Geometric Boundaries

Interpretation and Application

of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
(Using the Customary Inch System)
Based on ASME Y14.5M-1994

Written and Illustrated by

Kelly L. Bramble

Published by:
Engineers Edge
510 N. Crosslane Road
Monroe, Georgia 30656
www.engineersedge.com

Copyright © All Rights Reserved

DATUM AXIS
90v

DATUM ORIGIN (0,0,0)

90v 90v

DATUM AXIS

DATUM PLANE

DATUM AXIS
 Preface

This book is written for those individuals within the design, drafting, engineering and
manufacturing fields that desire a practical guide for the interpretation and application
of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.

I have deliberately directed my efforts for technical professionals applying geometric

dimensioning and tolerancing and attempted to comprehensively cover the concepts
and applications that are and will be the most relevant within industry today and the
future. The choice of examples are those which represent typical applications and
may be combined as applicable to create products.

Much of the text material has been organized so that the topics appear and build the
necessary knowledge required to proceed to the next subject matter.

The book is dedicated to my children, Nathan and Heather.

Kelly L. Bramble

Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 All right reserved. No part of this book
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Revision K

1.2
Acknowledgments

The following documents have been used as reference material (cited and not cited).

ASME Y14.5.M-1994, Dimensioning and Tolerancing.

ANSI Y14.5M-1982, Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
ANSI Y14.5M-1973, Dimensioniing and Tolerancing
ANSI Y14.5M-1966, Dimensioning and Tolerancing
International Standards Institute, ISO/R1101-1969, & Associated Documents
ANSI B4.2-1978, Preferred Metric Limits and Fits
ANSI B5.10-1981, Machine tapers – Self Holding and Steep Taper Series
ANSI/ASME B46.1-1985, Surface Texture (Surface Roughness, Waviness, and Lay)
ANSI B89.3.1-1972, Measurement of Out-of-Roundness
ANSI B92.1-1970, Involute Splines and Inspection, Inch Version
ANSI B92.2M-1980, Metric Module, Involute Splines
ANSI/ASME B94.6-1984, Knurling
ANSI B94.11M-1979, Twist Drills
ANSI Y14.1-1980, Drawing Sheet Size and Format
ASME Y14.2M-1992, Line Conventions and Lettering
ASME Y14.5.1M-1994, Mathematical Definition of Dimensioning and Tolerancing
Principles.
ANSI Y14.6.1-1978, Screw Thread Representation
ANSI Y14.6.2-1981, Screw Thread Representation (Metric Supplement)
ANSI Y14.7.1-1971, Gear Drawing Standards – Part 1: For Spur, Helical, Double Helical,
and Rack
ANSI Y14.7.2-1978, Gear and Spline Drawing Standard – Part 2: Bevel and Hypoid Gears
ASME Y14.8M-1989, Castings and Forgings
ANSI Y14.36-1978, Surface Texture Symbols
ANSI/IEEE 268-1992, Metric Practice
ANSI/ASME B1.2-1983, Gages and Gaging for Unified Inch Screw Threads
ANSI B4.4M-1981 (R1987), Inspection of Workpieces
ASME Y1.1-1989, Abbreviations
ASME Y14.3M-1994, Multiview and Sectional View Drawings
Engineers Edge 2000 - 2007, Solutions by Design, Kelly Bramble,
Design for Manufacturing 2006 - 2007, Kelly Bramble

