1.

Understand Rules of GD &T

Rule #1 and Rule #2.

2. Understand the concepts of basic dimensions, virtual condition, inner and outer boundary,
worst-case boundary and bonus tolerance.

Rules
There are four rules that apply to drawings in general, and to GD&T in particular. They
specify some relationships that occur on drawing Symbols, Terms and rules are the basics of
GD&T.They are the alphabet, the definitions and the syntax of this language

RULE # 1
When no geometric tolerance is specified, the dimensional tolerance controls the geometric form as
well as the size. No element of the feature shall extend beyond the MMC boundary of perfect form.
The form tolerance increases as the actual size of the feature departs from MMC towards LMC

Rule #1
Rule #1 is referred to as the "Individual Feature of Size Rule."
In industry the Rule #1 is paraphrased as “perfect form at MMC” or the “envelope rule”.

“Where only a tolerance of size is specified, the limits of size of an individual feature prescribe the
extent to which variations in its form as well as in its size are allowed”.

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Rule#1 applied to an External feature of size

Size and form must allow the part to pass through the boundary

Each two-point measurement must be within the specified

tolerance

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Rule#1 applied to an Internal feature of size

Each two-point measurement must

be within the specified tolerance

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 An example of effects of Rule #1 on a planar FOS.

In Rule #1, the words perfect form mean perfect flatness, straightness, circularity and
cylindricity. In other words if the feature of size is produced at MMC, it is required to
have perfect form

TECHNOTE – For features of size, where only a tolerance of size is

specified, the surfaces shall not extend beyond a boundary (envelope)
of perfect form at MMC.
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 RULE # 2 (1994 standard)
RFS automatically applies to individual tolerances and to datum feature of size.
MMC & LMC must be specified where Required.

Rule #2a is an alternative practice of Rule #2 according to which RFS may be specified as a
symbol in feature control frames if desired and applicable.

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RULE # 3(1982 Standard)
For all other geometric controls, RFS automatically applies
RULE # 4
All geometric tolerances specified for screw threads apply to the axis of the thread derived
from the pitch diameter. Exceptions must be specified by a note (such as Major Dia or
Minor Dia). All geometric tolerances specified for gears and splines must designate the
specific feature (such as Major Dia or Minor Dia) at which each applies.

RULE # 5
Where a datum feature of size is controlled by a geometric tolerance and is specified as a
secondary or tertiary datum, the datum applies at virtual condition with respect to
orientation.

INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL CONDITION

AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Definition
Virtual Condition (VC) is a worst-case boundary generated by the collective effects of a
feature of size at MMC or at LMC and the geometric tolerance for that material condition.

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The VC of a FOS includes effects of the size, orientation, and location
for the FOS.

Inner Boundary (IB) is a worst-case boundary generated by the smallest feature of size
minus the stated geometric tolerance (and any additional tolerance, if applicable).

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Outer Boundary (OB) is a worst-case boundary generated by the largest
feature of size plus the stated geometric tolerance (and any additional
tolerance, if applicable).

Worst-Case Boundary (WCB) is a general term to refer to the extreme boundary of a

FOS that is the worst-case for assembly. Depending upon the part dimensioning, a
worst-case boundary can be a virtual condition, inner boundary, or outer boundary.

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Worst-Case Boundary when no Geometric Tolerances are specified.
MMC Virtual Condition

The virtual condition (or WCB) is the extreme boundary that represents the worst-case for functional
requirements, such as clearance or assembly with a mating part.

In the case of an external FOS, such as a pin or a shaft, the VC (or WCB) is determined by
formula:
VC = MMC + Geometric Tol.

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In the case of an internal FOS, such as a hole, the VC (or WCB) is
determined by formula:

VC = MMC – Geometric Tol.

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RFS inner and outer boundary

When a geometric tolerance that contains no modifiers (RFS default per Rule #2) in the
tolerance portion of the feature control frame is applied to a FOS, the inner or outer
boundary (or worst-case boundary) of the FOS is affected.
In the case of an external FOS, such as a pin or a shaft, the OB (or WCB) is
determined by the formula:

OB = MMC + Geometric Tol.

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In case of an internal FOS, such as a hole, the IB (or WCB) is
determined by the formula:

IB = MMC – Geometric Tol.

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 INTRODUCTION TO BONUS TOLERANCE

When the actual mating size of the FOS departs from MMC (towards LMC)
an increase in the stated tolerance- equal to the amount of the departure is
permitted. This increase or extra tolerance is called the bonus tolerance.

The bonus tolerance concept applies to any geometric control that uses the MMC
(or LMC) modifiers in the tolerance portion of the feature control frame.
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 DATUM REFERENCE FRAMES AND DATUM SYSTEMS
(PLANAR DATUM)
Set of symbols and rules that communicates to the drawing user how dimensional
measurements are to be made.

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 WHY DATUM SYSTEM?
• First, it allows the designer to specify which part surfaces are to contact the inspection
equipment for the measurement of a dimension.
• Second, the datum system allows the designer to specify, in which sequence the part is to
contact the inspection equipment for the measurement of a dimension.

