GD&T Glossary

GD&T (per ASME Y14.5M-1994) is an international language that is used on engineering drawings to accurately describe the size, form, orientation, and location of part features. It is also a design-dimensioning
philosophy that encourages designers to define a part based on how it functions in the final product or assembly.

GD&T is an exact language that enables design engineers to "say what they mean" on a drawing, thus improving product designs and lowering cost. Process engineers and manufacturing use the language to interpret
the design intent and to determine the best manufacturing approach. Quality control and inspection use the GD&T language to determine proper set-up and part verification.

By providing company-wide uniformity in the drawing specifications and interpretation, GD&T reduces controversy, guesswork, and assumptions throughout the design, manufacturing and inspection process.

Understanding how to apply and interpret GD&T correctly will help you:

 Create clear, concise drawings

 Improve product design
 Create drawings that reduce controversy, guesswork, and assumptions throughout the
manufacturing process
 Effectively communicate or interpret design requirements for suppliers and manufacturing

However, because GD&T is such a precise language, it involves a great many symbols and
terms. Here is a list of some of the topics involved in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
fundamentals and a short definition of each.

Actual Local Size - The value of any individual distance at any cross section of a feature of size.

Actual Mating Envelope of an External Feature of Size - A similar perfect feature counterpart
of the smallest size that can be circumscribed about the feature so that it just contacts the
surfaces at the highest points. 

Actual Mating Envelope of an Internal Feature of Size - A similar perfect feature counterpart of
the largest size that can be inscribed within the feature so that it just contacts the surfaces at their
highest points.

All-Around Symbol - A circle placed on the bend of the leader line of a profile
control.

Angularity - The condition of a surface, centerplane or axis being exactly at a

specified angle

Angularity Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount a surface, axis, or centerplane
is permitted to vary from its specified angle.

ASME Y14.5M-1994 - The national standard for dimensioning and tolerancing in the United
States. ASME stands for American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The Y14.5 is the standard
number. "M" is to indicate the standard is metric, and 1994 is the date the standard was officially
approved.
Axis Theory - The axis (or centerplane) of a feature of size must be within the tolerance zone.

Basic Dimension - A numerical value used to describe the theoretically exact size,
true profile, orientation, or location of a feature or datum target.

Between Symbol - A double ended arrow that indicates the tolerance zone extends
to include multiple surfaces.

Bi-Directional Control - Where the location of a hole is controlled to a different tolerance value
in two directions.

Bilateral Tolerance - A tolerance that allows the dimension to vary in both the plus and minus
directions.

Bonus Tolerance - An additional tolerance for a geometric control. Whenever a geometric

tolerance is applied to a feature of size, and it contains an MMC (or LMC) modifier in the
tolerance portion of the feature control frame, a bonus tolerance is permissible.

Boundary - The word "BOUNDARY" is placed beneath the feature control frames to invoke a
boundary control.

Cartoon Gage - A sketch of a functional gage. A cartoon gage defines the same part limits that a
functional gage would, but it does not represent the actual gage construction of a functional gage.

Circularity - A condition where all points of a surface of revolution, at any section

perpendicular to a common axis, are equidistant from that axis.

Circularity Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount of circularity on a part surface.

Circular Runout - A composite control that affects the form, orientation, and location of circular
elements of a part feature relative to a datum axis.

Circular Runout Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount of circular runout of a
part surface. 

Coaxial Datum Features - When coaxial diameters are used to establish a datum axis.

Coaxial Diameters - Two (or more) diameters that are shown on the drawing as being on the
same centerline (axis).
 Learn more about our GD&T training software

Composite Control - Controls the form, location, and orientation of a part feature simultaneously
(in a single gage reading).

Concentricity - The condition where the median points of all diametrically opposed
elements of a cylinder (or a surface of revolution) are congruent with the axis of a
datum feature.

Concentricity Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the concentricity error of a part feature.

Controlled Radius - A radius with no flats or reversals allowed. The symbol for a
controlled radius is "CR."

Coordinate Tolerancing - A dimensioning system where a part feature is located (or defined) by
means of rectangular dimensions with given tolerances.

Coplanar Datum Features - Two or more datum features that are on the same plane.

