INTRODUCTION TO GEOMETRIC TOLERANCING SYMBOLS AND TERMS

FEATURES
A feature is a general term applied to a physical portion of part, such as a surface, hole or slots. An easy way to remember this term is to think of a feature as a part surface.

FEATURES

FEATURE OF SIZE
This is one cylindrical or spherical surface, or set of two opposed elements or parallel surfaces associated with size dimension which has an axis, center line or center plane contained within it.

Features of size are features, which do have diameter or thickness. These may be cylinders, such as shafts and holes. They may also be slots, rectangular or flat parts.

How many feature of size are there?

FEATURE OF SIZE

NON FEATURE OF SIZE

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FOS

External FOS are comprised of part surfaces that are external surfaces.
Like shaft diameter or width and height of a planar surfaces.

Internal FOS is comprised of part surfaces (or elements) that are internal part surfaces.
like hole diameter or the width of a slot.

Example:

FEATURE OF SIZE DIMENSIONS

A feature of size dimension is a dimension that is associated with a feature of size.

ACTUAL MATING ENVELOPE = PERFECT FEATURE COUNTERPART.

The Actual Mating Envelope (AME) of an external feature of size is 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 within the tolerance zone.

Actual Mating Envelope (AME) of an external FOS

ACTUAL MATING ENVELOPE = PERFECT FEATURE COUNTERPART

The actual mating envelope (AME) of an internal feature of size is 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 within the tolerance zone.

Actual Mating Envelope (AME) of an internal FOS

Actual Mating Envelope (AME) of an internal FOS

MATERIAL CONDITIONS
A geometric tolerance can be specified to apply at the largest size, smallest size or actual size of a feature of size. Maximum Material Condition (MMC) Maximum material condition is the condition in which a feature of size contains the maximum amount of material everywhere within the stated limits of size.

MMC of external Feature Of Size MMC

MMC of internal Feature Of Size

MMC

LEAST MATERIAL CONDITION (LMC)

Least material condition is the condition in which a feature of size contains the least amount of material everywhere within the stated limits of size .
LEAST MATERIAL CONDITION

Regardless of feature size (RFS)

Regardless of feature size is the term that indicates a geometric tolerance applies at any increment of size of the feature within its size tolerance.

RFS applied only to size features, such as hole, shafts, pins, etc.; feature which have an axis, centerplane or centerline. Symbol : S

Material Condition Usage

Each material condition is used for different functional reasons.

Geometric tolerances are often specified to apply at MMC when the function of a FOS is assembly.
Geometric tolerances are often specified to apply at LMC to insure a minimum distance on a part. Geometric tolerances are often specified to apply at RFS to insure symmetrical relationships.

MODIFIERS
Modifiers communicate additional information about the drawing or Tolerancing of a part. There are eight common modifiers used in geometric tolerancing.

Eight modifiers

PROJECTED TOLERANCE ZONE

Symbol: P The projected tolerance zone modifier changes the location of the tolerance zone on the part. It projects the tolerance zone above the part surface. Height of the projected tolerance zone should be equal to the max. thickness of the mating part.

EXAMPLE

FEATURE CONTROL FRAME WITH A PROJECTED TOLERENCE ZONE SYMBOL

TANGENT PLANE MODIFIER

The tangent plane modifier denotes that only the tangent plane of the toleranced surface needs to be within this tolerance zone.

DIAMETER MODIFIER
The diameter symbol is used in two ways: inside a feature control frame as a modifier to denote the shape of the tolerance zone, or outside the feature control frame to simply replace the word "diameter.

 Inside the feature control frame

Outside the feature control frame

Reference modifier
The modifier for reference is simply the method of denoting that the information is for reference only. The information is not to be used for manufacturing or inspection. To designate a dimension or other information as reference, the reference information is enclosed in parenthesis.

Reference Example:

RADIUS MODIFIER
Arcs are dimensioned with radius symbol on drawings. A radius is a straight line extending from the center of an arc or a circle to its surface. The Symbol for a radius is "R. When the "R" symbol is used, it creates a zone defined by two arcs. The part surface must lie within this zone. The part surface may have flats or reversals within the tolerance zone.

