Did you know, Views are the building blocks of engineering drawings. Without different views, engineering drawings cannot exist, so understanding how views are used on drawings is a critical.
Different views:
- Base views
- Projected views
- Sectional views
- Auxiliary views
- Partial views
- Interrupted views
Before kicking off with the different views, it is worth a mention that the amount of views on a drawing should be minimized as much as possible without affecting the clarity or readability of the drawing. Always remember that everything on an engineering drawing has a purpose. If there is not a need to show a view or it will be duplicating a view that has already been shown elsewhere, there is no need for it on the drawing.
Base views
A base view is the starting block of the drawing. When placing a base view, this can be the first part of an arrangement (this will normally show the part or assembly as you would see it in real life). These views can have different titles eg. Arrangement, Elevation View, Plan View, Isometric View, etc. The main thing to remember is that this is where it all starts. One will always reference back to the base view when getting more into detail on the drawing.
Projected views
Projected views are views that are projected from a base view or main views. In it’s simplest form, a projected view is where you would rotate the part or assembly to show it from a different angle in order to show detail that is on the other faces. There are certain rules when creating projection, so be sure to read the article on projections by following this link -> Differences between First and Third Angle Projections
Sectional views
Sectional views are views that are created by cutting into or through a part or assembly. This view will show detail that is hidden inside the part or assembly in order to give dimensional information. Be sure to also read the article on Sections at this link -> Sections and Section Views on Engineering Drawings
Auxiliary Views
Auxiliary views are used when showing true dimensions of parts that are on an inclined angle. An arrow is used to identify the surface that is looked at. Ideally, the view that is created should be shown in line with the direction of view.
Partial Views
A partial view is a view that is created of a certain portion of a part or assembly. This view will often be enlarged in order to show finer detail that can be dimensioned or annotated.
Interrupted views
An interrupted view is used where portions of a part or assembly is cut away to show in a more condensed form of that specific view. The parts that are cut away normally has no relevance to the view and it is used to enable a larger representation of the detail that must be shown. In short, it could save space or it enables a larger view for more detailed information.
In some cases, views can either be combined or made separately, depending on the application of the view.