Coordinate

Metrology

COORDINATE
METROLOGY

Unit 1: Geometrical Dimensioning and

Tolerancing

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 Coordinate
Syllabus Metrology

Unit 1: Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Dimensioning and tolerancing rules and practices: MMC & LMC.

Feature control frame. Geometric characteristic symbols, 1982 ANSI
Symbols Versus 1994 ASME including 2009 upgrades. Datums,
datum reference frame, datum targets, establishing setups for
datums.

Form and Profile tolerances: straightness, flatness, circularity and

cylindricity. Profile of a line and profile of a surface. Orientation:
parallelism, perpendicularity, runout. Location tolerances: position,
concentricity.
6 Hours

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 Coordinate
Typical Production Drawing Metrology

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 Coordinate
Metrology
What is GD&T ?

Geometric Dimensioning and

Tolerancing
- Uses standard, international
symbols to describe parts in a
language that is clearly
understood by any
manufacturer.

This simple drawing shows many of

the symbols that define the
characteristics of a workpiece and
eliminates the need for traditional
handwritten notes.

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Metrology
What is GD&T ?
GD & T owes its origin to Rene Descartes (pronounced
day-kart), a French mathematician, philosopher and
scientist who lived in the 17th century.

“Never accept anything for

true which you do not clearly
know to be such.”
That idea of examining
everything in relation to what
should be “exact and perfect” led
Descartes’ to the development of
the Cartesian Coordinate System
– a coordinate plane to make it
easier to describe the position of
objects.

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 Coordinate
Metrology
What is GD&T ?

GD&T has developed as a method to question and measure the

“truth” about the form, orientation, and location of
manufactured parts. Like other languages, GD&T uses special
punctuation and grammar rules.

Standards come from two organizations:

•ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

- ASME Y14.5
* ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
- ISO 1101 are the written standards.

Gives inspectors a clear understanding of what the designer

intended.

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 Coordinate
Metrology
What is GD&T ?
When Should GD&T be Used

• When part features are critical to function or

interchangeability.
• When functional gauging techniques are desirable.
• When datum references are desirable.
• When computerization techniques are desirable.
• When standard interpretation or tolerance is not already
implied

Why Should GD&T be Used:

• It saves money.
• Provides for maximum producibility of parts.
• Insures that design tolerance requirements are specifically
stated and carried out.
• Adapts to, and assists, computerization techniques.
• Ensure interchangeability of mating parts at assembly.
• Provides uniformity and convenience in drawing.

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 Geometric Tolerance Coordinate
Metrology

Geometrical tolerance can be classified as follows:

• Form tolerances: Form tolerances limit the amount of error in

the shape of a feature and are independent tolerances. These
include straightness, circularity, flatness and cylindricity.

• Orientation tolerances: Orientation tolerances are a type of

geometric tolerances used to limit the direction or orientation of
a feature in relation to other features. Perpendicularity,
parallelism and angularity fall into this category.

• Positional tolerances: Positional tolerances are a group of

geometric tolerances that controls the extent of deviation of the
location of a feature from its true position. This is a three-
dimensional geometric tolerance which comprises position,
symmetry and concentricity.

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 Geometric Tolerance: Coordinate
Representation Metrology

Type of Feature Geometric Definition Symbol

Geometric Characteristic
Tolerance

Straightness Controls the extent of

Form Independent (2 Dimensional) deviation of a feature from a
Tolerance straight line.
Circularity Exercises Control on the
(2 Dimensional) extent of deviation of a
feature from a perfect circle.

Flatness Controls the extent of

(3 Dimensional) deviation of a feature from a
flat plane.
Cylindricity Controls the extent of
(3 Dimensional) deviation of a feature from a
perfect cylinder.
Related or Profile of a Line Controls the extent of
Single (2 Dimensional) deviation of an outline of a
feature from the true profile.

Profile of Surface Exercises control on the

(2 Dimensional) extent of deviation of a
surface from the true profile.

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 Geometric Tolerance: Coordinate
Representation Metrology

Type of Feature Geometric Definition Symbol

Geometric Characteristic
Tolerance
Perpendicularity Exercises control on the
Orientation Related (3 Dimensional) extent of deviation of a
Tolerance surface, axis, or plane
from a 90 degree angle.
Parallelism Controls the extent of
(3 Dimensional) deviation of a surface,
axis, or plane from an
orientation parallel to
the specified datum.
Angularity Exercises controls on
(3 Dimensional) the deviation of a
surface, axis, or plane
from the angle
described in the design
specifications.

