Geometric Dimensioning and

Tolerancing

AGI, Carl Zeiss IMT, and CAMLogic Present:

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing
(GD&T– an Overview)
April 17, 2018
Copyright, AGI ©

Applied Geometrics, Inc.

A Means of Dimensioning and
Mark Foster, President Tolerancing a Part With Respect to
markfoster@GDandT.com

248-981-3536
Relationship and Function
www.gdandt.com

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The Simplest Drawing The Problem with The

In The World Simplest Drawing

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The ASME Y14.5 Interpretation Mil-Std. 8 1949

Established Rule #1
 Unless otherwise specified, the limits of
size of an individual feature of size
control the form of the feature as well
as the size.

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What can be controlled? Size Controls
 Size  Features of size are usually controlled
 Form with nominal dimensions and size
 Orientation tolerances – plus or minus tolerancing.
 Location  It is also possible, and even desirable
in some instances, to control size using
basic dimensions (for “nominal” size)
and defining a profile tolerance zone
for the tolerancing.

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Form Controls Orientation Controls

 Flatness -----------------------  Perpendicularity --------------
 Straightness --------------------  Angularity -----------------------
 Cylindricity -----------------------  Parallelism ---------------------
 Circularity -----------------------

Form controls define the tolerances for the shape of Orientation controls define the tolerances for the
features. shape of features relative to datums.

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Orientation Controls Location Controls

All orientation controls are essentially the same.  Position -----------------------
Perpendicularity is angularity at 90°
Parallelism is angularity at 0°
 Concentricity ----------------
 Symmetry -----------------------
Note that each of these things COULD be controlled
using Profile (but don’t if you don’t need to do so).

Location controls are relational controls.

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Location Controls Combination Controls
Concentricity and Symmetry are often  Total Runout ----------------
misunderstood by people from Design to
 Circular Runout ----------------
Manufacturing to Inspection. Take special
care to understand these controls so that  Profile of a surface ---------
you actually measure the data set that the  Profile of a line ----------------
print requires.
The ASME Y14.5 standard states that these
controls should be avoided and Position or Profile can be used as a combination control or just a
Runout used instead. form control.

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Three BASIC Dimension Methods

Basic Dimension
 A numerical value used to describe the
theoretically exact size, profile, orientation or
location of a feature or datum target. Basic
Dimensions establish the perfect orientation and
location (and sometimes the size of) tolerance
zones within which variations are allowed.

 Basic dimensions perfectly orient and locate (and

occasionally size) tolerance zones.

BASIC dimensions shown boxed

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Three BASIC Dimension Methods Three BASIC Dimension Methods

NOTE: UNTOLERANCED DIMENSIONS ARE BASIC NOTE:

*When this method is used, a plus/minus general tolerance is not allowed. QUERY BASIC DIMENSIONS ON CAD MODEL PER ASME Y14.41-2012
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 The GD&T Language Tolerance Zone Length

A A
A

A A
SECTION A-A A SECTION A-A

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Reading a Reading a
Feature Control Frame Feature Control Frame
1. What is the size of the tolerance zone?
2. What is the shape of the tolerance zone?
3. What is the orientation of the tolerance zone?
4. What is the location of the tolerance zone?
5. What entity must lie within the tolerance zone?

This is our method for “reading” the information that

was “written” by the designer. Consider it a
checklist to help you understand what you are to
measure as an inspector.
Read Inside Out
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What must lie within? Example Print:

3 A
 The key concept to understand with any one of 2 A
the GD&T symbols is that the definition of each
symbol answers the question, “What entity must lie 1
within the tolerance zone?”
 What is the significance of the answer to this question; to
the inspector – EVERYTHING!
 The ability to successfully answer that question means that
you, as the inspector, understand the data set you are 10.00
seeking – i.e. what you need to measure
 The answer will always be one of the following: a point; a
collection of points (e.g. a surface or a derived median
line or derived median plane); an axis; or a plane.
A
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 Flatness
Actual Probing
3 A Points
Surface to
2 A
Evaluate
1 11.0