Coplanar Surfaces - Two or more surfaces that are on the same plane. 

Cylindrical Feature of Size - Contains one feature: the cylindrical surface.

Cylindricity - A condition of a surface of revolution in which all points of the surface

are equidistant from a common axis. 
Cylindricity Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount of cylindricity error permitted
on a part surface.

Datum - A theoretically exact plane, point or axis from which a dimensional measurement is
made. 

Datum Feature - A part feature that contacts a datum. 

Datum Feature Simulator - The inspection equipment (or gage surfaces) used to establish a
datum.

Datum Reference Frame - A set of three mutually perpendicular datum planes.

Datum Shift - The allowable movement, or looseness, between the part datum feature and the
gage.

Datum System - A set of symbols and rules that communicate to the drawing user how
dimensional measurements are to be made.

Datum Target - A symbol that describes the shape, size, and location of
gage elements that are used to establish datum planes or axes.

Dimension - A numerical value expressed in appropriate units of measure and used to define the
size, location, orientation, form, or other geometric characteristics of a part.

Engineering Drawing - A document that communicates a precise description of a part. This

description consists of pictures, words, numbers, and symbols.

Equal Bilateral Tolerance - A tolerance where the allowable variation from the nominal value is
the same in both directions.

Feature - A general term applied to a physical portion of a part, such as a surface, hole, or slot.

Feature Control Frame - A rectangular box that is divided

into compartments within which the geometric characteristic
symbol, tolerance value, modifiers, and datum references
are placed.

Feature of Size - One cylindrical or spherical surface, or a set of two opposed elements or
opposed parallel surfaces, associated with a size dimension.

Feature of Size Dimension - A dimension that is associated with a feature of size.

Fixed Fastener Assembly - Where the fastener is held in place (restrained) into one of the
components of the assembly.
Fixed Fastener Formula - H = F + 2T or T = 
Where: 
T = position tolerance diameter
H = MMC of the clearance hole
F = MMC of the fastener

Flatness - The condition of a surface having all of its elements in one plane.

Flatness Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount of flatness error a surface is
allowed.

Floating Fastener Assembly - Where two (or more) components are held together with
fasteners (such as bolts and nuts), and both components have clearance holes for the fasteners.

Floating Fastener Formula - T = H - F

Where:
T = position tolerance diameter (for each part)
H = MMC of the clearance hole
F= MMC of the fastener

Functional Dimensioning - A dimensioning philosophy that defines a part based on how it

functions in the final product.

Functional Gage - A gage that verifies functional requirements of part features as defined by the
geometric tolerances.

Fundamental Dimensioning Rules - A set of general rules defined by ASME for dimensioning
and interpreting drawings.

Geometric Characteristic Symbols (14) - The symbols are divided into five categories: form,
profile, orientation, location, and runout. 

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) - A set of fourteen symbols used in the
language of GD&T. It consists of well-defined of symbols, rules, definitions and conventions, used
on engineering drawings to accurately describe a part. GD&T is a precise mathematical language
that can be used to describe the size, form, orientation, and location of part features. GD&T is
also a design philosophy on how to design and dimension parts.

Go Gage - A gage that is intended to fit into (for an internal feature of size) or fit over (for an
external feature of size) the feature of size.

Great Myth of GD&T - The misconception that geometric tolerancing raises product costs.

Implied Basic 90° Angles -A 90° basic angle applies where centerlines of features in a pattern
(or surfaces shown at right angles on a drawing) are located and defined by basic dimensions,
and no angle is specified.
Implied Basic Zero Dimension - Where a centerline or centerplane of a feature of size is shown
in line with a datum axis or centerplane, the distance between the centerlines or centerplanes is
an implied basic zero.

Implied Datum - An assumed plane, axis, or point from which a dimensional measurement is
made.

Inclined Datum Feature - A datum feature that is at an angle other than 90o, relative to the other
datum features.

Inner Boundary (IB) - A worst-case boundary generated by the smallest feature of size minus
the stated geometric tolerance (and any additional tolerance, if applicable).

International Standards Organization (ISO) - The organization that published an associated

series of standards on dimensioning and tolerancing.

