Geometric Dimensioning &
Tolerancing
What is GD&T?
Rules based method of placing dimensions
and tolerances on a drawing
Considers actual part function and
interfaces
Tolerances relative to functional features
Not in a vacuum. Must consider role in an
assembly
Why use GD&T?
Saves money
Maximum producibility
Maximum component tolerances - over
conservative designs
Bonus tolerances
Focus on functional relationships
Insures interchangeability
Why use GD&T? (contd)
Drawing uniformity, no misinterpretations
Control of complex geometry
Becoming the standard
When to use GD&T?
Features critical to function or
interchangeability
Functional gaging desired
Need consistency between tooling,
manufacturing and inspection operations
Standard interpretation or tolerance not implied
Two key elements of GD&T
Datums - The reference features that the
tolerances are given with respect to.
Geometric Tolerances - The zone in which
a controlled feature must lie.
Datums
A theoretically exact point, axis, or plane
derived from the true geometric counterpart of
a specified datum feature.
Datum Feature
The actual feature (hole, slot, surface, etc.) on
a part that is used to establish the datum.
1982 vs. 1994 Datum Standards
ANSI Y14.5-1982
ASME Y14.5-1994
-D-A-
2009 Datum Standard
Datum Targets
Specify specific zone of contact as a datum
as opposed to an entire surface.
Zones are typically correlated to some
process or assembly fixture.
May be points, lines or areas
Datum Target
C1
Datum Reference Frame
A set of three mutually orthogonal planes
created from a combination of one or more
datums.
The origin from which geometric tolerances
are evaluated.
Chosen relative to part function and mating
component interfaces.
Datum Reference Frames (contd)
Must lock up the part
in six degrees of
freedom.
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
3-2-1 Principle
3 Points - Primary
Datum
2 Points - Secondary
Datum
1 Point - Tertiary
Datum
Datum Order Specification
Theoretical Part
Actual Part
C
B
Datum Order Specification
Datum Reference Frame Creation
3 Planar Datums
B
Datum Reference Frame Creation
Plane, Hole, Slot Datums
B
Datum Reference Frame Creation
Plane, 3 Slot Datums
Datum Reference Frame Creation
Axis, Plane, Median Plane Datums
A
Implied Datums
4X 1.0 0.1
6.0 0.1
5.0 0.1
1.0 0.1
2.0 0.1
6.0 0.1
10.0 0.1
Implied Datums
4X 1.0 0.1
.2 M A B C
6.0 0.1
5.0
1.0
A
2.0
6.0
B
10.0 0.1
Feature Control Frame
Specifies the
geometric tolerance
for a given feature
Tolerance symbol
Tolerance value
Datum references etc.
Geometric Characteristic Symbol (Position)
Diameter symbol
Tolerance Value
Feature Modifier
0.2 M A
C M
Datum Modifier
Tertiary Datum
Secondary Datum
Primary Datum
Feature of Size
A feature to which a size dimension can be
applied such as a cylinder or a set of two
opposed elements or parallel surfaces
Maximum Material Condition M
The condition in which a feature of size
contains the maximum amount of material
within the stated limits of size.
Tolerance at MMC means the tolerance is
dependent on the size of the feature.
Ensures interchangeability.
Regardless of Feature Size S
The geometric tolerance or datum reference
applies at any increment of size of the
feature within the allowable size tolerance.
Implied if no other modifier is specified.
Least Material Condition L
The condition in which a feature of size
contains the least amount of material within
the stated limits of size.
The opposite of MMC.
Use is rare relative to MMC and RFS.
Geometric Tolerances
Form Tolerances
Profile Tolerances
Orientation Tolerances
Runout Tolerances
Locations Tolerances
Geometric Characteristic Symbols
Feature Type
Tolerance
Type
Geometric
Characteristic
Straightness
Individual
Features
Form
Flatness
Circularity
Cylindricity
Individual or
Related Features
Profile
Line Profile
Surface Profile
Perpendicularity
Orientation
Parallelism
Angularity
Related
Features
Runout
Circular Runout
Total Runout
Position
Location
Concentricity
Symmetry
Symbol
Form Tolerances
Form tolerances control how far an actual
surface or feature is permitted to vary from
the desired (theoretical) from implied by the
drawing.
Applied to individual features with no
datum references.
Refinements of size
Form - Straightness (2D)
2D control when applied to line elements of a surface.
Each line element of the surface must fall within the
tolerance zone consisting of two parallel lines.
0.05
0.05 tolerance zone
Form - Straightness (3D)
3D control when applied to a axis or median plane
feature.
