STRAIGHTNESS TOLERANCE

AND ERROR
STRAIGHTNESS
Straightness is a condition in which the
element of a surface or a centreline is a
straight line. A straightness tolerance
specifies a tolerance zone within which the
considered element of the surface or
centreline must lie. A straightness tolerance
is applied to the view where the elements to
be controlled are represented by a straight
line.

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Straightness controlling surface elements
1. Lines
A straightness tolerance is
specified on a drawing by means
of a feature control frame, which
is directed by a leader to the line
requiring control. It states, see
figure to the right, in symbolic
form that the line shall be straight
within 0.006 units. This means
that the line shall be contained
within a tolerance zone consisting
of the area between two parallel
straight lines in the same plane,
separated by the specified
tolerance. 3
2. Cylindrical Surfaces

For cylindrical parts or curved surfaces which are

straight in one direction, the feature control frame
should be directed to the side view, where line
elements appear as a straight line.

A straightness tolerance thus applied to the

surface controls surface elements only. Therefore
it would control bending or a wavy condition of the
surface or a barrel-shaped part, but it would not
necessarily control the straightness of the
centreline or the conicity of the cylinder.
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Measuring Principle

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3. Conical Surfaces
A straightness tolerance
can be applied to a
conical surface in the
same manner as for a
cylindrical surface.
A straightness tolerance,
in this case, will ensure
that the rate of taper is
uniform. The actual rate
of taper, or the taper
angle, must be
separately toleranced.
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4. Flat Surfaces
A straightness tolerance applied to a flat surface indicates
straightness control in one direction only and must be directed
to the line on the drawing representing the surface to be
controlled and the direction in which control is required.
It is then interpreted to mean that each line element on the
surface in the indicated direction shall lie within a tolerance
zone.

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 Flat Surfaces (Cont’d)
Different straightness tolerances may be specified in
two or more directions when required (Figure A).
However, if the same straightness tolerance is
required in two coordinate directions on the same
surface, a flatness tolerance rather than a
straightness tolerance is used.
If it is not otherwise necessary to draw all three
views, the straightness tolerances may all be shown
on a single view by indicating the direction with short
lines terminated by arrowheads (Figure c).

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Straightness of a Feature of Size
Features of Size
Features of size are features that have diameter or
thickness. These may be cylinders, such as shafts
and holes. They may be slots or rectangular or flat
parts where two parallel flat surfaces are
considered to form a single feature. When applying
a geometric tolerance to a feature of size, the
feature control frame is associated with the size
dimension or attached to an extension of the
dimension line.

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Feature of Size Definitions
1. Maximum Material Condition (MMC)
When a feature or part is at the limit of size that results in it
containing the maximum amount of material, it is said to be at
MMC. Thus, it is the maximum limit of size for an external
feature, such as a shaft, or the minimum limit of size for an
internal feature, such as a hole.
2. Virtual Condition
Virtual condition refers to the overall envelope of perfect form
within which the feature would just fit. It is the boundary formed
by the MMC limit of size of a feature plus the applied geometric
tolerances. For an external feature it is the maximum material
size plus the effect of permissible form variations. For an
internal feature it is the maximum material size minus the effect
of such variations.
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3. Least Material Condition (LMC)
This term refers to that size of a feature that results in the
part containing the minimum amount of material. Thus it is
the minimum limit of size of an external feature and the
maximum limit of size of an internal feature.

4. Regardless of Feature Size (RFS)

This term means that the size of the geometric tolerance
remains the same for any feature lying within its limits of
size.

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Maximum material condition and virtual condition

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Effect of form variation when only feature of
size is specified

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Straightness of a feature of size
1. Straightness – RFS
When applied on an RFS basis the
maximum permissible deviation from
straightness is 0.015 units,
regardless of the feature size.
Note that the absence of a modifying
symbol indicates that RFS applies.

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 Measuring Principle
(Straightness – RFS)
In order to take an accurate measurement, the part to be
measured is mounted using some suitable means of
support, such as between centres or vee-blocks. Two
indicators are mounted diametrically opposite one
another at one end, preferably on the same carriage, and
arranged to move parallel to the centreline being
measured. Indicators are placed at zero at one end, and
the difference in readings between the two indicators are
noted as the carriage is moved towards the other end.
Readings are plotted on a chart similar to that shown
before and the straightness error is evaluated.

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2. Straightness – MMC

If the straightness tolerance of 0.015 units is

required only at MMC, further straightness error
can be permitted without jeopardizing assembly,
as the feature approaches its least material size.
All geometric tolerancing on an MMC basis permits
the use of functional GO gages. When the
tolerance is zero MMC, the GO gage also checks
the maximum material size.

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Straightness with a maximum value

If it is desired to ensure that the straightness error

does not become too great when the part
approaches the least material condition, a
maximum value may be added.
This means that in addition to the use of a
functional GO gage the straightness error of the
surface must also be evaluated by other means.

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