Least Material Condition - The condition in which a feature of size contains the
least amount of material everywhere within the stated limits of size.

Limit Tolerance - When a dimension has its high and low limits stated. In a limit tolerance, the
high value is placed on top, and the low value is placed on the bottom. 

Maximum Material Condition - The condition in which a feature of size contains

the maximum amount of material everywhere within the stated limits of size .

Median Point - The mid-point of a two-point measurement. 

Modifiers (8) - Communicate additional information about the drawing or tolerancing of a part. 

Multiple Single-Segment Profile Control - When two or more profile controls are tolerancing a
surface relative to different datums. 

Multiple Single-Segment Tolerance of Position Control - When two (or more) single segment
tolerance of position callouts are used to define the location, spacing, and orientation of a pattern
of feature of size.

No-Go Gage - A gage that is not intended to fit into or over a feature of size. A No-Go gage is
made to the LMC limit of the feature of size.

Non-Feature of Size Dimension - A dimension that is not associated with a feature of size.

Outer Boundary (OB) - A worst-case boundary generated by the largest feature of size plus the
stated geometric tolerance (and any additional tolerance, if applicable).
 Parallelism - The condition that results when a surface, axis or centerplane is
exactly parallel to a datum.

Parallelism Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount a surface, axis, or centerplane
is permitted to vary from being parallel to the datum.

Perpendicularity - The condition that results when a surface, axis, or centerplane is

exactly 90° to a datum. 

Perpendicularity Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount a surface, axis, or
centerplane is permitted to vary from being perpendicular to the datum.

Planar Datum - The true geometric counterpart of a planar datum feature. 

Planar Feature of Size - A feature of size that contains two features: the two parallel plane
surfaces.

Plus-minus Tolerance - The nominal or target value of the dimension is given first, followed by a
plus-minus expression of a tolerance.

Primary Datum - The first datum plane that the part contacts in a dimensional measurement.

Profile- The outline of a part feature in a given plane. 

Profile Control - A geometric tolerance that specifies a uniform boundary along the true profile
that the elements of the surface must lie within.

Profile of a Line Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount of error for
line elements relative to their true profile.

Profile of a Surface Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount of error
a surface can have relative to its true profile.

Projected Tolerance Zone - A tolerance zone that is projected above the part
surface.

Radius - A straight line extending from the center of an arc or circle to its surface.
Regardless of Feature Size - The term that indicates a geometric tolerance applies at any
increment of size of the feature, within its size tolerance.

Rule #1 - Where only a tolerance of size is specified, the limits of size of an individual feature
prescribe the extent to which variations in its form--as well as in its size--are allowed. 

Rule #2 - RFS applies, with respect to the individual tolerance, datum reference, or both, where
no modifying symbol is specified.

Secondary Datum - The second datum plane that the part contacts in a dimensional
measurement

Simulated Datum - The plane (or axis) established by the datum feature simulator.

Simultaneous Engineering - A process where design is a result of input from marketing,

engineering, manufacturing, inspection, assembly, and service.

Special-Case Feature of Size Datum - When a feature of size datum feature is referenced at
MMC, but simulated in the gage at a boundary other than MMC. 

Straightness (Axis or Centerplane) - The condition where an axis is a straight line

(or, in the case of a centerplane, each line element is a straight line). 

Straightness of a Line Element - The condition where each line element (or axis or centerplane)
is a straight line.

Straightness Control (Feature of Size) - A geometric tolerance that, when applied to a feature
of size, limits the amount of straightness error allowed in the axis or centerplane.

Straightness Control (Surface) - A geometric tolerance that, when directed to a surface, limits
the amount of straightness error allowed in each surface line element.

Symmetry - The condition where the median points of all opposed elements of two
or more feature surfaces are congruent with the axis or centerplane of a datum
feature. 

Symmetry Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the symmetry error of a part feature.

Tertiary Datum - The third datum plane that the part contacts in a dimensional measurement.

3-2-1 Rule - Defines the minimum number of points of contact required for a part datum feature
with its primary, secondary, and tertiary datum planes.

Tolerance - The total amount that features of the part are permitted to vary from the specified
dimension.

