Geometric Dimensioning an Tolerancing

The Datum System

Dr. Mahmoud Abusrea

Spring 2023
 Basic GD&T Definitions

 To achieve the benefits its intended for, GD&T uses basic definitions as below

 Feature: Physical portion of a part, e.g. hole, surface, slot etc.

 Datum: Theoretically exact plane, point or axis from which a dimension

is measured

 Datum feature: Part feature that used to define the datum

 Datum reference frame: Set of three mutually perpendicular datum

planes

 Feature of Size: One cylindrical or spherical surface or a set of two

opposed elements or opposed parallel surfaces associated with a size

dimension
 Basic GD&T Definitions: Feature of Size

Surface Feature: Dimension control applies to the surface feature.

 A Feature of Size is one cylindrical or spherical surface or a set of two No dimensions or size need to be involved

opposed elements or opposed parallel surfaces associated with a size

dimension.

 A key part of the FOS definition is that the surfaces or elements must

be opposed. An axis, median plane, or centerpoint can be derived from

a feature of size.

 A feature of size has the following characteristics:

 Contains opposing elements or surfaces

 Can be used to establish an axis, a median plane, or a Feature of Size: Geometric control applies to the entire feature.

centerpoint. Could control the feature axis, center plane, or derived median

plane
 Is associated with a size dimension
 Basic GD&T Definitions: Feature of Size

 A Feature of Size is one cylindrical or spherical surface or a set of two

opposed elements or opposed parallel surfaces associated with a size

dimension.

 A key part of the FOS definition is that the surfaces or elements must

be opposed. An axis, median plane, or centerpoint can be derived from

a feature of size.

 A feature of size has the following characteristics:

 Contains opposing elements or surfaces

 Can be used to establish an axis, a median plane, or a

centerpoint.

 Is associated with a size dimension

Basic GD&T Definitions

Datum C
Datum B

Datum A
 Datums

 The geometric characteristics of features are

defined and measured by relating them to clearly

defined datums. A datum is an origin from which

location or orientation of part features is

established.

 Note that size dimensions and form control do not

require an origin for measurement, and therefore

do not need to be referenced to a datum.

 Datums

 For a feature of a part to be manufactured or

inspected, the entire part is located with respect to a

datum reference frame.

 A datum reference frame is a set of up to three

mutually perpendicular planes that are defined as

the origin of measurement for locating the features

of a part.
 Datums

 The datum reference frame is idealized and geometrically

perfect. It is necessary to consider its relationship to the

non-ideal physical part and the processing equipment.

 To do so, it’s necessary to distinguish between several

related terms, namely datum, datum reference frame,

datum feature, and datum feature simulator. These

concepts are covered in the following slides.

 Datum Feature

 A datum feature is a non-ideal physical surface of

the part that is specified in order to establish a

theoretically exact datum. A datum feature is

always a surface of the part that can be physically

touched, not a centerline or other theoretical

entity.

 Since the datum feature is not perfect, it is not

directly used for measurements.

 Datum Feature Simulator

 Suppose a flat surface of a part is selected as a

datum feature. The surface is an imperfect plane

with localized hills and valleys, and is not perfectly

flat.

 If the part is placed on a polished granite surface

plate, a minimum of three high points on the surface

of the datum feature will contact the nearly perfect

plane of the polished surface plate. The surface plate

serves as a datum feature simulator of the actual

datum feature.
 Datum Feature Simulator

 A datum feature simulator is a precision embodiment,

such as a surface plate, gauge pin, or machine tool bed,

of the datum described by an imperfect datum feature.

 The datum feature simulator is often a physical gauging

surface, but may also be simulated by “soft gauging”

optical or probing methods. The datum itself is a

theoretically exact point, axis, or plane derived from the

datum feature simulator.

 Example

 In the example shown in the Figure, an

imperfect actual surface of a part, such as

the bottom surface, is designated as a

datum feature.

 The datum feature (bottom surface) is

placed in contact with a nearly perfect

datum feature simulator (granite surface

plate).
 Example

 A theoretical datum (true plane) is defined in association

with the datum feature simulator. The process is

repeated as necessary to define enough datums to

obtain a three-plane datum reference frame.

