GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCE

1. WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO USE GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCE

2. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND

TOLERANCE

3. RULES IN GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCE

4. DETAILED EXPLANATION OF ALL GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND

TOLERANCE

WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO USE GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCE

Geometric dimensioning and tolerance can be described in its simplest terms as a means of
specifying the geometry or shape of a piece of hardware on an engineering drawing.

Is Geometric dimensioning and tolerance required? Why?

In the following pictures the flange is shown and it has to be manufactured with the drawing.
In the analysis most dims and tolerances are to control size of features.

What are size tolerances mean?

The designer intends is to restrict the sizes within the tolerances. If it goes beyond that it may result
interference or distortion.

Production would, no doubt produce the size within the tolerances to their best.

If you take .820 diameter, This can be measured in micrometer or any other ring gauge.
If you measure in micrometer it will give best result but this cannot be accepted by customer, micrometer
measures at one point only or in one cross section. But if it is measured through a ring gauge it will be
rejected.
The interpretation is the size should be mentioned as well as the run out also should be mentioned
to have the design intend.

Another question arises with regard to .980, .315, .820, 1.375, 1.125-12 UNF and 2.75 diameters concerns
any required relationship of these features to one another.
Is there any relationship between these features or what is the reference to which it is manufactured?
These questions arise if one dose not gives any geometric tolerance.

The length dimensions 1.750, .500, 1.120 is adequately represented in the drawing or only the tolerances
control the sizes.

The holes position what is the relation ship it will have with center or the OD of the part?
Whether this has been addressed?

All of the questions are left unanswered.

It is very evident that the coordinate dimensioned and toleranced drawing is inadequate, ambiguous and
leaves the manufacturing process heavily dependent upon chances.
It will not address the design intent.

The geometric dimensioning and tolerance being based upon the principle of function and relationship.

Now let us see the same drawing withGD&T.

 DEFINITIONS

Geometric and tolerance symbols

DATUM FEATURE: The feature of a part that is used to establish a datum.

DATUM IDENTIFIER: The graphic symbol on a drawing used to indicate

the datum feature.

DATUM PLANE: The individual theoretical planes of the reference frame derived from a
specified datum feature. A datum is the origin from which the location or other geometric
characteristics of features of part are established.

DATUM REFERENCE FRAME: Sufficient features are chosen on a part to position the
part in relationship to three planes. The three planes are mutually perpendicular and are
called datum reference frame.
DATUM SIMULATOR: Formed by the datum feature contacting a precision surface
such as surface plate or gauge surface or mandrel contacting the datum. The datum
simulator is the practical embodiment of the datum feature during manufacturing and
quality assurance.

DEGREES OF FREEDOM: The six direction of movement or translation are called

degrees of freedom in a 3D environment.

BASIC DIMENSION: A numerical value used to describe the theoretically exact size,
orientation, location, or profile, of a feature or datum or datum target. Basic dims are not
tolerenced either directly or by default. It is only for the geometric control.

ORIGIN DIMENSION: Symbol used to indicate the origin and direction of the
dimension between two features.

FEATURE: A general term applied to a physical portion of a part such as surface, hole,
pin, slot etc.

FEATURE CONTROL FRAME: Specification on a drawing that indicates the type of

geometric control for the feature, the tolerance for the control and the related datum if
applicable.
POSITION: It is the theoretically exact location of a feature established by basic
dimensions.

RFS (Regardless of feature size): The term used to indicate that a geometric tolerance or
datum reference applies at any increment of size of feature within its tolerance limits. The
RFS is the default condition unless MMC or LMC is stated.

TOLERANCE ZONE SYMMETRY: The tolerance value stated in feature control frame
is always a single value. Unless otherwise told it is always bilateral and equal distance
from the form control specified. If desired the tolerance can be specified as
unilateral or bilateral unequal distance.

TOLERANCE, BILATERAL: A tolerance where variations permitted in both directions

it maybe equal or unequal.

TOLERANCE, UNILATERAL: A tolerance where variation is permitted only in one

direction.
DATUM TARGETS: Datum targets are used to establish datum planes. They may be
points, lines or areas. Datum targets are used when the datum feature contains
irregularities. E.g. Uneven surface, castings or forgings.

TARGET POINTS

TARGET LINES

TARGET AREAS
MODIFIERS: Modifiers are used to further refine the control. It is stated in a symbol.

