MAXIMUM MATERIAL CONDITION (MMC)

Principle of independency – ISO rule

Each specified dimensional or geometrical requirement on a drawing shall be met indepen-
dently, unless a particular relationship is specified.
Therefore, where no relationship is specified, the geometrical tolerance applies regardless
of feature size, and the two requirements are treated as being unrelated.
Consequently, if a particular relationship of
— size and form, or
— size and orientation, or
— size and location
is required, it shall be specified on the drawing.

Mutual dependency of size and geometry

Mutual dependency of size and geometry may be called for by
— the envelope requirement;
— the maximum material principle.

Maximum material principle

If for functional and economic reasons there is a requirement for the mutual dependency
of the size and orientation or location of the feature(s), then the maximum material principle
Ⓜ may be applied (see ISO 2692).

When a geometric tolerance that contains an MMC modifier in the tolerance portion of the
feature control frame is applied to a FOS (feature of size), the virtual condition (worst-
case boundary) of the FOS is affected. The virtual condition (or WCB) is the extreme
boundary that represents the worst-case for functional requirements, such as clearance
or assembly with a mating part.

Bonus tolerance
Bonus tolerance is an additional tolerance for a geometric control.
Bonus tolerance is only permissible when an MMC (or LMC) modifier is shown in the tolerance
portion of a feature control frame.
Bonus tolerance comes from the FOS tolerance.
Example: when a functional gauge is used for Perpendicularity, any difference the actual
feature size is from the maximum material condition would be a bonus tolerance. The goal
of a maximum material condition callout is to ensure that when the part is in its worst
tolerances, the Perpendicularity and size of the hole/pin will always assemble together.
This means that if you make a pin smaller, you make more bonus tolerance for yourself.
This bonus can be added to the GD&T tolerance and would widen the perpendicularity
tolerance.

Bonus Tolerance = Difference between MMC & Actual condition

1. Set a Diameter (static or dynamic) to define the FOS.

2. Set a measure of Coaxiality (whose Relative measure is a multi-scan) where the MMC
reference measure is the previous FOS.