Geometric Dimensioning

and Tolerancing
GD&T
 What is GD & T?
 Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing is an international
language used on drawings to accurately describe a part.
The language consists of a well-defined set of symbols,
rules, definitions, and conventions that can be used to
describe the size, form, orientation, and location tolerances
of part features. 

 Geometric tolerancing is an exact language that enables

designers to “say what they mean” on a drawing, thus
improving product designs. Production uses the language
to interpret the design intent, and inspection looks to the
language to determine set up. By providing uniformity in
drawing specifications and interpretation, GD&T reduces
controversy, guesswork, and assumptions throughout the
manufacturing and inspection process.
 Why do I need GD & T?
 Whenever two parts are expected to
fit together and function without re-
work or adjustment, the parts must
be clearly defined.

 You can’t build what you can’t

measure because you don’t know
when you’re finished.
 Learning Objectives
 Label datum features on a drawing
 Place proper feature control frames on
drawings, establishing geometric
tolerances
 Establish basic dimensions where
appropriate
 Use and interpret material condition
symbols
 Use and interpret datum targets and
areas
 Datum
Datums are considered to be theoretically perfect
surfaces, planes, points or axes to which
additional material conditions are referenced.
Feature Control Frame
 Material Conditions

 
Parallelism - is the
condition of a
surface, line, or axis,
which is equidistant
at all points from a
datum plane or axis. 
 Material Conditions (cont’d.)

  
 

Perpendicularity - is the
condition of a surface,
axis, or line, which is 90
deg. From a datum plane
or a datum axis.  
 Material Conditions (cont’d.)

  
Angularity - is the
condition of a surface,
axis, or center plane,
which is at a specified
angle from a datum
plane or axis.  
 Material Conditions (cont’d.)

  
Concentricity -
describes a
condition in
which two or
more features,
in any
combination,
have a common
axis
Material Conditions (cont’d.)
  
Straightness - a condition where an element of a surface or an
axis is a straight line.  2D 

Flatness - is the condition of a surface having all elements in

one plane. 3D

Roundness - describes the condition on a surface of revolution

(cylinder, cone, sphere) where all points of the surface
intersected by any plane. 2D

Cylindricity - describes a condition of a surface of revolution in

which all points of a surface are equidistant from a common
axis.  3D

Profile of a Line - is the condition permitting a uniform amount

of profile variation, ether unilaterally or bilaterally, along a
line element of a feature. 2D
 
Profile of a Surface - is the condition permitting a uniform
amount of profile variation, ether unilaterally or bilaterally,
on a surface. 3D
Material Conditions (cont’d.)
All Around Symbol - indicating that a tolerance applies to surfaces all around the part. 

Position Tolerance (True Position)- defines a zone within which the axis or center plane
of a feature is permitted to vary from true (theoretically exact) position.  

Symmetry - is a condition in which a feature (or features) is symmetrically disposed

about the center plane of a datum feature. 

Runout - is the composite deviation from the desired form of a part surface of revolution
through on full rotation (360 deg) of the part on a datum axis.  

Total Runout - is the simultaneous composite control of all elements of a surface at all
circular and profile measuring positions as the part is rotated through 360.

Datum Target - is a specified point, line, or area on a part that is used to establish the
Datum Reference Plane for manufacturing and inspection operations. 

Target Point - indicates where the datum target point is dimensionally located on the
direct view of the surface.

Target Area - indicates where the datum target area is dimensionally located on the
direct view of the surface.
Material Conditions (cont’d.)
Maximum Material Condition (MMC) - is that condition of a part feature
wherein it contains the maximum amount of material within the stated limits of
size. That is: minimum hole size and maximum shaft size.   (Condition where
part weighs the most)

Least Material Condition (LMC) - implies that condition of a part feature of size
wherein it contains the least (minimum) amount of material, examples, largest
hole size and smallest shaft size. It is opposite to maximum material condition.

Basic Dimension - used to describe the exact size, profile, orientation or location
of a feature. A basic dimension is always associated with a feature control
frame or datum target.

Reference Dimension - a dimension usually without tolerance, used for

information purposes only. It does not govern production or inspection
operations.

Feature Control Frame - is a rectangular box containing the geometric

characteristics symbol, and
the form, run out or location tolerance. If necessary, datum references and
modifiers applicable to the feature or the datums are also contained in the box.
 Datum Targets, Target Areas and
Target Points
Datum targets are typically used in
situations where it is inappropriate to
specify an entire surface as a datum
feature.

There are six datum targets shown in

this diagram. Four of these datum
targets are datum target points,
each of which is represented by an
×. The other two datum targets are
datum target areas, each of which is
represented by a cross-hatched
circular area.
Material Conditions and Position

When the MMC symbol appears after a geometric tolerance number, it means that the
given tolerance only applies when the feature is made at its MMC. So if a hole is given
a size of 12.0 – 12.1, and also a position tolerance of Ø.02, it means that the position
of .02 is to be held if the hole is made to a size of 12.0 (its MMC)!
But suppose that we make a hole of 12.05. This is not the MMC size, but it is still within
legal range. So here's where it gets interesting -- a hole of 12.05 has deviated from
MMC by .05 inch. So we can adjust the position tolerance by .05 also! The print said
position of Ø.02, but our part really gets a position tolerance of Ø.07! This trend
continues until the hole reaches its LMC (12.1); at that size the position tolerance
would be Ø.12. This is the original Ø.02 plus a "bonus" of .10, which comes from the
deviation in hole size.
Essentially, it boils down to this: a smaller hole has to be positioned pretty accurately,
but as the hole gets larger, its center may deviate more from the true position.
Revising a Drawing with GD&T
Revising a Drawing with GD&T
(cont’d.)