Engineering Drawing (MEng 1032) Page 1 of 27
Sectional Views
CHAPTER-6
SECTIONING AND DIMENSIONING
A. SECTIONAL VIEWS
1 Introduction
Although the interior features of a simple object can usually be described by use of hidden lines in
an exterior view, it is difficult to describe the interior of a complicated object or an assembled
mechanism using only hidden lines
Sectional views are used to avoid the difficulty of reading the interior parts of a complicated part
A view “in section” is the one obtained by imagining the object to have been cut by a plane, the
front portion being removed to reveal the interior feature
It should be clear that the portion is removed in the sectional view only and not in any of the other
views
2 Sectional Techniques
Sectional techniques include proper utilization of section lining, sectioning of very large surfaces,
thickness of the line used (the heavy or light appearance), and other tasks to be done under
sectioning practice
Section lining:
Are light parallel lines drawn across the imaginary cut surface for the purpose of emphasizing its
contour
Usually lines are drawn at 450 except in cases when several adjustment parts are shown
Fig 1 Three Adjacent Pieces
Line spacing is recommended to be 2mm (there is no set rule)
They should spaced to suit the drawing and the areas of the cross hatched
On small views having small areas, the section lines may be as close as 0.8mm
In case of thin materials such as gaskets, shims, or sheet metal, the cross section should be shown
solid black
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Sectional Views
Fig 2 Thin sections
Contrast and even spacing make the sectional view good or poor
Fig 3 Faults in Section Lining
The section lines of two adjacent pieces should slope at 450 in the opposite direction
Fig 4 Two Adjacent Pieces
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Sectional Views
For quick identification, each piece ( and all identical pieces) in every view of the assembly
drawing should be sectioned in the same direction and at the same spacing
Shafts, bolts, screws, ball bearings and rivets have no interior detail and so they are drawn full
and un sectioned, and thus tended to make the adjacent sectioned parts stand out to better
advantage
Fig 5 Treatment of Shafts, Fasteners, Ball bearings, and other parts
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Sectional Views
Very large surfaces may be
sectioned around the bounding
outline
Fig 6 Outline Sectioning
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The cutting plane line is as heavy as an object line and is composed of either alternate long and
short dashes or a series of dashes of equal length. The latter one is approved by SAE and ANSI
(Society of Automobile Engineers, American National Standards Institute
Fig 7 Cutting Plane Lines
3 Types of Sectional views
1. Full section: the cutting plane that cuts a full section passes entirely through an object
Fig 8 Sectional View
Offset section: although the plane usually passes along the main axis, it may be offset to
reveal important features
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Sectional Views
Fig 9 offset cutting plane
A full section showing the object’s characteristic shape usually replaces an exterior front
view
In any sectional view, it is considered as good practice to omit all hidden lines unless such
lines are necessary to clarify the representation
By using a sectional view, another view may be omitted. E.g. The right side view may be
omitted, as it adds nothing to the drawing and takes extra time to draw
2. Half section:
In a half section, the object is cut only half way through and a quarter section is removed
Given: Regular two views of an object Half Section
Fig 11 Half Section
A cutting plane is added to he front view
One arrow head is used to indicate the viewing direction
The visible half of the object that is not removed shows the exterior of the object and the
removed half shows the interior of the object
The half of the object not sectioned can be drawn as it would normally be drawn as it
would normally drawn, with appropriate hidden lines
Half sections are best used when the object is symmetrical
A center line can be used to separate the two halves of the half section
A solid line would indicate the presence of a real edge, which would be false information
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Sectional Views
3. Broken out section:
A broken section is used mainly to expose the interior of the objects where less than a half section is
required for a satisfactory description
Fig 12 Broken Section
4. Revolved section:
Is use full for showing the true shape of the cross section of an object like a bar, arm, spoke
or rib
This removes the need to draw a separate complete view
Fig 13 Revolved Sections and Cutting Plane
To obtain a revolved section:
o Pass an imaginary cutting plane through the arm, spoke or rib perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis
o Revolve the shape revealed by the cutting plane 900 in to the plane of the paper
See fig 13
o When revolved the section should appear true shape and in its true revolved
position
o If any line in the exterior view interfere with the revolved section they must be
omitted
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Sectional Views
Fig 14 Correct and Incorrect treatment of a revolved Section
5. Removed (Detail) section:
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Is similar to revolved A removed section
section except that it does appears adjacent to the
not appear where it was view in which the section
revolved but instead is was taken
drawn “ out of place”
Fig 15 Removed Sections
Two reasons for requiring removed section
1) Their use may prevent a principal view with non uniform cross section
from being cluttered with numerous revolved sections
See fig 16 below
2) A section when removed may be drawn to an enlarged scale to
emphasize detail and allow adequate dimensioning
When removed section is used there must be a means of identifying it, usually
accomplished by showing the cutting plane on the principal view
Fig 16 Removed (Detail) Sections
6. Phantom section:
A phantom section is a regular This method is only used when
exterior view on which the regular or broken section would
interior construction is remove some important detail
emphasized by cross hatching an
imaginary cut surface with
dashed section lines
Fig 16 Phantom Section
7. Auxiliary section:
It is a sectional view which is projected on to an auxiliary plane
Shows the cross sectional shape of an arm or rib
Arrows should be there to show the direction in which the cut surface is
viewed
A sectional view of this type usually shows only the auxiliary cut surface and
is called a partial section
Fig 17 Auxiliary Section
Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
B. BASIC DIMENSIONING
B.1 General Concepts:
The process of giving size description on drawings is known as dimensioning
The expression of information such as the distance between surfaces, location of
holes, kind of finish, type of material, number required and etc. by the use of lines,
symbols, figures and notes is known as dimensioning.
