Chapter 9. Geometric Dimensioning and Chapter 9.

Geometric Dimensioning and

Tolerancing (GD&T) An Introduction Tolerancing (GD&T)

Learning Outcomes 9.1 Introduction

At the end of this topic you should be able to: Engineering Product
Design
Recognize various symbols used in GD&T
Explain the terms maximum material condition
(MMC) and least material condition (LMC) Part
Inspection
Explain the advantages of GD&T What has been
What is to be Compare product manufactured
manufactured with design

Chapter 9. Geometric Dimensioning and Activity

Tolerancing (GD&T)
GD&T
9.1 Introduction List the main factors that determine the
manufacturing cost of the stepped shaft shown:

Engineering Product
Design

Part
Inspection

GD&T binds the three elements (engineering

design, the product and part inspection together)

9.2 Meaning of tolerance Tolerance on size

Tolerance is the amount by which a dimension is 50 0.5
allowed to vary
Tolerances are applied to both position and size:

25 0.1
Tolerance on position

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9.3 GD&T
GD&T is a method of dimensioning and tolerancing
a drawing with respect to the actual function or
relationship of part features that can be most
economically produced
9.3 GD&T
GD&T is a method of dimensioning and tolerancing
a drawing with respect to the actual function or
relationship of part features that can be most
economically produced
GD&T is used when:
(a) Features are critical to functionality of part
(b) Datum references are required to ensure
consistency between design, manufacturing
and inspection

9.4 Benefits of GD&T

Proper application of GD&T will
ensure that the allowable part and
assembly geometry defined on the
drawing leads to parts that have the
desired form and fit (within limits) and
function as intended.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
GD&T adds clarity to conventional coordinate
dimensioning
Universal symbols are used to:
i) convey design intent to remote
manufacturing or assembly sites
ii) provides a common standard for
dimensioning practices
iii) enhance repeatability of part orientation
iv) increases interchangeability of parts

Traditional Cartesian coordinate system creates Permissible machining limits:

square tolerance zone, e.g. tolerance for hole
center:

20 1

20 1

2
 Location tolerance of 1 creates tolerance zone for
hole center of 2 mm:
2

Only hatched space is within

But, shaded areas are also
tolerance
20 within same distance from
center

Unnecessary restriction becomes much greater

20

Consider what happens when two holes are involved: GD&T provides a diametrical (circular) tolerance
zone:
2

9.5 Definitions

Feature: Physical portion of a part, e.g. hole, First datum plane

(primary plane)
surface, slot etc.
Datum: Theoretically exact plane, point or axis
from which a dimension is measured
Second datum
Datum feature: Part feature that contacts the plane
datum (secondary
plane)
Third
Datum reference frame: Set of three mutually datum
plane
perpendicular datum planes: (tertiary
plane)

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 Feature of size: One cylindrical or spherical surface 9.5 Definitions
or a set of two opposed elements or opposed parallel
Language of GD&T is a set of symbols, divided into
surfaces associated with a size dimension
five types of dimensioning control:
- form tolerance
- profile tolerance
- orientation tolerance
- location tolerance
- runout tolerance

Form tolerance: States how far an actual surface or

feature is allowed to vary from the desired form on
the drawing

18 mm 17.89 mm

??
0.055 mm

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 Example where
flatness control can
be applied:

Profile tolerance: States how far an actual surface Form tolerance for lines: Profile
or feature is allowed to vary from the desired form on
the drawing or vary relative to a datum 0.02

0.02

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 Orientation tolerance: States how far an actual
surface or feature is permitted to vary relative to a
datum

Location tolerance: States how far an actual size

feature is permitted to vary from the perfect location
implied by the drawing as related to a datum or other
feature

Runout tolerance: States how far an actual surface

or feature is permitted to vary from the desired form
implied by the drawing during full 360 rotation of
the part on a datum axis

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e.g. maximum material condition for hole:
MMC for hole is 6.25
Regardless of Feature Size (RFS): Geometric
tolerance that applies at any increment of size of
feature within its permissible limits
- RFS is implied on all geometric tolerances, unless
indicated by the presence of a modifier
9.6 Material conditions
Maximum material condition (MMC): Condition in
which a feature of size contains the material within
its stated tolerance limits (Symbol M )
e.g. maximum material condition for pin:
MMC for pin is 6.15
Least material condition (LMC): Condition in which
a feature of size contains the least amount of
material within its permissible limits (Symbol L ), e.g.
minimum shaft diameter or maximum hole diameter.
LMC for hole is
6.35
9.7 Feature control frame
A feature control frame is used to specify
geometric tolerances on a drawing
The feature control frame is a rectangular box that
contains the geometric symbols, modifiers and
datum references
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 Examples of different feature control frames:

