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Understanding composite
positional tolerances in
GD&T
By Onat Ekinci
Introduction
Composite tolerances in GD&T define multiple levels of positional control for patterns of
features. Given their multi-layered complexity, they may look very challenging at first
sight. The goal of this article is to present different variations of composite tolerances
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composite positional tolerances
and single-segmented positional tolerances will also be discussed.
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Composite tolerances are used when we have relatively looser
location requirements but tighter orientation tolerances. The full
definition of composite tolerances can be found in section 10.5
of the ASME Y14.5-2018 standard[1].
A simple example would be a set of holes (pattern) used to affix a name plate. The
relative position of the holes is important (tighter tolerance), in order to match the same
hole on the plate itself, but the absolute position of the entire pattern on the part may
be less critical (looser tolerances) as long as the orientation is good.
In this blog post, we shall present the following variations of positional tolerances:
1. Composite tolerance with only primary datum in the lower segment
2. Composite tolerance with primary and secondary datums in lower segment
3. Two Single-Segmented Position Tolerancing
Terminology:
In the ASME Y14.5 standard, a feature control frame is a rectangle divided into
compartments containing the geometric characteristic symbol, followed by the tolerance
value and datum references. Composite position tolerances and two single-segment
position tolerances follow the same logic with one major difference:
1. In composite tolerances, the geometric characteristic symbol contains a single entry
(Figure 1)
2. In two single-segment feature control frames, there are two separate geometric
characteristic symbols (Figure 2)
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Figure 1. Composite feature control frame.
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Figure 2. Two single-segment feature control frame.
Composite tolerance with only primary datum in
the lower segment
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Figure 3. Hole pattern with only primary datum repeated in the lower segment of composite position
tolerance (created in BuildIT Metrology Software).
In Figure 3, we observe a composite tolerance created using BuildIT Metrology Software.
The algorithms implemented in the software evaluate the measured features according
to specifications of ASME Y14.5, explained in this post.
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Figure 4. Hole pattern located by composite tolerancing (Primary datum only in lower segment). This
figure represents one of the possible displacements of the pattern. Note that the yellow and blue circles
represent the tolerance zones with 0.5 mm and 0.1 mm diameters, respectively.
Figure 4 shows the tolerance zones and their functions for composite tolerances with only
primary datum in the lower segment:
Yellow Tolerance Zones: Pattern locating tolerance zone framework (PLTZF).
Blue Tolerance Zones: Feature relating tolerance zone framework (FRTZF).
The PLTZF constrains the location and orientation relative to datum ABC.
The FRTZF:
1. Constrains the location and orientation of individual hole features within the pattern
2. Constrains the orientation only relative to datum A
The axis of the holes must reside within the tolerance cylinders of both the PLTZF and
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Figure 5. Animation showing hole pattern located by composite tolerancing (Primary datum only in the
lower segment). Any of the displacements in this animation represents a possible configuration for
composite tolerancing with only primary datum in the lower segment. Note that the yellow and blue
circles represent the tolerance zones with 0.5 mm and 0.1 mm diameters, respectively.
In the animation in Figure 5, the yellow tolerance zone pattern designates the PLTZF and
the blue tolerance zone pattern designates the FRTZF.
Again, the important difference between the upper and lower segment is that in the
lower segment, the tolerance zones are only constrained in orientation with respect
to datum A. The lower segment does not locate. Thus, the blue tolerance zones (the
FRTZF)
nly in rotation (they must stay perpendicular to A), but they are free to translate and free
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the larger tolerance zones.
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Note that in certain positions, portions of the smaller blue tolerance zones can fall
beyond the limits of the larger yellow tolerance zones. However, these portions of the
smaller tolerance zones are not usable because the axes of the features must not violate
the limits of larger tolerance zones (ASME Y14.5-2018, [Link]).
Composite tolerance with primary and secondary
datums in lower segment:
Figure 6. Hole pattern with primary and secondary datums repeated in the lower segment of composite
position tolerance (created in BuildIT Metrology Software).
In composite tolerances with primary and secondary datums repeated in lower
segment, one more degree of freedom is constrained. In Figure 6, we can see an
example of a composite tolerance with primary and secondary datums in the lower
segment created using BuildIT Metrology Software.
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Figure 7. Hole pattern located by composite tolerancing (primary and secondary datums in lower
segment). This figure represents one of the possible displacements of the pattern. Note that the yellow
and blue circles represent the tolerance zones with 0.5 mm and 0.1 mm diameters, respectively.
Figure 7 shows the tolerance zones and their functions for composite tolerances with
primary and secondary datums in the lower segment:
Yellow Tolerance Zones: Pattern Locating Tolerance Zone Framework (PLTZF).
The PLTZF constrains the location and orientation relative to datum ABC.
Blue Tolerance Zones: Feature Relating Tolerance Zone Framework (FRTZF).
The FRTZF:
1. Constrains the location and orientation of individual hole features within the pattern
2. Constrains the orientation only relative to datum A and datum B.
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Figure 8. Animation showing hole pattern located by composite tolerancing with primary and secondary
datums in the lower segment. Any of the displacements in this animation represent a possible
configuration for the composite tolerancing with primary and secondary datums in the lower segment.
The important difference between the upper and lower segment is that in the lower segment
the tolerance zones are only constrained in orientation with respect to datums A and
datum B. The lower segment does not locate with respect to datums A and B. Thus, the FRTZF
can move up and down and right and left (Figure 8).
Two single-segmented position tolerancing:
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Figure 9. Two single-segmented position tolerancing (created using BuildIT Metrology software).
Two single segmented position tolerances are not composite tolerances. An example of this
can be seen on Figure 9. Both segments control the location and the orientation defined
relative to their datum reference frames.
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Figure 10. Hole pattern located by two single-segmented position tolerancing.
Figure 10 shows the tolerance zones and their functions for two single-segmented position
tolerancing:
Yellow Tolerance Zones: Represent the upper segment.
The upper segment constrains the location and orientation relative to datum ABC.
Blue Tolerance Zones: Represent the lower segment.
The lower segment constrains the location and orientation relative to datum A and
datum B.
As shown in Figure 10, the blue tolerance zones are now also located by datum B (as
opposed to composite tolerances which only constrained orientation). They are only free
to translate left and right, as datum C allows.
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Figure 11. Animation showing hole pattern located by two single-segmented position tolerancing.
As shown in the animation on Figure 11, now the lower segment also constrains the
location, in addition to the orientation. Thus, the blue zones are also constrained in
moving up and down (the location constraint imposed by datum B). They can only move
right and left, since the datum C is not constrained in location.
Conclusion
Composite position tolerancing is an advanced conceptual tool for fine tuning the
required orientation in parts with hole patterns. It provides the ability to adjust location
and orientation requirements on these complex parts.
The upper segment in the control frame specifies both location and orientation, thus
establishing translational and rotational constraints, whereas the lower segment
specifies orientation only, establishing only the rotational constraint. The lower segment
imposes tighter tolerances for orientation than the upper segment, thus allowing a fine
tuning in rotational adjustment.
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1. ASME Y 14.5-2018, Dimensioning and Tolerancing. New York: American Society of
Mechanical Engineers.
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