ISO 128-3-2022 PDF

Full title and description

Technical product documentation (TPD) — General principles of representation — Part 3: Views, sections and cuts. This International Standard defines the principles and conventions for presenting orthographic views, sectional views and cuts on technical drawings and related documentation.

Abstract

ISO 128-3:2022 specifies general principles for the presentation of views, sections and cuts applicable to a wide range of technical drawings (mechanical, electrical, architectural, civil engineering, etc.). It aligns with orthographic projection methods (see ISO 5456-2), notes sector-specific guidance (for example ISO 128-15 for shipbuilding), and includes considerations for reproduction and microcopying (ISO 6428).

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: August 16, 2022 (ISO publication, edition 2, 2022‑08).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 01.100.01 (Technical drawings in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2022).
• Number of pages: 48 (official ISO page lists 48 pages).

Scope

The standard establishes conventions for creating and interpreting orthographic views, sectional views and cutting planes on technical product documentation. It covers presentation rules that ensure clarity and unambiguous interpretation across industries, references orthographic projection standards, and excludes sector-specific extensions (which are covered in related parts such as ISO 128-15 for shipbuilding and ISO 16792 for 3D models). It also addresses reproduction requirements including microcopying.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles for arranging and presenting orthographic views (front, top, side) and auxiliary views.
• Rules for sections and cuts: selecting cutting planes, indicating section lines, and showing internal features unambiguously.
• Conventions for hatching (section lining), interruption/broken-out sections, and continuity of features across views.
• Requirements for projection methods consistent with ISO 5456-2 (orthographic projection).
• Considerations for reproduction and microcopying (legibility at reduced sizes) referencing ISO 6428.
• Cross-references to other TPD standards (dimensioning, line conventions, vocabulary) to ensure consistency across documentation.

Typical use and users

Engineers, CAD drafters, technical illustrators, product designers, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, technical communicators and standards committees use this part of ISO 128 to prepare and check 2D technical drawings and drawing views for production, assembly and inspection. It is used both as a design-time reference and as a training/reference resource for drafting practice.

Related standards

ISO 128-3:2022 is part of the ISO 128 family (General principles of representation). Closely related standards include ISO 128-2 (basic line conventions), ISO 128-15 (views and sections for shipbuilding), ISO 5456-2 (orthographic projection methods), ISO 16792 (3D model documentation), ISO 129-1 (presentation of dimensions and tolerances) and ISO 6428 (reproducibility/microcopying guidance). These documents are typically referenced together to produce complete technical product documentation.

Keywords

technical product documentation, views, sections, cuts, orthographic projection, section lining, cutting plane, ISO 128, drafting conventions, reproduction, microcopying.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 128-3:2022 is Part 3 of the ISO 128 series, titled "Technical product documentation (TPD) — General principles of representation — Part 3: Views, sections and cuts"; it provides rules and conventions for presenting views, sections and cuts on technical drawings.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the presentation of orthographic views, the definition and depiction of sectional views and cuts, selection and indication of cutting planes, hatching conventions, and reproduction considerations to ensure clear, unambiguous technical drawings. It also cross‑references orthographic projection rules and sector-specific guidance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: CAD drafters, mechanical and architectural engineers, manufacturing and inspection teams, technical illustrators, and document controllers—anyone responsible for producing or reading technical drawings—use this standard.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 128-3:2022 is the current published edition (edition 2, published August 2022) and it supersedes the ISO 128-3:2020 edition which has been withdrawn.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 3 of the ISO 128 series (General principles of representation). The ISO 128 family contains multiple parts that together cover line conventions, presentation of dimensions, sector-specific rules and other representation principles.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Views, sections, cuts, orthographic projection, cutting plane, section lining (hatching), technical product documentation, ISO 128.