For an axis - tolerance zone is cylindrical
12 0.02
0.05 M
0.05 tolerance zone
Straightness Example
Actual Part
Size
12.02 MMC
12.01
12.00
11.99
11.98 LMC
Tolerance
Zone
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
Form - Flatness
3D tolerance controlling the deviation of a planar surface
Tolerance zone is two parallel planes
0.05
0.05 tolerance zone
Form - Circularity
2D tolerance controlling the roundness of each
circular cross section through a feature.
Tolerance zone is two concentric circles.
0.02
0.02 tolerance zone
Form - Cylindricity
3D tolerance controlling both circular and
longitudinal elements of a cylinder.
Tolerance zone is two concentric cylinders.
0.05
Tolerance Zone
Orientation Tolerances
Orientation tolerances allow a surface or
feature to vary in orientation relative to a
datum.
Datum reference required.
Orientation - Angularity
Condition of a surface, axis or median plane that is at an
angle (other that 90 or 180) to a datum plane or axis.
Tolerance zone is two parallel planes for planar features or a
cylinder for axis features.
.005
40
.005 tolerance zone
Angularity applied to feature of size
5.1 0.1
.15 M
Tolerance Zone
80
A
80
Orientation - Perpendicularity
A special case of angularity where the angle is 90
between the feature and the datum.
0.05 tolerance zone
0.05
Simulated plane A
Orientation - Parallelism
A special case of angularity where the angle is
180 between the feature and the datum.
0.05
Simulated plane A
0.05 tolerance zone
Runout Tolerances
A runout tolerance control how far a surface
or is allowed to deviate from its theoretical
form and orientation during a full 360
rotation of the part about the datum axis.
Runout is applied at RFS.
A datum axis is required.
Runout - Circular Runout
2D tolerance controlling a surface with respect
to an axis.
The tolerance zone is two concentric circles for
cylindrical surface and two circles separated
axially for planar surfaces perpendicular to the
datum axis.
Circular Runout
2.004
2.000
A
.004
.004 tolerance zone
Runout - Total Runout
3D tolerance controlling a surface with respect
to an axis.
The tolerance zone is two concentric cylinders
for cylindrical surfaces and two parallel planes
for planar surfaces perpendicular to the datum
axis.
Total Runout
2.004
2.000
A
.004
.004 tolerance zone
Profile Tolerances
Controls a surface within a uniform
boundary along the theoretical profile.
Applied to individual features or related
features relative to a datum.
Feature modifiers are not applicable.
Profile - Line Profile
2D tolerance controlling the line elements of a surface.
The tolerance zone is two parallel profile boundaries
offset from the nominal surface.
1.0
B
Tolerance Zone
10.0
5.0
10.0 .05
Profile - Surface Profile
3D tolerance controlling the entirety of a surface.
The tolerance zone is two parallel profile boundaries
offset from the nominal surface.
0.05
A
B
0.05 tolerance zone
Location Tolerances
Controls the allowable deviation in a
specified location of a feature of size
relative to some other feature or datum.
Require datum reference in most cases.
Location - Position
3D tolerance used to locate features of size.
The tolerance zone is a cylinder for round features and two
parallel planes for median plane features.
C
4X 1.25 +/- .005
.010 M A B C
.010 tolerance zone
B
A
Position Tolerance at MMC
Actual
Tolerance
Bonus
Hole
Zone
Tolerance
1.245 MMC
.010
0.000
1.246
.011
0.001
1.247
.012
0.002
1.248
.013
0.003
1.249
.014
0.004
1.25
.015
0.005
1.251
.016
0.006
1.252
.017
0.007
1.253
.018
0.008
1.254
.019
0.009
1.255 LMC
.020
0.010
4X 1.25 +/- .005
.010 M A
B C
Position Tolerance at RFS
Actual
Tolerance
Bonus
Hole
Zone
Tolerance
1.245 MMC
.010
0.0
1.246
.010
0.0
1.247
.010
0.0
1.248
.010
0.0
1.249
.010
0.0
1.25
.010
0.0
1.251
.010
0.0
1.252
.010
0.0
1.253
.010
0.0
1.254
.010
0.0
1.255 LMC
.010
0.0
4X 1.25 +/- .005
.010
B C
Location - Concentricity
3D tolerance controlling the location of one axis
relative to another datum axis.
Tolerance zone is a cylinder
1.0 .03
0.1 A
0.10 tolerance zone
Location - Symmetry
3D tolerance mimicking concentricity, but applied
to non-cylindrical features of size.
Tolerance zone is two parallel planes.
1.0 .010
0.10
0.10 tolerance zone