1.3
 Table of Contents

1.2 Preface 2.14 Rectangular Coordinate Dimensions

1.3 Acknowledgments in Tabular Form, Polar Dimensioning
2.15 Repetitive Features
1.4 Table of Contents 2.16 Flat Taper, Conical Taper
1.9 Introduction 2.17 Statistical Tolerancing
1.10 How the Geometric Dimensioning 2.18 Dimension Origin, Screw Threads
and Tolerancing System Works Tolerance Application
1.11 Tolerances, Features and 2.19 Angular Surface Defined by Limit
Characteristics and Angle Dimension
1.12 Feature Control Frame, Rule #2 & 2a 2.20 Gears and Splines, Controlled
Radius, Radius Tolerance
1.13 Position and Limit Tolerance General 2.21 Features With and Without Size
Overview and Contrast 2.22 Material Condition, MMC, LMC
1.14 Common Symbols ASME Y14.5M - 2.23 Rule #1, Envelope Principle
1994 2.24 Rule #1 Limitations, Exceptions
1.15 Dimensioning and Tolerancing 2.26 Workshop
General Rules
1.17 Workshop 3.1 Datums
3.2 Datum Reference Frame, DRF -
2.1 Limit Tolerancing General
2.2 General – Dimensioning System 3.3 Immobilization of component and
Limit Tolerancing measurement
2.3 Limit tolerancing, Square - Round
Tolerance Zone Contrast and 3.4 Datum symbols and identification
Advantage Datum identification features without
2.4 Implied 90 Degree Angle, Expressing size
Limit Tolerancing 3.5 Datum identification features with
2.5 Dimension and Tolerance Expression size
– Millimeter Tolerances and 3.6 Datum associated with feature
Dimensions control frame
2.7 Inch Tolerances and Dimensions 3.7 Datum feature, simulated datum, and
2.9 Angular Dimensioning and theoretical datum plane
Tolerancing
2.10 Slotted holes, Arcs, Countersink 3.8 Setup and inspection of datums,
hole datum and dimensional measurement
2.11 Counter bored Holes, Countersink on equipment
curved surface 3.10 Sequence of datum features
2.12 Internal External Chamfers, Keyseats 3.11 Sequence of datum features relates
2.13 Rectangular Coordinate part to datum reference frame
Dimensioning 3.12 Cylindrical datum feature
3.13 Parts with angular orientation

1.4
 Table of Contents

3.14 Development of datum reference 5.4 Flatness applied on a unit basis

frame 5.5 Flatness applied on unit basis with
3.15 Orientation of two datum planes overall control
through a hole 5.6 Straightness
3.16 Development of datum reference
5.7 Straightness applied in two directions
frame
5.8 Straightness of a surface (Cylindrical)
3.17 Partial datum surface as datum
features 5.9 Straightness of a feature of size
3.18 Multiple datum features, single @ RFS
datum 5.10 Straightness of a feature of size
3.19 Inclined datum features @ MMC
3.20 View oriented datum reference frame 5.11 Straightness per unit length With
3.21 Workshop specified total straightness
5.12 Cylindricity
4.1 Datum Targets 5.13 Circularity (Roundness)
4.2 General 5.14 Workshop
4.3 Datum target point symbol,
application 6.1 Orientation
4.4 Datum target area 6.2 General
6.3 Perpendicularity - Surface
4.5 Datum target line
6.4 Perpendicularity – Center plane
4.6 Dimensioning datum targets 6.5 Perpendicularity at MMC Internal
4.7 Primary datum plane established by Feature – Center Plane
three datum target areas 6.6 Perpendicularity – External feature of
4.8 Primary datum plane established by Size Axis
two datum target points and one 6.7 Perpendicularity – Internal feature of
datum target line. size axis
4.9 Step datum feature 6.8 Perpendicularity –Threaded Hole or
Inserts Projected Tolerance Zone
4.10 Datum target lines and areas
6.9 Parallelism
4.11 Primary Datum Axis Established by 6.10 Parallelism Control of Two Hole
Datum Target points on a Single Features
Cylindrical Feature 6.11 Parallelism Hole Relative to Plane
4.12 Equalizing Datum 6.12 Angularity Overview and Surface to
4.14 Secondary Datum Axis Surface
4.15 Workshop 6.13 Angularity Surface to Surface with
Location Control
6.14 Angularity Hole to Planar Datum
5.1 Form
6.15 Workshop
5.2 General
5.3 Flatness