Tolerance Analysis Chart - A means of graphically displaying the limits of a part as defined by
the print specifications
Tolerance of Position Control - A geometric tolerance that defines the location tolerance of a
feature of size from its true position.

Tolerance Stack - A calculation used to find the extreme max. or min. distance on a part.

Total Runout - A composite control affecting the form, orientation, and location of all
surface elements of a diameter (or surface) relative to a datum axis.

Total Runout Control - A geometric tolerance that limits the amount of total runout of a surface.

True Geometric Counterpart - The theoretical perfect boundary or best fit tangent plane of a
specified datum feature.

True Position - The theoretically exact location of a feature of size as defined by basic
dimensions. 

True Profile - The exact profile of a part feature as described by basic dimensions. 

Unequal Bilateral Tolerance - A tolerance where the allowable variation is from the target value,
and the variation is not the same in both directions.

Unilateral Tolerance - A tolerance where the allowable variation from the target value is all in
one direction and zero in the other direction.

Variable Gage - A gage capable of providing a numerical reading of a part parameter.

Virtual Condition (VC) - A worst-case boundary generated by the collective effects of a feature
of size specified at MMC or at LMC and the geometric tolerance for that material condition. 

Virtual Condition Boundary Theory - A theoretical boundary limits the location of the surfaces
of a feature of size.

Worst-case Boundary (WCB) - A general term to refer to the extreme boundary of a feature of
size that is the worst-case for assembly. Depending upon the part dimensioning, a worst-case
boundary can be a virtual condition, inner boundary, or outer boundary.

Zero Tolerance at MMC - A method of tolerancing part features that includes the tolerance
geometric value with the feature of size tolerance and states a zero at MMC in the feature control
frame.
 

Symbol Glossary

What follows is a short summary of feature control symbols used in GDT. As was mentioned in the introduction, this is not intended to be an exhaustive presentation of
GDT, but rather a concise, clear explanation of GDT's most important yet often misunderstood points. Therefore, we do not explain in detail all of the symbols listed
below.
In the "Type of Feature" column, "Individual" means that this type of tolerance does not need to be referred to a datum. Individual GDT tolerances are the easiest to
understand for a beginning GDT user. "Related" designates a type of tolerance that must be referred to a datum. "Individual or Related" can be of either type, depending
on the situation.

SYMBOL VERBAL TYPE of TOLERANCE TYPE of FEATURE NOTES

DESCRIPTION

Position Location Related Commonly used.

Concentricity Location Related Difficult to inspect.

Circular Runout Runout Related

Total Runout Runout Related Includes Circular Runout

Perpendicularity Orientation Related

Parallelism Orientation Related

Angularity Orientation Related

Profile of a Surface Profile Individual or Related

Profile of a Line Profile Individual or Related

Flatness Form Individual

Straightness Form Individual

Roundness or Circularity Form Individual

Cylindricity Form Individual

Parallelism vs. Flatness

One common area of confusion within GDT is between parallelism and flatness. With, parallelism, a reference is made to a datum plane, while flatness is independent of a
datum. Figure PF1.1 shows a block on a surface plate whose three points of contact define the -A- datum plane. As specified, the opposite face of the block must lie within
two planes which straddle a plane parallel to and 2.0 from -A- and .125 to either side of it.

Figure PF1.1

Figure PF1.2 shows a flatness specification on the same surface. No datum plane is involved. A "best fit" plane (3 point contact) defines the mid-plane, and all surface
points must lie between two planes which are parallel to this plane, and .125 to either side of it.

Figure PF1.2

Cylindrical Specifications

One common area of confusion within GDT is the differences between the various ways of specifying how true a cylindrical surface or surface of revolution is: roundness,
cylindricity, concentricity, circular runout, and total runout. Let us start with roundness. As shown in Figure CS1, roundness applies to individual circular cross sections of
a surface of revolution or of a sphere.
Figure CS1 : ROUNDNESS
Cylindricity, on the other hand, applies to all cross-sections of a cylindrical surface simultaneously. The surface must lie between the two cylindrical surface which bound
the tolerance zone and are determined by a best-fit nominal cylinder. Figure CS2 illustrates cylindricity.

Figure CS2 : CYLINDRICITY applies to all cross-sectional elements simultaneously.

