Slim Gaillard wrote:

I'm doing some 2-D drafting of machine parts with AutoCAD, and
have a question about sectional views. In France, and maybe other
countries, one distinguishes between a "coupe" (cut) view and a
"section" view.

A "section" is what you would get if you physically cut the part
along the cutting plane, inked the cut surface, and pressed it
against a piece of paper. In this view, you don't see the object
features that are behind the cutting plane.

In the US a "section view" is as you describe. Whether what you see past
the section view is included or not is optional. Typically you would use
a fill on the section (e.g. hatch marks). The fill is how you
distinguish what is part of the section and what is seen in the
background.



A "coupe" is like the cross-sectional views I learned to make (in
the U.S.), where one does see the object features behind the
cutting plane.

Is there an equivalent to the French "section" in U.S. drawing
practice? what is it called?

If that is what you want, you would just call it a section view and not
include any background.
Presumably, whatever can be seen in the background is shown somewhere
else on the drawing and does not need to be shown in this view.

Hidden lines are a separate issue they are also optional. So you could
have a section view with no background showing or a section view with
background and hidden lines included. Obviously the latter is going to
tend to be more cluttered.

-jim