1.5
 Table of Contents

Tolerances of Location
7.21 Positional Tolerance Surface
7.3 General Interpretation – Thru Hole Datum’s
7.4 Fundamental explanation of 7.22 Rectangular Coordinate Method
positional tolerancing 7.23 Positional tolerance at MMC relative
7.5 Differences between position to hole and slot datum feature
tolerancing and limit tolerancing 7.24 Bi-directional positional tolerancing,
7.6 Modifiers polar coordinate method
7.7 Maximum material condition MMC 7.25 Different positional tolerance at each
7.8 Least material condition LMC surface
7.9 External feature of size position 7.26 Circular pattern of holes
tolerance boundaries with MMC 7.27 Positional tolerance at MMC relative
modifier to datum feature center planes
7.10 Internal feature of size position 7.28 Positional tolerance at RFS of slots
tolerance boundaries with MMC relative to surface datum features
modifier 7.29 Coaxial cylinders
7.11 External feature of size position 7.30 Coaxial (Concentric) Control of
tolerance boundaries with LMC Multiple Hole-Counterbore Holes
modifier 7.31 Coaxial control of cylinders
7.12 Internal Feature of Size Position 7.32 Hole pattern located perpendicular to
Tolerance Boundaries with LMC cylindrical datum
Specification 7.33 Holes Not Normal to DRF
7.13 Zero positional tolerance at MMC 7.34 Hole Pattern Located at Angle to
7.14 Position Tolerance at RFS Datum Reference Frame
7.15 Positional Tolerance Axis and 7.35 Positional Tolerance at MMC of
Surface Interpretation – Surface Spherical Feature
Datum’s 7.36 Positional Tolerance of Coaxial
7.16 Positional Tolerance Axis and Holes of Same Size
Surface Interpretation – Surface 7.37 Least Material Condition Application
Datum’s – Cylinder Wall Thickness
7.17 Positional Tolerance Axis 7.38 Positional Tolerance for Coaxiality
Interpretation - Surface Datum’s With Datum Feature referenced at
7.18 Positional Tolerance Surface MMC
Interpretation - Surface Datum’s 7.39 Positional Tolerance for Coaxially
7.19 Positional Tolerance Axis and with Feature Referenced at Zero
Surface Interpretation - Thru Hole MMC Relative to Datum Feature at
Datum’s MMC
7.20 Positional Tolerance Axis 7.40 Positional Tolerance - Thru Hole
Interpretation – Thru Hole Datum’s Datum’s at MMC

1.6
 Table of Contents

7.41 Positional Tolerance - Thru Hole 11.1 Tolerance Analysis

Datum Verification 11.2 Series Stack
7.42 Composite Positional Tolerancing 11.3 Floating Fastener Condition
7.45 Concentricity 11.4 Fixed Fastener Condition
7.48 Symmetry 11.5 Tolerance Compensation for
7.49 Workshop Projected Tolerance Zone – Fixed
Fastener condition
8.1 Profile 11.7 Two Mating Coaxial/Coplanar
8.2 General Features at MMC
8.3 Profile of surface, bilateral tolerance 11.8 Tolerance Compensation for
8.4 Profile of Surface, unilateral (Inside) Projected Tolerance Zone
tolerance Fixed Fastener Condition
8.5 Profile of surface, unilateral 11.10 Three Mating Coaxial/Coplanar
(Outside) tolerance
Features at MMC
8.6 Profile of surface, bilateral unequal
tolerance 11.11 Position Tolerance calculation and
8.7 Profile of surface, all around Hole Pattern Analysis
8.8 Profile of Surface, Independent Form 11.12 Position Tolerance Verification
Control 11.13 Position Coordinate to Location
8.9 Profile of Surface, Boundary Conversion Chart
Principle
11.15 Workshop
8.10 Profile Tolerance for Coplanar
Surfaces
12.1 Critical Feature Drawing
8.11 Profile of Line (Reduced Dimension Drawing)
12.2 General
8.12 Composite Profile Tolerance 12.3 Implementation Considerations
8.13 Composite Profile Application Applicable documents, Overview
8.14 Workshop
12.4 Design Drawing Requirements
Digital Model and Database
9.1 Runout
12.5 Quality and inspection requirements
9.2 General
Manufacturing
9.3 Circular runout
12.6 Change notice procedure
9.4 Total runout
9.5 Workshop