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 Geometric Tolerance: Coordinate
Representation Metrology

Type of Feature Geometric Definition Symbol

Geometric Characteristic
Tolerance
Position Exercises control on the extent
Position Related (3 Dimensional) of deviation of location of a
Tolerance feature from its true position.
Symmetry Exercises control on extent of
(3 Dimensional) deviation of the median points
between two features from a
specified axis or center plane.
Concentricity Exercises control on extent of
deviation of the median points
(3 Dimensional)
of multiple diameters from the
specified datum axis.
Circular Runout Composite control on the form,
Run Out Related (2 Dimensional) orientation, and location of
multiple cross sections of a
cylindrical part as it rotates.
Total Runout Simultaneous composite control
(3 Dimensional) on the form, orientation, and
location of the entire length of a
cylindrical part as it rotates

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Metrology

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Metrology

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 Coordinate
Datum Reference Frame (DRF) Metrology

The DRF is probably the most important concept of GD&T

In order to manufacture and/or inspect a part to a drawing , the

three (3) plane concept is necessary.

Three (3) mutually perpendicular and perfect planes need to be

created to measure from.

In GD&T this is called Datum Reference Frame whereas in

mathematics it is the Cartesian coordinate system invented by
Rene Descartes in France (1596-1650).

The DRF is created by so-called Datum Simulators which are the

manufacturing, processing, and inspection equipment such as
surface plate, a collet, a three jaw chuck, a gage pin, etc.

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Datum Reference Frame (DRF) Metrology

The DRF simulators provide the origin of dimensional relationships.

They contact the features (named Datum Features) which of

course are not perfect hence measurements from simulators (which
are nearly perfect) provides accurate values and they stabilize the
part so that when the manufacturer inspects the part and the
customer inspects the part they both get the same answer.

Also if the part is contacted during the initial manufacturing setup in

the same manner as when it is inspected, a “layout” for assuring
machining stock is not required.

The final result (assuming the processing equipment is suitable for

the tolerancing specified) will be positive.

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 Primary, Secondary, and Coordinate
Metrology
Tertiary Features & Datums

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 Primary, Secondary, and Coordinate
Metrology
Tertiary Features & Datums

The primary is the first feature contacted (minimum contact at 3

points), the secondary feature is the second feature contacted
(minimum contact at 2 points), and the tertiary is the third
feature contacted (minimum contact at 1 point).

Contacting the three (3) datum features simultaneously

establishes the three (3) mutually perpendicular datum planes
or the datum reference frame.

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 Primary, Secondary, and Coordinate
Metrology
Tertiary Features & Datums

If the part has a circular feature that is identified as the primary

datum feature then as discussed later a datum axis is obtained
which allows two (2) mutually perpendicular planes to intersect
the axis which will be the primary and secondary datum
planes.

Another feature is needed (tertiary) to be contacted in order

orientate (fix the two planes that intersect the datum axis) and
to establish the datum reference frame.

Datum features have to be specified in an order of precedence

to properly position a part on the Datum Reference Frame.

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Features & Datums Metrology

DATUMS:
A part design consists of many datums (each is a
geometrically perfect form).
Datums can be :
- straight lines
- circles
- flat planes
- spheres
- cylinders
- cones
- a single point

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Features & Datums Metrology

Datums are “imaginary”. They are assumed to be “exact” for

the purpose of computation or reference.

Utilizing datums for reference, the tolerances take on new

meaning.

Now, features can have a tolerance relationship to each

other both in terms of form and also location.

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Features & Datums Metrology

 Features:

◦ Real, geometric shapes that make up the

physical characteristics of a part.
◦ May include one or more surfaces:
 Holes
 Screw threads
 Profiles
 Faces
 Slots
◦ Can be individual or may be interrelated.
◦ Any feature can have many
imperfections and variations.

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Datum Feature vs Datum Plane Metrology

The datum features are the features (surfaces) on the part that
will be contacted by the datum simulators
The features are selected for datums based on their relationship
to toleranced features, i.e., function, however they must be
accessible, discernible, and of sufficient size to be useful.

A datum plane is a datum simulator such as a surface plate

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 Coordinate
Metrology
Datum Plane vs Datum Axis

A datum plane is the datum simulator such as a surface plate. A

datum axis is also the axis of a datum simulator such as a three (3)
jaw chuck or an expandable collet (adjustable gage).