 

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It is a common misconception that roundness and cylindricity can be checked by taking diametral measurements (as with a micrometer) or by using an indicator and vee
block. A diametral measurement does just what the words imply; it measures the diameter. It does not check the shape of the surface which is what roundness and
cylindricity control. Since the roundness or cylindricity tolerance is a radial distance between concentric boundaries, a radial method of checking the surface is necessary.
However, rotating a part between centers is not an acceptable method since it relates the part surface to an axis, which technically is a check of another geometric
tolerance called runout.

To truly check for the roundness or cylindricity of a surface without regard to the axis of the part, the part must be rotated about the ultra-precision spindle of a
specialized roundness measuring machine. A probe contacts the surface and transcribes an enlarged profile of the surface onto a polar graph. The profile is then checked
against a clear overlay of concentric circles to determine if it falls within the allowable tolerance zone.

Concentricity is the condition in which the axes of all cross-sectional elements of a surface of revolution are common to the axis of a datum feature. Because the location
of the datum axis is difficult to find, it is easier to inspect for cylindricity or runout.

Figure CS3 : CONCENTRICITY is based upon the datum axis so that it is difficult to ascertain.

Runout refers to the result of placing a solid of revolution on a spindle such as a lathe, and rotating the part about its central axis while measuring with a dial indicator its
surface deviation from perfect roundness. With circular runout, the dial indicator is not moved along the direction of the axis of the part. Circular runout is therefore
applied independently at each station along the length of the part as the part is rotated through 360 degrees.

Figure CS4 : CIRCULAR RUNOUT applies to each cross section individually.

Total runout involves moving the dial indicator along the length of the part while the part is rotated, so that it controls the cumulative variations of circularity, cylindricity,
straightness, coaxiality, angularity, taper, and profile.

Figure CS5 : TOTAL RUNOUT applies to all cross sections simultaneously.

 

3D Datums
 We will now look at the three-dimensional (3D) case. Figure
3.1 illustrates a three-plane fixture for determining the
position and orientation of a part for measurement. It is
analogous to the L-bracket used for the two-dimensional(2D)
case.
 
Figure 3.1
The 3D part is also shown, its roughness exaggerated for
clarity. The -A- datum will be contacted by the three high
points of its corresponding surface, as illustrated. Three
points determine a plane, so that the highest three points of
the surface will position the part so that it can now only slide
along the -A- datum. From here, the degrees of freedom of
the part are similar to those for the 2D part: one rotational
and two translational. As with the 2D part, the next datum
will contact the two high points of the B surface. Now the
part can only slide along -A- and -B- in a direction
perpendicular to -C-. As with the 2D case, one high point of
contact with -C- completes the fixturing of the part in space
with respect to the datums. Measurements can now be made
from the datums with full confidence that whenever or
wherever the part is measured, the numbers will be the
same.

3D Hole

We will now demonstrate the dimensioning of a hole in GDT. As was seen in the 3D Datums section, the part that we are looking at is very much like the one in the 2D
section, only we have added more thickness into the page to make the part three-dimensional. The plus/minus dimensioning in Figure 3.2 and GDT dimensioning in Figure
3.3 of the hole in this 3D part look exactly as they did in the 2D case, only the interpretation is slightly more extensive.
Figure 3.2
 Figure 3.3

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The tolerance zone has now gained a dimension to become a 3D cylinder, as shown in Figure 3.4.
The basic dimensions locate the central axis of the tolerance zone, as with the central point in 2D. In
addition, the tolerance zone is "true" with respect to A, B, and C: The central axis is parallel to A and
B and perpendicular to C. As shown in Figure 3.5, the central axis of the actual hole must lie
completely within the tolerance zone cylinder.
 
Figure 3.4

             Figure 3.5

The central axis of the cylinder is defined as follows: At any cross-section of the hole perpendicular
to the datum axis, the center of the cross-section circle is defined as it was in the 2D case. This is
illustrated in Figure 3.6.

Figure 3.6

Bonus tolerances for the 3D case are exactly like those of the 2D case, but now the tolerance zone is
a cylinder rather than a circle.See 3D Bonus Tolerance for details.