 For example, if the back surface and one side surface are

also selected as datum features, then the three-plane

datum reference frame shown may be obtained.

 Uses of Datums in Design, Manufacturing and Inspection

 The datums specified help define the orientations of

features through the process of design,

manufacture, and inspection.

 The designer specifies datum features that are best

suited for the functionality, manufacture, and

inspection of the part. Locations and orientations

are defined by the designer on the drawing with

respect to the datum reference frame.

 Uses of Datums in Design, Manufacturing and Inspection

 Location and orientation are actually manufactured with respect to a datum feature

simulator inherent in the manufacturing equipment, such as the table surface of a

milling machine.

 They are measured for quality control with respect to a datum feature simulator,

such as a granite surface plate. Note that measurements of location and orientation

are not made with respect to the actual surface of the datum feature, but from the

datum feature simulator.

 Immobilization of the Part with Datums

 The selection of datum features can be thought of as

selecting which surfaces of the part will be put into contact

with datum feature simulators in order to immobilize the

part for manufacture and inspection.

 A rigid body floating in space has six degrees of freedom

(three translations and three rotations). Each datum

constrains some of the degrees of freedom in order to

immobilize the part in a precise, repeatable location.

 Immobilization of the Part with Datums

 Consider the process of immobilizing a part with three datum

planes. First, let the bottom surface of the part be selected as a

datum feature to be constrained by the first datum plane, as

shown in (a).

 Remember that the datum feature is imperfect, so it may touch

the datum plane in only a few places. Specifically, a minimum of

three points of contact are required to prevent the part from

rocking on the datum plane. This contact with the datum plane will

constrain three degrees of freedom of motion of the part:

translation in Z, rotation in u, and rotation in v.

 Immobilization of the Part with Datums

 Next, let the back surface of the part be designated as the

second datum feature, from which the second datum plane

is derived, as shown in Part (b).

 Imagine holding the part in contact with the first datum

plane and sliding it into contact with the second datum

plane. It must touch in a minimum of two points to stabilize

it with respect to the second datum plane. This will

constrain an additional two degrees of freedom of motion:

translation in X and rotation in w.

 Immobilization of the Part with Datums

 Finally, let a side surface be designated as the third datum

feature to define the third datum plane, as shown in Fig (c).

Maintaining contact of the part with the first two datum

planes, and sliding it into contact with the third datum plane

will result in a minimum of one point of contact with the

third datum plane.

 This constrains the final degree of freedom: translation in Y.

The part is now fully constrained in a precise, repeatable

location.
 Order of Datums

 Notice that the order of application of the datum planes is

important. Suppose the part in the previous example is

constrained by the first datum plane as before, but then the

order of application of the second and third datum planes is

reversed.

 Figure (a) shows a top view of the part that has been

constrained by the YZ plane first, then by the XZ plane. Figure

(b) shows the same part with the order of application of the

two datum planes reversed. The final position of the two

parts is not the same.

 Order of Datums

 Because measurements are made from the datum planes, not from

the edges of the part itself, the measured locations of features on the

part are clearly dependent on the choice of datum features and the

order of application of the resulting datum planes.

 It is necessary for the part drawings to specify clearly, for each

feature to be located on the part, the datum features as well as the

order of application of the resulting datum planes. The features do

not all have to use the same datums and order of application.
 Nonplanar Datum Features

 Several nonplanar datum features are provided for in the ASME Y14.5

standard. In particular, cylindrical features such as shafts, bosses, and

holes are often used in defining datums,

 Suppose in the part shown, the hole is selected as a datum feature.

The actual surface of the hole is the datum feature; the center axis of

the hole is the datum. The center axis defines the intersection of two

perpendicular datum planes. In conjunction with another datum

feature, say the back surface, the part is constrained and a datum

reference frame is defined.