The datum planes and datum axis establish the datum reference
frame and are where measurements are made from.

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Metrology
Datum Plane vs Datum Feature
 The Datum Reference Frame will
accommodate both rectangular
and cylindrical parts.
 A rectangular part fits into the
corners represented by the inter-
section of the three datum planes.
 The datum planes are imaginary
and therefore perfect.
 The parts will vary from these planes, even though the
variations will not be visible to the naked eye.
 The most important concept to grasp is that when the
part is placed into an inspection apparatus, it must make
contact with the apparatus planes in the order specified
by the feature control frame. (Primary, then secondary,
then tertiary). This is the only way to assure uniformity
in the measurement of different parts.

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Metrology
Datum Plane vs Datum Feature
 A cylindrical part rests on
the flat surface of the primary
plane and the center of the
cylinder aligns with the
vertical datum axis created
by the intersection of the planes.

 In this case, it becomes very

important to be able to establish
the exact center of the part,
whether it is the center of a solid surface, or the center of
a hole.

 Cylindrical parts are more difficult to measure.

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The Order of Datums Metrology

▪ The primary datum feature must have at least three points of

contact with the part and contacts the fixture first.
▪ The secondary has two points of contact and the tertiary has three
points of contact with the part.
▪ This process correctly mirrors the datum reference frame and
positions the part the way it will be fitted and used.

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Metrology
Material Condition Modifiers
 Used in geometric tolerancing.
 Have tremendous impact on stated tolerance or datum reference.
 Can only be applied to features and datums that specify size.
(holes, slots, pins, tabs). If applied to features that are without
size, they have no impact.
 If no modifier is specified in the feature control frame, the default
modifier is “RFS” – regardless of feature size.
 There are three material condition modifiers:
◦ Maximum Material Condition – (MMC) – This modifier gives room for
additional position tolerance of up to .020 as the feature departs from
the maximum material condition. This is a condition of a part feature
wherein, it contains the maximum amount of material, or the
minimum hole-size and maximum shaft-size.
.255 .245

Emphasis is on
the word “Material”.
.250 + .005
.250 + .005
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Metrology
Material Condition Modifiers
◦ Least Material Condition – (LMC) – This is the opposite of the
MMC concept. This is a part feature which contains the least
amount of material, or the largest hole-size and smallest shaft-
size.
.255
.245

.250 + .005 .250 + .005

 Regardless of Feature Size – (RFS) – This is a term used to

indicate that a geometric tolerance or datum reference
applies at any increment of size of the feature within its size
tolerance. RFS is stricter and greatly affects the part’s
function, but is necessary for parts that require increased
precision.

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Bonus Tolerance Metrology

 The hole has a certain position tolerance, but at MMC, the

hole is smaller, tighter, and exhibits a perfect cylindrical
form.
 As more material is removed from around the hole, the
space is larger and provides a looser fit for the shaft.
Therefore, the position tolerance for the hole can be
increased, and both the shaft and the hole will still fit.
This increased tolerance is called the bonus tolerance of
the hole and changes as the size of the hole increases.

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The Feature Control Frame Metrology

 GD&T instructions contain a large amount of information.

 Each feature is given a feature control frame.
 Frame reads from left to right, like a basic sentence.
 Instructions are organized into a series of symbols that fit
into standardized compartments.

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The Feature Control Frame Metrology

◦ The first compartment defines the geometric characteristic of the feature,

using one of the 14 standard geometric tolerance symbols. A second feature
control frame is used if a second geometric tolerance is needed.

◦ The second compartment contains the entire tolerance for the feature, with
an additional diameter symbol to indicate a cylindrical or circular tolerance
zone. No additional symbol is needed for parallel lines or planes. If needed,
material condition modifiers would also appear in the second compartment.

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The Feature Control Frame Metrology

 The third compartment indicates the

primary datum which locates the part
within the datum reference frame.
Every related tolerance requires a
primary datum but independent
tolerances, such as form tolerances,
do not.

▪ The fourth and fifth compartments

contain the secondary and tertiary
datums. Depending on the geometric
tolerance and the function of the part,
secondary and tertiary datums may
not be necessary.

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GD & T: EXAMPLES Metrology

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GD & T: EXAMPLES Metrology

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 Coordinate
GD & T: EXAMPLES Metrology

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