Geometric Dimensioning

and Tolerancing (GD&T)

MANAGEMENT

CUSTOMERS

VENDORS

DESIGN
SALES

PRICING
TOOLING
PLANNING

PURCHASING
PRODUCTION

ROUTING

SERVICE
INSPECTION

ASSEMBLY

PART PRODUCTION COMMUNICATION MODEL

Three Categories of
Dimensioning
Dimensioning can be divided into
three categories:
general dimensioning,
geometric dimensioning, and
surface texture.
The following provides
information necessary to begin to
understand geometric
dimensioning and tolerancing
(GD&T)

Limit Tolerancing Applied

To An Angle Block

Geometric Tolerancing
Applied To An Angle Block

Geometric Dimensioning
& Tolerancing (GD&T)

GD&T is a means of
dimensioning & tolerancing
a drawing which considers
the function of the part and
how this part functions
with related parts.
This allows a drawing to
contain a more defined
feature more accurately,
without increasing tolerances.

GD&T contd

GD&T has increased in practice in

last 15 years because of ISO
9000.
ISO 9000 requires not only that something
be required, but how it is to be controlled.
For example, how round does a round
feature have to be?

GD&T is a system that uses

standard symbols to indicate
tolerances that are based on the
features geometry.
Sometimes called feature based
dimensioning & tolerancing or true
position dimensioning & tolerancing

GD&T practices are specified in

ANSI Y14.5M-1994.

For Example

Given Table Height

Assume all 4 legs will be
cut to length at the same
time.

However, all surfaces have a degree of

waviness, or smoothness. For
example, the surface of a 2 x 4 is much
wavier (rough) than the surface of a
piece of glass.
As the table height is dimensioned, the
following table would pass inspection.
or

If top must be flatter, you could tighten

the tolerance to 1/32.
However, now the height is restricted to
26.97 to 27.03 meaning good tables would
be rejected.

Example contd.

You can have both, by using

GD&T.
The table height may any height
between 26 and 28 inches.
The table top must be flat within
1/16. (1/32)

.06

.06

.06

26

27

28

WHY IS GD&T IMPORTANT

Saves money
For example, if large number
of parts are being made
GD&T can reduce or eliminate
inspection of some features.
Provides bonus tolerance
Ensures design, dimension, and
tolerance requirements as they
relate to the actual function
Ensures interchangeability of
mating parts at the assembly
Provides uniformity
It is a universal understanding of
the symbols instead of words

WHEN TO USE GD&T

When part features are critical to

a function or interchangeability
When functional gaging is
desirable
When datum references are
desirable to insure consistency
between design
When standard interpretation or
tolerance is not already implied
When it allows a better choice of
machining processes to be made
for production of a part

TERMINOLOGY REVIEW

Maximum Material Condition

(MMC): The condition where a size
feature contains the maximum amount
of material within the stated limits of
size. I.e., largest shaft and smallest
hole.
Least Material Condition (LMC): The
condition where a size feature
contains the least amount of material
within the stated limits of size. I.e.,
smallest shaft and largest hole.
Tolerance: Difference between MMC
and LMC limits of a single dimension.
Allowance: Difference between the
MMC of two mating parts. (Minimum
clearance and maximum interference)
Basic Dimension: Nominal
dimension from which tolerances are
derived.

LIMITS OF SIZE

SIZE DIMENSION

WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN?
2.007
2.003

LIMITS OF SIZE
A variation in form is allowed
between the least material
condition (LMC) and the
maximum material condition
(MMC).
SIZE DIMENSION
ENVELOPE PRINCIPLE
MMC
(2.007)

LMC
(2.003)

ENVELOPE OF SIZE

Envelop Principle defines the

size and form relationships
between mating parts.

LIMITS OF SIZE

ENVELOPE PRINCIPLE

LMC
CLEARANCE

MMC
ALLOWANCE

LIMITS OF SIZE
The actual size of the feature at
any cross section must be
within the size boundary.
MMC
LMC

LIMITS OF SIZE
No portion of the feature may
be outside a perfect form
barrier at maximum material
condition (MMC).

