Introduction to Symbols, Terms, and CADD

Objective
To recognize the various types of symbols by

their: Name Shape Size

Five Basic Types of Symbols

1.
2. 3. 4. 5.

Dimensioning Symbol Datum Feature and Datum Target Symbols Geometric Characteristic Symbols Material Condition Symbols Feature Control Frame.

Dimensioning Symbols

Symbols Represent specific information that would otherwise be difficult and time consuming to duplicate in note form.
Recommended because they are an international language and are read the same way in any country. Makes the communication process uniform.

Dimensioning Symbols
Symbols aid in clarity, ease of drawing, and time

saving, especially when used with a CADD system.

Example 2-1 shows the recommended

dimensioning symbols.

Datum Feature Symbol

Considered theoretically perfect surfaces,

planes, points, or axes.

Identifies which edge is considered to be the 0,0

location, just like on a CNC machine.

Datum Feature Symbol

Any letter of the alphabet can be used to identify

a datum except for I,O,or Q because the could be confused with numbers.
Each datum must have its own identification

letter.

Datum Feature Symbol

Letters A, B, and C are commonly used to

identify datums.

Datum Target Symbols

Used to specify points, lines, or areas of contact

on a part that establish datums when it is not possible to use a surface.

The symbol is drawn as a circle with a horizontal

line through the center.

Datum Target Symbols

Top half is left blank unless a target area is specified. Lower half identifies the datum reference letter and the target number.

Datum Target Area

.005

B2
Datum Reference

Datum Target Number

Datum Target Symbols

Example of datum target symbols:

Geometric Characteristic Symbols

Geometric Symbols are separated into 5 basic

types: 1. Form 2. Profile 3. Location 4. Orientation 5. Runout

Material Condition Symbols

Often referred to as modifying symbols

because they modify the geometric tolerance in relationship to the produced size.

Only used in geometric dimensioning.

The different material conditions are MMC, LMC,

and RFS

Maximum Material Condition

Referred to as MMC

Indicates the largest amount of material that

may be left on a feature.

Least Material Condition

Referred to as LMC
Indicates the least amount of material that may

be left on a feature.

Regardless of Feature Size

Referred to as RFS
Indicates that the geometric tolerance is going to

stay the same no matter what the size of the feature is.
No symbol is used.

Feature Control Frame

Divided into compartments containing the

geometric characteristic in the first compartment followed by the geometric tolerance, and finally the datum reference.

Multiple datum references may be called out by

adding additional datum reference boxes after the tolerance.

Feature Control Frame

Order of Elements:
Geometric Tolerance Material Condition Secondary Datum

.005
Geometric Symbol

A B C
Tertiary Datum

Primary Datum

Basic Dimensions
Considered a theoretically perfect dimension.
Used to describe the exact size, profile,

orientation, or location of a feature or datum target. Basically tells you where the tolerance zone or datum target is located.

Basic Dimensions
Shown by placing a rectangle around the

dimension. Sometimes a note is used that says: Untoleranced Dimensions Locating True Position Are Basic.

Additional Symbols
Free State:

Describes distortion of a part after the removal of forces applied during manufacture.

Additional Symbols
Tangent Plane:

Placed after geometric tolerance when it is necessary to control a feature by contacting points of tangency.

Additional Symbols
Projected Tolerance Zone:

Used to inform the reader that the geometric tolerance zone is projected away from the primary datum.

Additional Symbols
Between:

Used with profile tolerances to identify where the profile tolerance has been applied.