 Actual Mating Envelopes

 An actual mating envelope is a perfectly shaped

counterpart of an imperfect feature of size, which can

be contracted about an external feature, or expanded

within an internal feature, so that it contacts the high

points of the feature’s surface.

 For example, Figure (a) shows an imperfect dowel pin

(the feature of size) that is circumscribed by the smallest

possible perfect cylinder (the actual mating envelope).

 Actual Mating Envelopes

 The imperfect pin does not technically have a center axis.

Instead, it has a collection of derived median points that

represent the centroids of each cross section. When

referring to the center axis of an imperfect feature such as

the pin, what is actually meant is the theoretically perfect

center axis of the theoretically perfect actual mating

envelope of the pin.

 The same concept can be applied to a feature of size with

an internal surface, such as the hole feature shown in Fig.

(b).
 Actual Mating Envelopes

 Actual mating envelopes are categorized as related or unrelated

to a datum. An unrelated actual mating envelope is sized to fit

the feature without any constraint to any datum. In other words,

it is free to float to find the best fit.

 An unrelated actual mating envelope is a similar perfect feature

counterpart expanded within an internal feature of size or

Unrelated actual mating envelope
contracted about an external feature of size and not constrained

to any datums. A feature of size has only one unrelated actual

mating envelope.

Related actual mating envelope

 Actual Mating Envelopes

 A related actual mating envelope is sized to fit the

feature while maintaining some constraint in orientation

or location with respect to a datum.

 For example, for the hole feature shown, the related

actual mating envelope with respect to the bottom

plane datum surface is the largest pin that can fit in the
Unrelated actual mating envelope
hole while being held perpendicular to the back datum

plane.

Related actual mating envelope

 Actual Mating Envelopes

 In the datum example shown, the datum axis

corresponding to the datum feature (the hole) is

defined by the actual mating envelope of the

hole, that is the largest cylinder that can fit within

the hole.

 In practical implementation, this largest cylinder

can be determined by physically inserting very

precisely manufactured gauge pins of increasing

size until the largest one is found.

 Actual Mating Envelopes

 Alternatively, an expanding mandrel can be used.

The largest gauge pin serves as the datum feature

simulator (previously defined).

 In the case of an external datum feature, such as

the surface of a shaft, the datum feature

simulator is typically the jaws of a chuck or collet

that is closed onto the surface. The center axis of

the chuck is then the datum axis.

 The Datum Feature Symbol

 The datum feature symbol consists of a capital letter

enclosed in a square box. It is connected to a leader

directed to the datum feature ending in a triangle.

 The triangle may be solid or open. The datum identifying

letters may be any letter of the alphabet except I, O, and

Q. Multiple letters such as AA through AZ, BA through BZ,

etc., may be used if a large number of datums are

required.
 Methods of Attaching Datum Features Symbols
to Datum Features

 The datum feature symbol is used to identify

physical features of a part. The datum

feature symbol must not be attached to

centerlines, center planes, or axes.

 It may be directed to the outline of a feature

Outline
such as datums A through D, or to the

extension line of a feature such as datums E,

F and G.

Extension Line
 Methods of Attaching Datum Features Symbols
to Datum Features

 The datum feature symbol may also be

associated with a leader as shown. If only a

leader is used, the datum feature symbol is

attached to the tail, such as datum J.

 A datum feature symbol is typically attached to

a feature control frame directed to the datum

with a leader, such as datums K, M, and N.

 Methods of Attaching Datum Features Symbols to
Datum Features

 The datum feature symbol may also be associated with

a dimension line. If the datum feature symbol is placed

in line with a dimension line or on a feature control

frame associated with a size feature, the feature of size

is the datum feature.

 For example, datum feature R is the 3.00-inch feature of

size between the top and bottom surfaces, and datum

feature S is the 1.00-inch slot. Datums R and S are the

centerplanes of the respective datum features.

 Feature Control Frames

 In GD&T, a feature control frame (FCF) is required to describe the

conditions and tolerances of a geometric control on a part’s

feature. The feature control frame states the requirements or

instructions for the feature to which it is attached.