BENEFITS OF DATUM SYSTEM

• It aids in making
repeatable dimensional
measurements.
• It aids in communicating
part functional
relationships.
• It aids in making the
dimensional measurement
as intended by the
designer.

CONSEQUENCES
• Good parts are rejected
• Bad parts are accepted

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 DATUMS (PLANAR)

• DATUM
• DATUM FEATURE
• DATUM FEATURE SIMULATOR
• SIMULATED DATUM
• DATUM FEATURE SYMBOL
• DATUM SELECTION

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 DATUM
• A datum is a theoretically exact plane, point or axis from which a dimensional measurement is
made.
• A Datum is the true geometric counter part of a datum feature
• A true geometric counter part is the theoretical perfect boundary or best fit tangent plane of a
datum feature.

DATUM FEATURE
• A datum feature is a part feature that exists on the part and contacts a datum.

SIMULATED DATUM
• A simulated datum is the plane established by the inspection equipment.

DATUM FEATURE SIMULATOR

• A datum feature simulator is the inspection equipment that includes the gage elements used to
establish the simulated datum.

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 DATUM FEATURE SYMBOL
• The symbol used to specify a datum feature on a drawing is called the datum
feature symbol.

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DATUM REFERENCE IN FEATURE
CONTROL FRAME

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• Datum features are selected on the basis of part function and assembly
requirements. Datum features often orient (stabilize) and locate the part in it’s
assembly.

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 DATUM REFERENCE FRAME
• A datum reference frame is a set of three mutually perpendicular datum planes.
• The datum reference frame provides direction as well as an origin of dimensional
measurements.

DATUM REFERENCE FRAME

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 DATUM REFERENCE FRAME(contd…)
• The planes of a datum reference frame have zero perpendicularity tolerance to each
other by definition.
• The 90˚angle between datum planes are basic.

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 DATUM REFERENCE FRAME(contd…)
• When making a location measurement on a part feature, the six degrees of freedom are
restricted by using a datum reference frame.
• The method of bringing a part into contact with the planes of the datum reference
frame has a significant impact on the measurement of the part dimensions.

• Primary datum: This establishes the orientation of the part(stablise the part )to the
datum reference frame.
• The part contacts the datum plane with at least three points of contact.
• The primary datum restricts three degree of freedom
• Secondary datum: This locates the part (restricts part movement) within the datum
reference frame.

• Requires a minimum of two points of contact with the secondary datum.

• The Secondary datum restricts two additional degree of freedom

• Tertiary datum: This locates the part(restricts part movement) within the datum
reference frame.
• Requires a minimum of one points of contact with the secondary datum.
• The tertiary datum restricts the last remaining degree of freedom
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Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Datums

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 THE 3-2-1 RULE
• The 3-2-1 rule defines the minimum number of points of contact
required.

• The 3-2-1 rule only applies on a part with all planar datums.

Datum-related versus FOS dimensions

• Only dimensions that are related to a datum reference frame through
geometric tolerances should measure in a datum reference frame.

• If a dimension is not associated to a datum reference frame with a

geometric tolerance, then there is no specification on how to locate the
part in the datum frame.

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DATUM REFERENCE FRAME

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Datum-related versus FOS
dimensions(contd…)

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INTRODUCTION DATUM AXIS AND CENTER
PLANE
• Here Feature of Size is used as a datum features
• When a diameter is used as a datum feature, It results in a datum axis
• When a planar is used as a datum feature, it results in a datum center
plane

Describe the datum that results from a FOS datum feature

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3 Ways for representing an axis as datum
• Datum identification symbol can be touching the surface of a diameter to specify
axis as the datum

Describe the ways to specify an axis as a datum.

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3 Ways for representing an axis as datum
(Contd….)
• Datum identification symbol can be touching the beginning
of a leader line of FOS to specify an datum axis

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3 Ways for representing an axis as datum
(Contd….)
• Datum identification symbol can be touching the feature
control frame to specify an axis or centre plane as datum

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2 Ways for representing a centre plane as
datum
• Datum identification symbol can be inline with
dimension line to specify on axis or centre plane as
datum

Describe the ways to specify an centre plane as a datum.

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2 Ways for representing a centre plane as
datum (Contd….)

• Datum identification symbol can replace one side of the

dimension line and arrow head

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 Datum Terminology
• Datum feature A
• Datum feature
simulator /
Gauge element
• Simulated datum
axis A
• Simulated datum
Feature A

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FOS datum feature referenced at MMC

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Datum centre plane MMC primary

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 Datum axis MMC secondary

Draw the datum feature simulator for an FOS datum

feature (MMC secondary with virtual condition) 40
 DATUM TARGETS SYMBOLS(contd….)

A DATUM TARGET IDENTIFICATION SYMBOL B DATUM TARGET SYMBOL

• A datum target point is specified by an X shaped symbol, consisting of a pair

of lines intersecting at 90°.
• Basic dimensions should used be used to locate datum target points relative
each other and the other datums on the part.

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 DATUM TARGETS SYMBOLS(contd….)

• Datum target point

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 DATUM TARGETS SYMBOLS(contd….)
• Datum target areas

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DATUM TARGETS SYMBOLS(contd….)

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