Other Factors
I.e., Parallel Line Tolerance Zones
GEOMETRIC DIMENSIONING TOLERANCE ZONES

PARALLEL LINES

PARALLEL LINES

PARALLEL LINES

PARALLEL PLANES

PARALLEL PLANES

PARALLEL PLANES

PARALLEL PLANES

PARALLEL PLANES

CYLINDER ZONE

GEOMETRIC CHARACTERISTIC CONTROLS

14 characteristics that may be controlled

TYPE OF
FEATURE

TYPE OF
CHARACTERISTIC SYMBOL
TOLERANCE
FLATNESS

INDIVIDUAL
(No Datum
Reference)

STRAIGHTNESS
FORM
CIRCULARITY
CYLINDRICITY

INDIVIDUAL
or RELATED
FEATURES

LINE PROFILE
PROFILE
SURFACE PROFILE
PERPENDICULARITY
ORIENTATION ANGULARITY
PARALLELISM

RELATED
FEATURES
(Datum
Reference
Required)

CIRCULAR RUNOUT
RUNOUT
TOTAL RUNOUT
CONCENTRICITY
LOCATION

POSITION
SYMMETRY

Characteristics & Symbols

contd.

Maximum Material Condition MMC

Regardless of Feature Size RFS
Least Material Condition LMC
Projected Tolerance Zone
Diametrical (Cylindrical) Tolerance
Zone or Feature
Basic, or Exact, Dimension
Datum Feature Symbol
Feature Control Frame

Feature
Frame
FEATUREControl
CONTROL FRAME
GEOMETRIC SYMBOL
TOLERANCE INFORMATION
DATUM REFERENCES

COMPARTMENT VARIABLES

THE
RELATIVE TO
OF THE FEATURE
MUST BE WITHIN
CONNECTING WORDS

Feature Control Frame

Uses feature control frames to

indicate tolerance

Reads as: The position of the

feature must be within a .003
diametrical tolerance zone at
maximum material condition
relative to datums A, B, and C.

Feature Control
Frame

Uses feature control frames to indicate

tolerance

Reads as: The position of the feature

must be within a .003 diametrical
tolerance zone at maximum material
condition relative to datums A at
maximum material condition and B.

Reading Feature Control Frames

The
zone.

of the feature must be within a

tolerance

The
tolerance zone at
to Datum .

The

of the feature must be within a

tolerance zone relative to Datum .

The

of the feature must be within a

zone at
relative to Datum .

The
of the feature must be within a
tolerance zone relative to datums
.

of the feature must be within a

relative

Placement of Feature
Control Frames

May be attached to a side, end

or corner of the symbol box to
an extension line.

Applied to surface.

Applied to axis

Placement of Feature
Control Frames
Contd.

May be below or closely

adjacent to the dimension or
note pertaining to that feature.
.500.005

Basic Dimension

A theoretically exact size, profile,

orientation, or location of a feature or
datum target, therefore, a basic
dimension is untoleranced.
Most often used with position,
angularity, and profile)
Basic dimensions have a rectangle
surrounding it.

1.000

Basic Dimension
contd.

Form Features

Individual Features
No Datum Reference

Flatness

Straightness

Circularity

Cylindricity

Form Features Examples

Flatness as stated on
drawing: The flatness of the
feature must be within .06
tolerance zone.

Straightness applied to a flat surface: The

straightness of the feature must be within .003
tolerance zone.
.003

0.500 .005

.003

0.500 .005

Form Features Examples

Straightness applied to the surface of a
diameter: The straightness of the feature must
be within .003 tolerance zone.
.003

0.500
0.505

Straightness of an Axis at MMC: The derived

median line straightness of the feature must be
within a diametric zone of .030 at MMC.
0.500
0.505
1.010
0.990

.030

Dial Indicator
DIAL INDICATOR
BEZEL

CASE

6
8

8
10

12

10

CLAMP

PROBE

Verification of Flatness

Activity 13

Work on worksheets GD&T 1,

GD&T 2 #1 only, and GD&T 3
(for GD&T 3 completely
dimension. grid.)

Features that Require

Datum Reference

Orientation
Perpendicularity
Angularity
Parallelism

Runout
Circular Runout
Total Runout

Location
Position
Concentricity
Symmetry

Datum

Datums are features (points, axis,

and planes) on the object that are
used as reference surfaces from
which other measurements are
made. Used in designing, tooling,
manufacturing, inspecting, and
assembling components and subassemblies.
As you know, not every GD&T
feature requires a datum, i.e., Flat

1.000

Datums contd.
Features are identified with
respect to a datum.
Always start with the letter A
Do not use letters I, O, or Q
May use double letters AA,
BB, etc.
This information is located in
the feature control frame.

Datums on a drawing of a
part are represented using
the symbol shown below.

Datum Reference Symbols

The datum feature symbol

identifies a surface or feature
of size as a datum.