10.0
10.00

9.0
A

Flatness Parallelism

Actual Actual Probing

Probing Points Why The Answer? Points

11.0 Flatness Result For a plane, if all points lay on a

perfectly flat plane, regardless 11.0
of orientation or position, the
10.0 result will be zero.
A perfect form result is zero.
10.0
9.0
Flatness = 0

9.0

Parallelism Profile

Actual Actual
Probing Points Why The Answer? Probing Points

11.0 Parallelism 11.0

Result If all the points lay in a perfectly
flat plane AND that plane is
perfectly oriented to match the
10.0 datum, the result will be zero. 10.0

9.0 9.0
Parallelism = 0 10.00

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 Profile Flatness

Actual Actual Probing

Probing Points Why The Answer? Points

11.0 Profile Result

Since Profile is the thickness of
a zone centered on the nominal
11.0
geometry, if all measured points
10.0 are exactly on the nominal, the
thickness of the zone would be
zero. 10.0
9.0 A perfect Profile result is zero.

10.00
Profile = 0
9.0

Flatness Parallelism

Actual Probing Points

Why The Answer?

11.0 Flatness Result For a plane, if all points lay on a 11.0

perfectly flat plane, regardless
of orientation or position, the
10.0 result will be zero.
A perfect form result is zero.
10.0

9.0
Flatness = 0
9.0

Parallelism Profile

Parallelism Actual
Why The Answer? Probing Points
Result
11.0 11.0
In this case, a perfectly flat
plane shows Parallelism
deviation due to the angle of the
10.0 plane relative to the Datum. 10.0
The result is the distance
between two planes, parallel to
9.0 the datum, that contains all the 9.0
measured points.
10.00

Parallelism = 1

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 Profile Flatness

Actual Probing
Profile Result Why The Answer? Points

11.0
Since Profile is the thickness of 11.0
a zone centered on the nominal
geometry, the result will be two
10.0 times the distance of the most
distant point from the nominal
geometry. 10.0
9.0
10.00 Profile = 2
9.0

Flatness Flatness

Flatness Result Flatness Result

Why The Answer? Why The Answer?

11.0 11.0
In this case, the distance In this case, the distance
between two perfect planes between two perfect planes
parallel to each other that parallel to each other that
10.0 contain the measured points is 10.0 contain the measured points is
2.0. something less than 2mm.

9.0 9.0

Flatness = 2 Flatness < 2

<2

Parallelism Parallelism

Actual Probing Points Parallelism

Why The Answer?
Result
11.0
In this case, a plane which is
11.0 perfectly parallel to the datum
shows a high amount of
10.0 parallelism deviation. This is
because of the form error of the
feature.
10.0
9.0 The result is the distance
between two planes, parallel to
the datum, that contains all the
measured points.

9.0
Parallelism = 2

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 Profile Profile

Actual Profile Result

Probing Points Why The Answer?

11.0 11.0
Since Profile is the thickness of
a zone centered on the nominal
geometry, the result will be two
10.0 10.0 times the distance of the most
distant point from the nominal
geometry.
9.0 9.0
10.00 10.00 Profile = 2

Flatness Flatness

Actual Probing Points

Why The Answer?

11.0
11.0 For a plane, if all points lay on a
perfectly flat plane, regardless
of orientation or position, the
10.0 result will be zero.
A perfect form result is zero.
10.0
9.0
Flatness = 0
Flatness Result
9.0

Parallelism Parallelism

Actual Probing Points

Why The Answer?

11.0
If all the points lay in a perfectly
11.0 flat plane, perfectly oriented to
match the datum, the result will
10.0 be zero.
Note that position error does not
effect the Parallelism result.
10.0 9.0

Parallelism Parallelism = 0
Result
9.0

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 Profile Profile

Actual
Probing Points Profile Result
Why The Answer?

11.0 11.0
Since Profile is the thickness of
a zone centered on the nominal
geometry, the result will be two
10.0 10.0 times the distance of the most
distant point from the nominal
geometry.
9.0 9.0
10.00 10.00 Profile = 2

Flatness Flatness

Actual Probing Points

Why The Answer?

