. Steel
C. Bronze, brass, copper, and compositions
D. White metal, zinc, lead, rabbit, and alloys
E. Magnesium, aluminum, and aluminum alloys
F. Rubber, plastic, and electrical insulation
G. Titanium and refractory material
H. Marble, slate, glass, porcelain, etc.

If the section lines appear to be parallel, or nearly so, to one of the sides or features of the part,
you should choose other than 450 angle. Section lines should not run parallel or perpendicular
to the visible outline.

The general purpose or cast-iron section line is drawn at a 450 angle and spaced 1/16" (1.5mm)
to 1/8" (3mm) or more depending on the size of the drawing.
1. In all sections of a single component, section lines should be similar in direction and
spacing, but adjacent parts should be section-lined in different directions, angles, or
spacing.
2. Section lines should be thinner than visible lines.
3. Do not run section lines beyond the visible outlines or stop them too short.
4. Section lines should be suitably spaced in relation to the size of the area covered, and for
large areas it is recommended that section lines be shown only along the edges.

5. Thin elements should not be sectioned.

Avoid placing dimensions or notes within the section-lined areas. However, where the
insertion of dimensions or lettering in sectional areas is unavoidable, omit the section lines
in the area of the note.

CUTTING PLANES
Cutting plane lines which show where the cutting plane passes through the object, represent
the edge view of the cutting plane and are drawn in the view(s) adjacent to the section view.
Diagram: (A) Arrows show the lines of sight; (B) Wrong direction of the lines of sight for
given section view; Correct placement of section view.
Here the cutting plane is drawn as an edge in the top view, which is adjacent to the sectioned
front view. This is a frontal cutting plane. Lines of sight should always be directed upwards
on the top view for sectioned front view.
A horizontal cutting plane is one where it is an edge in the front view and the top view is
sectioned.

If the cutting plane appears as an edge in the top and front views and the profile view is
sectioned, it is a profile cutting plane.

In the drawing you must show the cutting plane line either on front view (with the top
sectioned view) or on top view (with the frontal section view), not on both.

Two types of lines are acceptable for cutting plane lines in multi-view drawings. Position of
the line-of-sight arrows also can vary. But it is important to use only one type of cutting plane
line in a single drawing.
Cutting plane lines are thick (0.6 mm) dashed lines, that extend past the edge of the object
6mm (1/4") and have line segments at each end drawn at 90 degrees and terminated with
arrows. The arrows represent the direction of the line of sight for the section view and they
point away from the sectioned view.

The long dash can be lengthened for large section drawings to save time and create a more
readable drawing.

Multiple sections can be done on a single object.

Cutting planes shall not be shown on sectional views.

To include features that are not in a straight line, the cutting plane may be offset or bent at
one or more 900 angles, to include several planes or curved surfaces. It is called offset
section and is used for complex parts that have several important features that cannot be
sectioned using a straight cutting plane.
Diagram: (A) Multiview projection; (B) Offset section view; (C) No change of plane lines!
The change of plane that occurs when the cutting plane is bent at 900 is not represented with
lines in the section view!

Sometimes it is not necessary to cut the whole part to show the section view. Objects that are
symmetrical about a center-line you may draw having one half as a Multiview and the other
half in section view. In such a situation:
1. Cutting plane line is shown across the whole part;
2. Section plane through center line of a symmetric part can be omitted;
3. Hidden lines in half sections are usually omitted.

Again: In case of half sections, if there are hidden feature lines corresponding to full lines in
the sectioned half, such hidden lines should be omitted from the full view. In this sense, the
drawing shown here is not correct, since the hidden lines are shown on the sectioned part of
the view. They should have been omitted!
In some cases, it is more convenient to use a partial section.

A broken-out section is used when only a portion of the object needs to be sectioned. The
following figure shows a part with a portion removed or broken away.

A broken-out section is used instead of a half- or full-section view to save time, and a break
line is drawn freehand to represent the jagged edge of the break.
There is one more type of sections which may be useful to know. Revolved section is made
by revolving the cross-section view of a feature 90° about an axis of revolution and
superimposing the section view on the orthographic view.

If the revolved section view does not interfere or create confusion on the view, then the
revolved section is drawn directly on the view using visible lines, as shown in the view b of
the figure. When the revolved view is superimposed on the part, the original lines of the part
behind the section are deleted. If the revolved section crosses lines of the view on which it is
to be revolved, then the view can be broken for clarity, as you can see in view c.
The shape of the cross-section of a bar, arm, spoke, or other elongated object may be shown
by means of a revolved section.

Thin wall sections

Ribs, webs, spokes, gear teeth and other thin features are not section lined when the cutting
plane passes parallel to the feature. Adding section lines to these features would give the false
impression that the part is thicker than it really is. In the figure you can see cutting planes that
pass parallel to and through the web.

Leaving thin feature un-sectioned only applies if the cutting plane passes parallel to the
feature (SECTION A-A). If the cutting plane passes perpendicular or crosswise to the feature
(SECTION B-B), section lines are added.
MAIN PRINCIPLES OF PLACEMENT OF SECTIONAL VIEWS

1. Whenever practicable, and except for revolved sections, you should project sectional
views perpendicular to the cutting plane and place it in the normal position for third
angle projection.
2. You should never show the views in first angle projected position on a third angle
projection drawing.
3. When the preferred placement is not practical you may remove the sectional view to
some other convenient position on the drawing, but it must be clearly identified,
usually by two capital letters, excluding I, O, Q, and Z, and be labelled.
4. Normally, you should not change orientation of the view, but if this becomes
necessary, you must state the number of degrees through which it is revolved.