MECH 2202

GD&T
Geometric Dimensioning &
Tolerancing

MECH 2202

Labs this week

Hours 1 & 2

Finish sheet metal exercises

iPart exercise

Hour 3

Assignment #3

Teams of two

MECH 2202

Coordinate Tolerancing

Dimensioning system where a part feature is

located via rectanglular (X,Y) dimensions with
given tolerances.
Results in the following shortcomings:

Square or rectangular tolerance zones

Fixed size tolerance zones
Ambiguous inspection dimensions

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Coordinate Tolerancing

Coordinate
tolerancing
results in fixed,
square or
rectangular
tolerance zone

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Coordinate Tolerancing

Location of lower hole (axis of hole)

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Coordinate Tolerancing

Ambiguous inspection dimensions

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Coordinate Tolerancing

Appropriate for:

Size of feature (e.g. Diameter, width, etc)

Chamfer dimension
Radius dimension (fillet)

Not appropriate for:

Locating features
Controlling angular relationships
Defining form of feature

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What is GD&T

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing

A method of dimensioning based on function,
form, location and orientation
Coordinate tolerances alone may not be
enough to meet the design needs of a part.
Functional requirements may need to be
communicated.
Considers the use of the feature (e.g. assembly)

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Coordinate vs GDT

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GD&T vs Coordinate Tolerances

GDT creates a cylindrical

tolerance zone for
cylindrical features

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GD&T vs Coordinate Tolerances

Tolerance zone can grow

(more tolerance) as hole
enlarges. Bonus tolerance

Symbol indicates
tolerance at Maximum
Material Condition
(MMC)
(8.0)
As hole gets larger,
tolerance zone diameter
increases by same
amount
at 8.4 hole dia,
tolerance zone = 1.1

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GD&T vs Coordinate Tolerances

Unambiguous Measurement

GD&T includes System of

Datums
Provides specific requirements for
setup for validating manufactured
parts
Location of datum surfaces
Reference to datums in evaluating
feature tolerance.

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Why GD&T

Functional dimensioning

Takes into account the function of the dimensioned

feature in the final product.
Most often related to assembly functionality
How does this feature participate in an assembly

Advantages over coordinate tolerancing

Improves communication (less guesswork)

Better product design (functional considerations)
Increases production tolerances (bonus tolerances)

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Feature

Physical portion of a part

Examples: surface, hole, slot

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Feature of Size (functional in assembly)

A single cylindrical or spherical surface or

A set of two opposed parallel surfaces
Must be associated with a size dimension

i.e. Width of box (parallel), diameter of hole

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Feature of Size

Internal FOS (e.g. Hole)

External FOS (e.g. Pin)
Important to differentiate between FOS and non
FOS dimensions

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Actual Local Size

Value of any individual measurement at any

cross section of a FOS
A 2 point measurement with caliper or
micrometer
FOS can have varying values of actual local size

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Actual Mating Envelope (AME)

For an external FOS, the AME is a similar perfect

feature counterpart (of the smallest size) that can
be circumscribed about the FOS
Just contacts at highest points
Examples

The smallest cylinder of perfect form (over pin)

Two parallel planes at perfect form at a minimum
separation

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Material Conditions

A key concept in GD&T

Specify tolerance at a particular feature material
condition

Maximum Material Condition (MMC)

Condition in which a FOS contains the maximum

amount of material
Hole = minimum diameter
Shaft = maximum diameter

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Least Material Condition (LMC)

Regardless of Feature Size (RFS)

FOS contains minimum amount of material

Geometry tolerance applies at any increment of
size of the feature (within its size tolerance)

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Geometric Characteristic Symbols

Table outlines
all geometric
characteristics
that can be
described with
GD&T

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Feature Control Frame

Geometric tolerances are specified through the use of a

feature control frame

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GD&T Rules and Concepts

ASME Y14.5-1994 is the standard for GD&T in

North America
Rule #1

Rule #2

Establishes default conditions for FOS

Establishes a default material condition for feature
control frames (RFS)

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GD&T Rules and Concepts

Rule #1 Individual FOS rule

Ensures that features of size will assemble

Where only a tol of size is specified, the limits of

size of an individual feature prescribe the extent
to which variation in its form, as well as its size,
are allowed.

Often referred to as perfect form at MMC

At MMC, the feature must have perfect form.

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GD&T Rules and Concepts

Rule #1
Applied to
External
and
Internal
FOS

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GD&T Inspecting a FOS

Go Gauge

MMC
boundary

No-go
gauge

LMC
boundary

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Virtual Condition

Depending on its function, a FOS is

controlled by a size tolerance and one or
more geometric controls, and possible
material conditions such as MMC.
Virtual condition

The worst case boundary of a FOS generated by

the collective effects of geometric tolerances
applied to a FOS at MMC or LMC.

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Virtual Condition

FOS with MMC modifier

External FOS: VC = MMC + Geometric Tol

Internal FOS: VC = MMC Geometric Tol

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Tolerance on Feature or FOS

Geometric control can be applied to:

A feature (surface) attached to surface

A FOS (axis or center plane) attached to dimension

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Bonus Tolerance

If a FOS has a geometric tol applied at MCC or

LMC, a bonus tolerance is obtainable

Tolerance applied at MMC

Describes allowable form deviation at MMC

As the size of the FOS moves away from MMC, the

allowable tolerance increases, equal to the difference
between the actual and MMC sizes

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Bonus Tolerance

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GD&T Symbols and Terms

Material Conditions and Part Dimensions

Every FOS has a MMC and LMC

Described by limit, symmetric, or deviation
tolerance

Use of material condition

MMC most commonly used when the function of a

FOS is assembly

i.e. Dimension describes mating feature on part

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Geometric Tolerance Symbols

Divided into categories

Tolerance of Form feature

or face alone
Tolerance of Profile may
be related to datum
Orientation, Location,
Runout always related to
one or more datums

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Tolerances of Form

Tolerance is not related to another feature

Straightness ( )

Surface (single direction)

Axis (contained within cylinder)

Flatness ( )

Circularity, Cylindricity

Surface

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Straightness or Flatness

Applies to single feature (surface)

Can be planar or cylindrical surface

Straightness (of line along surface)

Flatness (considers entire surface)

Planar surfaces only

Consider surface on its own

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Related Feature Tolerances

Tolerance is related to one or more Datums

Tolerances of Orientation

Tolerances of Location

Tolerance of Runout (cylindrical features)

Parallel , Perpendicular , Angularity

Position , Concentricity, Symmetry

Circular or total runout

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Datums

A Datum System defines a system and set

of rules on how dimensional measurements
are to be made.
Tolerances of orientation or location
require a reference to some geometry
References are made to theoretically
perfect geometry (Datum)

Plane, axis, or point

Called out on planar face or axis of a feature

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Datums

For parts that are

primarily box
shaped

Three orthogonal
datum planes
A = primary
B = secondary
C = tertiary

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Datums

For parts that are

primarily cylindrical

Axis datum, plus end

plane datum

A part may have

additional related
datums for specific
features (typically on
mating features)

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Review 1

A single measurement of a pin diameter

under GD&T is a(n)
a)
b)
c)
d)

Actual mating envelope (AME)

MMC measurement
Actual local size measurement
LMC measurement

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MECH 2202

Review 1

Coordinate tolerancing is suitable for

which of the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)

The size of a feature of size.

The location of a hole.
A chamfer dimension.
The flatness of a surface.

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Review 1

The virtual condition of

the shown FOS is:
a)
b)
c)
d)

.508
.503
.500
.497

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