A machine drawing requires two types of dimensioning: size and location
Size dimensioning:
Give the size of a piece, component, part, hole or slot
Fig 1 Size Dimensions
In placing the three principal dimensions ( width, height or depth), give two
dimensions on the principal view and one dimension on one of the other views
Fig 2 Dimensioning Geometric Shapes
The circular cylinder which appears as a boss or shaft, requires only the diameter
and length, both of which preferably shown on the rectangular view
Cones: diameter of base and altitude on the same view
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
Pyramids: dimensioned by giving two dimensions on the view showing the shape
of the base
Sphere: requires only diameter
Location dimensioning:
Fix the relationship of the component parts (projections, holes, slots and other
significant forms) of a piece or structure
Fig 3 Location Dimensions
Location dimensions may be from center to center, surface to center or surface to
surface
L1= Center to Center
L2= Surface to Center
L3= Surface to Surface
Fig 4 Types of Location Dimensions
Steps in applying the theory of dimensioning:
1) Mentally dividing the object in to its component geometric shapes
2) Place the size and dimensions on each form
3) Select the locating center lines and surfaces after giving careful considerations to
mating parts and to the process of manufacture
4) Place the location dimensions so that each geometric form is located from a
center line or finished surface
5) Add the overall dimensions
6) Complete the dimensioning by adding the necessary notes
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
In placing dimensions, one must be select a positive which will be easy to
understand for the reader
Dimensions should be placed outside a view except in special convenience
and ease in reading are desired
All extension and dimension lines should be drawn before arrows have
been filled in or the dimensions, notes and titles have been lettered
Never crowed the dimensions
B.2 Basic Dimensioning practice
Systems of lines, symbols, figures and notes are used to indicate size and location
1. Dimension line:
-Is a lightweight line that terminated at each end by an arrowhead
-A numerical value is given along the dimension line, specifies the number
of units of the measurement
- When numerals are in single line, the dimension line is broken near the
center
Fig 5 Dimension line
2. Extension lines: - Light and continues line
- Extend from a view to indicate the extent of a measurement given by a
dimension line that is located outside a view
- Start 1.5mm from the view and extend 3mm beyond the dimension line
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
Fig 6 Terms and dimensioning notation
3. Arrowheads:
- Drawn from each dimension line, before the figures are lettered
- Should be uniform on the drawing
- Length = 3* spread
- For average work length = 3mm
- Use two slightly concave stocks drawn towards point (a)
Fig 7 Formation of Arrow Heads
4. Leader or pointer:
- Light, continues line terminated by an arrowhead
- Extends from a note to the feature of a piece to which a note is applies
See fig 6 above
- Should be made with a straight edge and should not be curved or made
free hand
- The first 3mm should be in line with the note
5. Finish marks:
- Indicate the particular surfaces of a rough casting or forging that are to
be machined or “finished”
- Are placed in all views touching visible or invisible lines that are edge
views of the surfaces to be machined
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
Fig 8 Material Removal symbol
6. Dimension figures:
- Should be lettered either horizontally or vertically
- Whole numbers should be equal in height to the capital letters in the notes
- Guide lines and slop lines must be used
- The numerals legible; otherwise; they must be misinterpreted in the shape
and cause errors
Methods of dimensioning
1) Aligned method: place the numerals for the dimension values so that they are
readable from the bottom and right side of the drawing
Fig 9 Reading Dimensions – Aligned Method
2) Unidirectional Method: place the numerals for the dimension so that they can be
read from the bottom of the drawing
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
Fig 10 Reading Dimensions- Unidirectional Method
General notes:
Locate the dimension so that they will not cross the extension line
if possible avoid crossing of two dimensions
a center line may be extended to serve as an extension line
Fig 11 Contour principle of Dimensioning
Keep parallel dimensions equally spaced- usually 10 mm and the figures
staggered
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
Fig 12 Parallel Dimensions
Arrange a series of dimensions in continuous line
Fig 13 Consecutive Dimensions
Don’t repeat dimensions
Dimension an arc by giving its radius preceded by the abbreviation R, and
indicate the center with a small cross
Fig 14 dimensioning a circular arc
Normally show the diameter of the circle not the radius, the diameter could be
preceded by symbol phi
Fig 15 Dimensioning a cylindrical piece
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
Chamfers may be dimensioned either by an angle and a linear dimension or by
two linear dimensions
Fig 16 Dimensioning an external chamfer
Slots are dimensioned by giving length and width dimensions
Fig 17 dimensioning a slot
When knurls are to be provided, it is necessary to specify only the pitch and kind
of knurl
Fig 18 Dimensioning knurls
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Engineering Drawing Basic Dimensioning
Repeating parts of an object is dimensioned as in the figure below
Fig 19 Dimensioning repetitive features
Refer the general drawing symbols
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DIMENSIONING EXAMPLES
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Sectional Views
Hatching shaft
Cross-section is not
recommended except
in some exceptional
cases
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MU/CoE/MED
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Sectional Views
Michael G.yesus.
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