ASME
1994

ISO

A
ANSI
1982

Placement of Datums

Datums are generally placed on a feature, a

centerline, or a plane depending on how
dimensions need to be referenced.
A

OR

ANSI 1982
ASME 1994

Line up with arrow only when

the feature is a feature of
size and is being defined as
the datum

Placement of Datums

Feature sizes, such as holes

.500.005

Sometimes a feature has a

GD&T and is also a datum
A

.500.005

.500.005

TWELVE DEGREES OF FREEDOM

UP
BACK

LEFT

6 LINEAR AND
6 ROTATIONAL
DEGREES OF
FREEDOM
RIGHT

FRONT
DOWN

UNRESTRICTED FREE
MOVEMENT IN SPACE

Example Datums

Datums must be
perpendicular to each other
Primary

Secondary

Tertiary Datum

Primary Datum

A primary datum is selected

to provide functional
relationships, accessibility,
and repeatability.
Functional Relationships
A standardization of size is desired in
the manufacturing of a part.
Consideration of how parts are
orientated to each other is very
important.
For example, legos are made in a
standard size in order to lock into
place. A primary datum is chosen
to reference the location of the
mating features.

Accessibility
Does anything, such as, shafts, get in
the way?

Primary Datum

contd.

Repeatability
For example, castings, sheet
metal, etc.
The primary datum chosen must
insure precise measurements.
The surface established must
produce consistent
Measurements when producing
many identical parts to meet
requirements specified.

Primary Datum
Restricts 6 degrees of freedom

FIRST DATUM ESTABLISHED

BY THREE POINTS (MIN)
CONTACT WITH SIMULATED
DATUM A

Secondary &
Tertiary Datums

All dimension may not be capable to

reference from the primary datum to
ensure functional relationships,
accessibility, and repeatability.
Secondary Datum
Secondary datums are produced
perpendicular to the primary datum so
measurements can be referenced from
them.

Tertiary Datum
This datum is always perpendicular to
both the primary and secondary datums
ensuring a fixed position from three
related parts.

Secondary Datum

Restricts 10 degrees of freedom.

SECOND DATUM
PLANE ESTABLISHED BY
TWO POINTS (MIN) CONTACT
WITH SIMULATED DATUM B

Tertiary Datum

Restricts 12 degrees of freedom.

90

MEASURING DIRECTIONS FOR

RELATED DIMENSIONS

THIRD DATUM
PLANE ESTABLISHED
BY ONE POINT (MIN)
CONTACT WITH
SIMULATED DATUM C

Coordinate Measuring
Machine
COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE
BRIDGE DESIGN

PROBE

GRANITE
SURFACE
PLATE

DATUM
REFERENCE
FRAME

Size Datum
(CIRCULAR)

THIS ON
THE DRAWING

MEANS THIS

PART
DATUM AXIS

SIMULATED DATUMSMALLEST
CIRCUMSCRIBED
CYLINDER

Size Datum
(CIRCULAR)

THIS ON
THE DRAWING
A

MEANS THIS

PART
DATUM AXIS A

SIMULATED DATUMLARGEST
INSCRIBED
CYLINDER

Orientation Tolerances
Perpendicularity

Angularity
Parallelism
Controls the orientation of
individual features

Datums are required

Shape of tolerance zone: 2

parallel lines, 2 parallel planes, and
cylindrical

PERPENDICULARITY:

is the condition of a surface, center plane, or

axis at a right angle (90) to a datum plane or
axis.
Ex:
The perpendicularity of
this surface must be
within a .005 tolerance
zone relative to datum A.

The tolerance zone is the

space between the 2
parallel lines. They are
perpendicular to the
datum plane and spaced
.005 apart.

Practice Problem

Plane 1 must be
perpendicular within .005
tolerance zone to plane 2.

BOTTOM SURFACE

Practice Problem

Plane 1 must be
perpendicular within .005
tolerance zone to plane 2

BOTTOM PLANE

Practice Problem

2.00.01

.02 Tolerance

Without GD & T this

would be acceptable

2.00.01
.005 Tolerance
Zone
.02 Tolerance

With GD & T the overall height may end

anywhere between the two blue planes. But the
bottom plane is restricted to the red tolerance
zone.

PERPENDICULARITY

Contd.

Location of hole (axis)

This means the hole

(axis) must be
perpendicular within a
diametrical tolerance
zone of .010 relative to
datum A

ANGULARITY:

is the condition of a surface, axis, or

median plane which is at a specific
angle (other than 90) from a datum
plane or axis.
The surface is at a
45 angle with a
.005 tolerance zone
relative to datum A.

Can be applied to an axis at MMC.

Typically must have a basic
dimension.

PARALLELISM:

The condition of a surface or center plane

equidistant at all points from a datum plane, or
an axis.
The distance between the parallel lines, or
surfaces, is specified by the geometric
tolerance.