10.1 Coaxial Tolerance Comparison

1.7
 Table of Contents

13.1 Definitions and Terminology

(Glossary)

14.1 Symbol Comparison

14.2 Comparison of ASME and ISO
Symbols (Geometric Characteristics)
14.3 Comparison of ASME and ISO
Symbols (General)

1.8
 Introduction

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) is an engineering drawing language used

to communicate the physical limit requirements of a product object in two or three
dimensional space. The GD&T standard defines a collection of symbols and specific rules for
defining specific characteristics, relationships, and feature controls.

The latest standard on the subject of GD&T defined and in practice is the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Y14.5M – 1994 Dimensioning and Tolerancing. The
GD&T standard used internationally is the International Institute Standard (ISO) 1101:1983,
Technical Drawings - Geometrical Tolerancing and associated standards.

The following are ISO standards that define GD&T requirements:

ISO/129- Technical Drawings General Principles

ISO/406- Technical Drawing Linear and Angular Dimensions
ISO/1101- Technical Drawings Geometrical Tolerancing
ISO/1660- Technical Drawings Profiles
ISO/2692- Technical Drawings Maximum Material Condition
IOS/2692:1998/DAM 1 Technical Drawings Least Material Condition
ISO/3040- Technical Drawings Cones
ISO/5458- Technical Drawings Positional Tolerancing
ISO/5959- Technical Drawings Datums and Datum Systems
ISO/7083- Technical Drawings Symbols Proportions
ISO/8015- Technical Drawings Fundamental Tolerance Principle
ISO/10579- Technical Drawings Non-Rigid Parts
IOS/10587- Technical Drawings Projected Tolerance Zones

1.9
 DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCING

How the Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing System Works

Dimensioning and tolerancing is a means to communicate the geometry requirements of a
particular part or assembly. Depending on the function, feature relationships, manufacturing
or definition requirements, one will then define the level or extent of details for the part.
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) standard ASME Y14.5M-1994 is a
defined system of rules, symbols, and explicit requirements to fully delineate an objects
geometric requirements.

The following are the more common reasons to apply GD&T principles:

• Part features are critical to function or inter-changeability.

• When functional gauging techniques are desired.
• When a common reference (origin) or datum is required to ensure communication is
consistent between design, manufacturing and inspection.
• When a standard interpretation or tolerance is not already implied.
• Simplify tolerance analysis.
• Replace complex or long geometry requirement description notes with a single geometric
symbol.

Geometric Characteristics and Symbols

Geometric characteristic symbols are used to define a simple or complex feature
requirement or relationship. GD&T characteristics and categories are:
TOLERANCE TYPE CHACTERISTIC SYMBOL
FLATNESS r
FOR
INDIVIDUAL STRAIGHTNESS t
FORM
FEATURES CYLINDRICITY j
CIRCULARITY e
FOR INDIVIDUAL PROFILE OF A SURFACE h
OR RELATED PROFILE
FEATURES PROFILE OF A LINE m
PERPENDICULARITY n
ORIENTATION PARALLELISM i
ANGULARITY g
FOR
RELATED POSITION l
FEATURES LOCATION CONCENTRICITY a
SYMMETRY d
TOTAL RUNOUT _
RUNOUT
CIRCULAR RUNOUT ^

See outside-back cover of this book for an expanded geometric characteristics chart.
1.10