 The feature control frame consists of four pieces of information:

 Type of geometric tolerance needed on the feature

 Tolerance zone size

 Tolerance zone modifiers

 Datum references (if required by the GD&T symbol)

 Feature Control Frames

 FCF provides all information needed to determine the

type and amount of geometrical tolerance needed to

be on the part and how to measure or determine if the

part is in specification

 We will utilize the FCF highlighted in blue in this

presentation to explain the different parts of the FCF

and their meanings

 Compartments of the Feature Control Frames

 The first compartment of a FCF contains the

geometric characteristic symbol, the second

compartment contains tolerance information

including the shape of the tolerance zone, the

Tolerance zone shape
tolerance value, and any modifiers. Geometric Characteristic
value and modifiers
Symbol
 The third, fourth and fifth compartments (when used)

specify the related datums if necessary

Related Datums
 Elements of a Feature Control Frame (FCF)

 The FCF consists of a number of

elements as shown.

 The following slides explain each

Shape of tolerance Zone

component in more detail. Geometric Characteristic

Symbol Tolerance Value

Tolerance Modifier

Primary Datum

Secondary Datum

Tertiary Datum
 Elements of a Feature Control Frame
Geometric Characteristic Symbol

 This is where your geometric control type is specified.

Geometric characteristic symbols are the essence of GD&T

language.

 GD&T provides 14 geometric characteristic symbols as shown

in the Table. They fall into the following categories:

 Form

 Profile

 Orientation

 Location

 Runout
 Elements of a Feature Control Frame
Diameter Symbol

 This is an optional symbol that is used if the

tolerance zone is of a cylindrical shape

 If the tolerance zone is cylindrical you will

see the Ø symbol next to the dimension

signifying a diametric of the cylindrical

tolerance.
 Elements of a Feature Control Frame
Tolerance Value

 The amount of tolerance is stated by

the tolerance value element of the FCF

control frame.

 The tolerance value in the example is

0.7, which is the allowable diameter of

the cylindrical tolerance zone for the

location of the axes of the three holes.

 Elements of a Feature Control Frame
Material Condition

 This is an optional modifier which allows you to state the

material condition for which the tolerance is applied.

 In most cases, the symbol Ⓜ will be used. This indicates

that the tolerance value given is applicable when the

dimension of the feature is at its maximum material

condition. If the feature deviates from its maximum

material condition, an additional ‘Bonus Tolerance’ will be

available. This will simplify manufacturing and reduce cost

 Elements of a Feature Control Frame
Primary Datum

 If a datum is required, this is the main datum used for

the GD&T control. The letter corresponds to a feature

somewhere on the part which will be marked with

the same letter.

 This is the datum that must be constrained first when

measuring the part. The order of the datums is

important for measurement of the part. The primary

datum is usually held in three places to fix 3 degrees

of freedom
 Elements of a Feature Control Frame
Secondary Datum

 If a secondary datum is required, it will be to the right of

the primary datum. This letter corresponds to a feature

somewhere on the part which will be marked with the

same letter.

 During measurement, this is the datum is fixated after the

primary datum.
 Elements of a Feature Control Frame
Tertiary Datum

 If a third datum is required, it will be to the right of the

secondary datum. This letter corresponds to a feature

somewhere on the part which will be marked with the

same letter.

 During measurement, this is the datum is fixated last.

 Feature Control Frame Location

 The location of a feature control frame on a drawing affects its

interpretation. A feature control frame will have an entirely

different interpretation if it is applied to a surface or to a

feature of size.

 It is important to be able to understand whether a feature

control frame applies to a surface or to a feature of size. As

shown in the following slides, there are several conventions on

feature control frame location that indicate what the feature

control frame applies to.

 Feature Control Frame Location

 A feature control frame applies to a surface when it is attached to an extension line of a surface, or has a leader line pointing to a surface or

extension line of a surface.

 A feature control frame applies to a feature of size when it is associated with the size dimension by placing it next to the size dimension, or

attaching it to the leader line or dimension line of the size dimension.

1 Feature control frame

applies to a surface

2 Feature control frame

applies to a feature of size