0.01

Activity 13

Contd.

Complete worksheets GD&T2, GD&T-4, and GD&T-5

Completely dimension.
grid

Material Conditions
Maximum Material Condition
(MMC)
Least Material Condition
(LMC)
Regardless of Feature
Size(RFS)

Maximum Material Condition

MMC
This is when part will weigh the
most.
MMC for a shaft is the largest
allowable size.
MMC of 0.240.005?

MMC for a hole is the smallest

allowable size.
MMC of 0.250.005?

Permits greater possible

tolerance as the part feature
sizes vary from their calculated
MMC
Ensures interchangeability
Used
With interrelated features with
respect to location
Size, such as, hole, slot, pin, etc.

Least Material Condition

LMC
This is when part will weigh
the least.

LMC for a shaft is the smallest

allowable size.
LMC of 0.240.005?

LMC for a hole is the largest

allowable size.
LMC of 0.250.005?

Regardless of Feature Size

RFS
Requires that the condition of
the material NOT be
considered.
This is used when the size
feature does not affect the
specified tolerance.
Valid only when applied to
features of size, such as
holes, slots, pins, etc., with
an axis or center plane.

Location Tolerances

Position
Concentricity
Symmetry

Position Tolerance

A position tolerance is the total

permissible variation in the location
of a feature about its exact true
position.
For cylindrical features, the
position tolerance zone is typically
a cylinder within which the axis of
the feature must lie.
For other features, the center plane
of the feature must fit in the space
between two parallel planes.
The exact position of the feature is
located with basic dimensions.
The position tolerance is typically
associated with the size tolerance
of the feature.
Datums are required.

Coordinate System Position

Consider the following hole dimensioned with
coordinate dimensions:

The tolerance zone for the location of the hole is

as follows:

2.000

.750

Several Problems:
Two points, equidistant from true position may not
be accepted.
Total tolerance diagonally is .014, which may be
more than was intended.

Coordinate System Position

Consider the following hole dimensioned with

coordinate dimensions:

The tolerance zone for the location (axis) of the

hole is as follows:

2.000

.750

Center can be
anywhere along
the diagonal
line.

Several Problems:
Two points, equidistant from true position may not
be accepted.
Total tolerance diagonally is .014, which may be
more than was intended. (1.4 Xs >, 1.4*.010=.014)

Position Tolerancing

Consider the same hole, but add

GD&T:

Now, overall tolerance zone is:

MMC =
.500 - .003 = .497

The actual center of the hole (axis) must lie in

the round tolerance zone. The same tolerance
is applied, regardless of the direction.

Bonus Tolerance

Here is the beauty of the system! The

specified tolerance was:

This means that the

tolerance is .010 if the
hole size is the MMC size,
or .497. If the hole is
bigger, we get a bonus
tolerance equal to the
difference between the
MMC size and the actual
size.

Bonus Tolerance Example

This means that
the tolerance is
.010 if the hole
size is the MMC
size, or .497. If the
hole is bigger, we
get a bonus
tolerance equal to
the difference
between the MMC
size and the actual
size.

.503

Actual Hole Size

Bonus Tol.

of Tol. Zone

.497 (MMC)

.010

.499

.002

(.010 + .002 = .012)

.012

.500 (.500 - .497 = .003)

.003

(.010 + .003 = .013)

.013

.502

.005

.015

.503 (LMC)

.006

.016

.504

(.499 - .497 = .002)

This system makes sense the larger the hole

is, the more it can deviate from true position
and still fit in the mating condition!

Hole

.497 = BONUS 0

TOL ZONE .010

Shaft

.499 - .497 = BONUS .002

BONUS + TOL. ZONE = .012

.501 - .497 = BONUS .004

BONUS + TOL. ZONE = .014

.503 - .497 = BONUS .006

BONUS + TOL. ZONE = .016

What if the tolerance had been specified as:

Since there is NO material modifier, the

tolerance is RFS, which stands for regardless
of feature size. This means that the position
tolerance is .010 at all times. There is no
bonus tolerance associated with this
specification.

VIRTUAL CONDITION: The worst case

boundary generated by the collective effects of
a size features specified MMC or LMC
material condition and the specified geometric
tolerance.

GT = GEOMETRIC
TOLERANCE

PERPENDICULARITY

Contd.

Means the hole (AXIS) must

be perpendicular within a
diametrical tolerance zone of
.010 at MMC relative to datum
A.

Actual Hole
Size
1.997 (MMC)
1.998
1.999
2.000
2.001
Vc =

2.002
2.003

Bonus Tol.

of Tol.
Zone

Activity 13

Contd.

Worksheet GD&T 6