FREE STATE: This modifier is used when geometric tolerance applies to the feature in
its free state or after removal of any forces, which is used in the manufacturing process.

MAXIMUM MATERIAL CONDITION: The condition in which the feature of size

contains maximum amount of material within the stated limits of size, For example lower
limit of hole is the minimum hole diameter, the upper limit of the hole is the maximum
diameter.

LEAST MATERIAL CONDITION: The condition in which the feature of size contains
least amount of material within the stated limits of size for example upper limit or
maximum hole diameter and lower limit or minimum shaft diameter.

TANGENT PLANE: When it is desirable to control the surface of a feature by the

contacting or high points of the surface a tangent plane modifier is used.
The maximum material condition demonstrated.
PROJECTED TOLERANCE ZONE: It is recommended where any variation in
perpendicularity of the threaded or press fit holes could cause fasteners such as
screws, studs or pins to interfere with mating parts.

STATISTICAL TOLERANCE: The tolerance is controlled statistically as opposed to

being controlled arithmetically. This method is used when sound statistical method
is used.
 RULES IN GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCE.

RULES:

1. Limit of size rule:

The Limit of size of a feature controls variation in geometric form

as well as variation in size.

2. Material Condition rule:

RFS applies to an individual tolerance, datum references or both when no modifier

is specified. MMC or LMC is specified when required on the drawing.

3. Pitch Diameter rule:

Each tolerance, datum references specified for a screw thread applies to the axis of
the thread derived from the pitch cylinder. The specific feature of gears, splines such
as major dia, minor dia, pitch dia. shall be stated beneath the Feature control from or
datum feature symbol as applicable.

4. Virtual Condition rule:

The virtual condition applies for a datum feature of size if its axis or centerline is
controlled by a geometric tolerance. In this case the datum feature applies in its
virtual condition even though it is referenced in a Feature control frame at MMC or
LMC.
EXPLANATION OF ALL GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING AND TOLERANCE

FLATNESS
Flatness is the condition of a surface having all elements in one plane.
The tolerance zone defined by two parallel planes within which the surface must lie.
Flatness tolerance must be less than size tolerance. (one-half)
It does not refer datum plane.
MMC and LMC condition does not apply to this.
STRAIGHTNESS

Straightness is a condition where an element of a surface or an axis is a straight line.

This tolerance must be less than the size tolerance (one-half).

This will not associate with datum reference.

Straightness
Straightness in RFS condition.
Straightness in MMC condition
CIRCULARITY: (ROUNDNESS)

Circularity is a condition of surface Where with respect to a cylinder or cone , all points of the
surface intersected by any plane perpendicular to a common axis are equidistant from that axis.
CYLINDRICITY
This is a condition of a surface of revolution in which all points of the surface are equidistant from a
common axis.
Tolerance zone bounded by two concentric cylinders within which surface must lie.
This tolerance is a combination of circularity, straightness, and parallelism of opposed
elements.
PERPENDICULARITY:

This is condition of a surface, median plane, or axis at right angle to datum plane or axis.

It always requires a datum feature.

ANGULARITY:

Angularity is the condition of a surface, axis or median plane which is at a specified angle (other
than 90 deg) from a datum plane or axis.

It requires always datum for reference.

PARALLELISM:

Parallelism is the condition of surface or axis that is equidistant at all points from a datum plane or
axis.

It requires always datum for reference.

PROFILE OF LINE OR SURFACE:

Profile tolerance specifies a uniform boundary along the desired true profile within which the
feature elements (surface or line) must lie.

Profile tolerance is the method used to specify a permissible deviation from the desired profile,
Usually an irregular shape where other geometric controls are inappropriate.
RUN OUT:

Run out is the composite deviation from the desired form and orientation of a part surface of
revolution during full rotation (360 deg) of the part on a datum axis.

Run out tolerance always requires rotational consideration.

Run out always applicable on an RFS basis, it cannot be applicable to MMC condition.

CIRCULAR RUN OUT

It is applicable to always circular elements any specified points or sections.

It is a combination of size, circularity, or concentricity is controlled.

TOTAL RUN OUT

Total run out provides composite control of all surface elements.

POSITION TOLERANCE.

It is applied to only to size features (pins, holes etc)

It controls the position very effectively and ensures the interchangeability.