11.0 Flatness Result

For a plane, if all points lay on a
11.0 perfectly flat plane, regardless
of orientation or position, the
10.0 result will be zero.
A perfect form result is zero.
10.0
9.0

Flatness = 0

9.0

Parallelism Parallelism

Actual Probing Parallelism

Points Why The Answer?
Result
11.0
In this case, a perfectly flat
11.0 plane shows Parallelism
deviation due to the angle of the
10.0 plane relative to the Datum.
The result is the distance
10.0 between two planes, parallel to
9.0 the datum, that contains all the
measured points.

Parallelism = 2
9.0

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 Profile Profile

Actual Profile Result

Probing Points Why The Answer?

11.0 11.0
Since Profile is the thickness of
a zone centered on the nominal
geometry, the result will be two
10.0 10.0 times the distance of the most
distant point from the nominal
geometry.
9.0 9.0
10.00 10.00
Profile = 2

Profile d k
Profile: (Surface and Line)
SYMBOL MEANING
 Definition: Profile tolerancing is a
method used to specify a uniform
amount of variation of a surface or line
elements of a surface.
 Tolerance Zone: Profile tolerance
specifies a tolerance zone confined by
two equidistant profiles within which
the entire surface must lie.

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Profile d k
Unequally & Unilateral
(Surface and Line) Disposed Tolerance Zones
 For an unequally disposed profile
tolerance zone a basic dimension is
added to illustrate the tolerance zone
distribution.
 For a unilateral disposed profile tolerance
zone a single phantom curve is shown
either inside or outside of the material.

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 Unilateral Profile
Alternate (Still allowed) Unilateral Profile 2009
Practice From 1994 [8.3.1.2]

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Unequally Disposed Profile

Alternate (Still allowed) Unequally Disposed Profile 2009
Practice From 1994 [8.3.1.2]

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Profile Between Two Points Profile Between Two Points

 A Symbol (# #) is used to
indicate a tolerance applies to a
limited segment of a surface
between designated extremes.

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 Profile Can Control
Co-planarity

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Profile Can Control

Co-planarity Technical Terminology – ASME

 Datum
 Datum Feature

 Theoretical Datum Feature Simulator

 Formerly “True Geometric Counterpart”
 Physical Datum Feature Simulator
 Simulated Datum

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 Technical Terminology – ASME Datum – ASME

 Datum – Theoretical, Perfect  A theoretically exact point, axis, plane or
 Datum Feature – Real, Imperfect combination thereof derived from the
theoretical datum feature simulator and
 Theoretical Datum Feature Simulator the specified datum feature.
 Physical Datum Feature Simulator - Real  A datum is the origin from which the
 Best approximation of the TDFS location or geometric characteristics of
 Simulated Datum – Real (Derived from real) features of a part are established.
 Best approximation of the Datum
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 Datum Theory vs. Reality Theoretical Datum Feature Simulators
A|B|C
(Datums in This Example)

Formally “True Geometric Counterpart” in 1994

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Physical Datum Feature Simulators

A|B|C
Simulated Datum Planes

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Theoretical Datum Feature Simulators Theoretical Datum Planes

A|D|E A|D|E

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 Physical Datum Feature Simulators
A|D|E
Simulated Datum Planes

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Axis and Degrees of Freedom

Degrees of Freedom
Labels
• There are six degrees of freedom.
– Three degrees of rotation
– Three degrees of translation

Z X

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Planar Features Can Constrain Pins & Holes Can Constrain

3 Degrees of Freedom 4 Degrees of Freedom
y
1 Translational Y  2 Translational Y
2 Rotational  2 Rotational v

u
Z X Z
z X

w w
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 In Reality, Maximum Material Condition
Can/May/Must
 Condition of a part feature wherein it
contains the maximum amount of
 Physically Establishing a Datum Reference material.
Frame  Symbol: m
 If a Datum Feature CAN Stop a Particular D.O.F.,
 Abbreviation: MMC
 AND that Datum Feature MAY Stop that D.O.F.,
 (MMB in the DRF)
 Then that Datum Feature MUST Completely Stop
that D.O.F.
 (Unless Otherwise Specified – e.g. MMB)