Radius modifier

Controlled Radius
The symbol for a controlled radius is "CR. it creates a tolerance zone defined by two arcs. The part surface must be within the crescent-shaped tolerance zone and be an arc without flats or reversals.

CONTROL RADIUS

INTRODUCTION TO GEOMETRIC TOLERANCES

Geometric characteristic symbols are a set of fourteen Symbols used in the language of geometric tolerancing. The symbols are divided into five categories: Form Profile Orientation Location Runout

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

DATUM IDENTIFYING LETTER

DATUM FEATURE SYMBOL

DATUM FEATURE SYMBOLS ON A FEATURE SURFACE AND AN EXTENSION LINE

Datum Features Symbols Attached to Features

PLACEMENT OF DATUM FEATURE SYMBOLS ON FEATURES OF SIZE

PLACEMENT OF DATUM FEATURE SYMBOL IN CONJUNCTION WITH A FEATURE CONTROL FRAME

DATUM TARGET SYMBOL

BASIC DIMESNSION SYMBOL

BETWEEN SYMBOL

COUNTERBORE OR SPOTFACE SYMBOL

COUNTERSINK SYMBOL

DIMENSION ORIGIN SYMBOL

DEPTH SYMBOL

SQUARE SYMBOL

SYMBOL FOR ALL AROUND

FEATURE CONTROL FRAME WITH FREE STATE SYMBOL

Feature Control Frame

Geometric tolerances are specified on a drawing through the use of a feature control frame.

Symbol of Geometric Tol.

Zone of Tolerance

P.D

S.D

T.D

W or w/o zone Modifier

FEATURE CONTROL FRAME INCORPORATING A DATUM REFERENCE SYMBOL

Feature Control Frame

Feature Control Frames Attached to Features

Feature Control Frames Attached to Features

Feature Control Frames Attached to Features

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE OF DATUM REFERENCE

MULTIPLE FEATURE CONTROL FRAMES

Questions and Answers

QUESTION 1
The five categories of geometric characteristic symbols are 1 2 3 4 5

ANSWER
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. FORM. ORIENTATION. LOCATION. RUNOUT. PROFILE

QUESTION 2
Label the intended contents of a feature control frame ?

ANSWER

Symbol of Geometric Tol.

Zone of Tolerance

P.D

S.D T.D

W or w/o zone Modifier

QUESTION 3
Two types of features of size are 1 2

ANSWER
Two types of features of size are

1 EXTERNAL FOS 2 INTERNAL FOS

QUESTION 4
When a radius is specified flats or reversals are

ANSWER
When a radius is specified flats or reversals are allowed.

QUESTION 5
A FOS is a FOS that contains two parallel planes surface.

ANSWER
A planar FOS is a FOS that contains two parallel planes surface.

QUESTION 6
The smallest diameter of hole is its material condition.

ANSWER
The smallest diameter of hole is its maximum material condition.

QUESTION 7
What is the MMC of a shaft that has a size of 50 0.5 ?

ANSWER
MMC = 50.5

QUESTION 8
The actual mating envelope (AME) of an internal feature of size is a similar perfect feature counterpart of the size that can be inscribed within the feature so that it just contacts the surfaces at their highest points with in the tolerance zone.

ANSWER
The actual mating envelope (AME) of an internal feature of size is 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 with in the tolerance zone.

QUESTION 9
The Actual Mating Envelope (AME) of an external feature of size is a similar perfect feature counterpart of the size that can be circumscribed about the feature so it just contacts the surfaces at the highest points with in the tolerance zone.

ANSWER
The Actual Mating Envelope (AME) of an external feature of size is a similar perfect feature counterpart of the smallest size that can be circumscribed about the feature so it just contacts the surfaces at the highest points with in the tolerance zone.

QUESTION 10
A radius without flats and reversals is referred to as a .

ANSWER
A radius without flats and reversals is referred to as a controlled radius.

QUESTION 11
To designate a dimension or other information as reference, the reference information is enclosed in .

ANSWER
To designate a dimension or other information as reference, the reference information is enclosed in parenthesis.

QUESTION 12
When the diameter symbol is used inside a feature control frame as a modifier to denote the of the tolerance zone.

ANSWER
When the diameter symbol is used inside a feature control frame as a modifier to denote the shape of the tolerance zone.