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Considered Feature Bonus Tolerance

More vs. Mobility Gives “MORE TOLERANCE” to Each
Individual Considered Feature
MORE Positional Tolerance for
EACH CONSIDERED FEATURE
Based on the Actual Mating Size

MOBILITY for the Pattern

of all Considered Features
AS A GROUP Based on the
Datum Feature’s Actual Mating Size

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Considered Feature Bonus Tolerance Considered Feature Bonus Tolerance

Gives “MORE TOLERANCE” to Each Gives “MORE TOLERANCE” to Each
Individual Considered Feature Individual Considered Feature

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No “MOBILITY TOLERANCE” Available Potential “MOBILITY TOLERANCE” is NOT
When Datum Feature A is at MMB Simply Added to the Tolerance Value

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Potential “MOBILITY TOLERANCE” is NOT Maximum “Mobility” Tolerance is Realized

Simply Added to the Tolerance Value When the Features of the Pattern are
Displaced in the Same Direction

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Maximum “Mobility” Bonus Tolerance is

Realized When the Features of the Pattern Characteristics of
are Displaced in the Same Direction
“Maximum Material Modifiers”
 Allows BONUS TOLERANCE
 Maximum allowable tolerances promotes LOWEST
MANUFACTURING COSTS!
 Allows FUNCTIONAL GAUGING
 Allows DATUM FEATURE SHIFT OR MOBILITY
 Common Usage: 100% INTERCHANGEABILITY
 Parts Assembled with Clearance Fits
 Must apply to a Regular or Irregular FEATURE OF SIZE
 MMB may be applied to a Surface Feature in certain scenarios.

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 Datum Axis Definition Coaxial Control
Two (or More) “Short” Diameters Positioning One Datum Feature
Sufficiently Separated To an Unconstrained Datum Feature Primary

A B

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Coaxial Control Coaxial Control

Positioning One Datum Feature Position Datum Feature B Only to the A-B Axis
To an Unconstrained Datum Feature Primary
Means This

Datum Feature B

Datum Feature B Fails Position Requirement

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Coaxial Control Coaxial Control

Position Datum Feature B Only to the A-B Axis Best Practice to Specify Control to the A-B Axis
Means This

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 Coaxial Control Coaxial Control
Locate and Orient TWO Tolerance Zones Coaxial Control to the A-B Axis
To the A-B Datum Axis
MEANS THIS

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Composite Feature Control Frames Composite FCF PLTZF

Composite Feature Control Frames Are Often Used to The PLTZF Controls the Location of the Pattern to
Control Patterns of Holes, But They Can Also Be Used the Datums Referenced in the Upper Tier of the
For Any Pattern of Regular Features of Size. Feature Control Frame.
(Slots, Tabs, Holes, Pins, Spheres)

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Composite FCF FRTZF - (One Datum) Composite FCF - (Two Datums)

The FRTZF Controls the Feature to Feature Relationships,
And Orientation Only to the Datums Referenced in the
Lower Tier of the Feature Control Frame.

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 Composite FCF PLTZF Composite FRTZF - (Two Datums)
The PLTZF Controls the Location of the Pattern to The FRTZF Controls the Feature to Feature Relationships,
the Datums Referenced in the Upper Tier of the And Orientation Only to the Datums Referenced in the
Feature Control Frame. Lower Tier of the Feature Control Frame.

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Multiple Single Segment FCF Multiple Single Segment FCF – PLTZF

The Top Tier Controls the Location of the Pattern to
the Datums Referenced in the Upper Entry of the
Feature Control Frame.

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Multiple Single Segment FCF – FRTZF

The Lower Tier Controls the Feature to Feature
Relationships, And Orientation & Location to the Datums
Referenced in the Lower Entry of the Feature Control Frame.

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 Model View: MBD_Intake_Side Model View: MBD_Shaft_Holes

Model View: MBD_Control_Module Model View: MBD_References

Model View: MBD_Basic

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