Examples of different feature control frames (ctd.): Form tolerance for lines: Circularity

0.02

0.02

Form tolerance for surfaces: Flatness Form tolerance for surfaces: Cylindricity

0.05

0.05

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 Form tolerance for surfaces profiles

Orientation tolerance: Parallelism

Orientation tolerance: Perpendicularity ACTIVITY 1

Describe the type of tolerance control shown in

the figure

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 ACTIVITY 2
Describe the type of tolerance control shown in the
figure

Orientation tolerance: Angularity

ACTIVITY 3

The language of GD&T is a set of symbols

divided into five types of dimensioning control.
Name the five types of dimensioning control.

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 http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html FLATNESS
STRAIGHTNESS
Flatness is the condition
Straightness is the condition where
of a surface having all
all the points on a surface or an axis
points in one plane.
are in a straight line. A straightness
tolerance specifies a zone within
A flatness tolerance
which the surface or axis must lie. In
specifies a zone defined
the example the zone is bounded by
by 2 parallel planes. In the
two parallel lines 0.03 mm apart.
example shown the
When a diameter symbol is added to surface must lie between 2
the tolerance the derived axis of the parallel planes 0.18mm
feature must lie within a cylindrical apart and the surface must
tolerance zone of 0.03 mm diameter. be within the specified size
limits.
When a MMC modifier is added, the
tolerance zone is 0.03 diameter at
18mm diameter and the zone
increases as the feature decreases
from MMC. (http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)

CYLINDRICITY
CIRCULARITY (ROUNDNESS)

Circularity or roundness is the Cylindricity is the condition

condition where all the points where all points of a surface
on a surface are in a circle. of revolution are equidistant
Circularity tolerance specifies a from a common axis.
zone bounded by 2 concentric
circles within which the Cylindricity tolerance specifies
measured surface must lie. a zone bounded by 2
concentric cylinders within
In the example shown each which the measured surface
circular element must lie must lie.
between 2 concentric circles,
one having a radius 0.05mm The tolerance applies
larger than the other. Each simultaneously to both circular
circular element of the surface and longitudinal elements.
must also be within the
specified limits of size.

(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html) (http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)

OPEN PROFILE (LINE) CLOSED PROFILE (SURFACE)

A profile is the outline of an

The tolerance zone established by
object in a given plane. The
the profile of a surface tolerance is
tolerance zone established by the
three dimensional extending along
profile of a line tolerance is two
the length and width (or
dimensional extending along the
circumference) of the considered
length of the considered feature.
feature.
In this example each line element
In the example all points on the
at any cross section must lie
surface must lie between 2 profile
between 2 profile boundaries
boundaries 0.6mm apart in relation
0.6mm apart in relation to the
to datum plane A. Additionally the
datum plane A. Additionally the
surface must be within and
surface must be within any
specified size limits.
specified limits of size. The
tolerance zone may be specified
to be unilaterally disposed either
inside or outside the true profile

(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html) (http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)

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ANGULARITY
Angularity is the condition of
a surface or axis at a specified
angle (other than 90) from a
datum plane or axis.
The tolerance zone is defined
be 2 parallel planes at the
specified basic angle from a
datum plane or axis. The
surface or axis of the
considered feature must lie
within this zone. In the
example all points of the
surface must lie within the 0.5
mm wide tolerance zone.
(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)
PERPENDICULARITY (ctd.)
2) A zone defined by 2 parallel
planes perpendicular to the
datum axis. In this example,
the axis of the hole must lie
within the zone which is 0.3
mm wide and at right angles to
datum axis A. The feature axis
must also be within the
tolerance of location.
(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)
PERPENDICULARITY (ctd.)
(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)
PERPENDICULARITY
Perpendicularity is the
condition of a surface or axis at
a right angle to a datum plane
or axis.
1) A zone defined by 2 parallel
planes perpendicular to a
datum plane or axis. In the
example shown, the surface of
the feature must lie within this
zone which is 0.15 mm wide
and at right angles to datum A.
(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)
PERPENDICULARITY (ctd.)
3) A cylindrical tolerance zone
perpendicular to a datum
plane. In this example the axis
of the part must lie within a
cylindrical zone of 0.05 mm
diameter at right angles to
datum A.
This tolerance applies at the
maximum diameter of 14.984
mm (MMC). As the feature size
decreases from MMC, the
perpendicularity tolerance zone
is increased a corresponding
amount. The feature axis must
also be within the tolerance of
location.
(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)
PERPENDICULARITY (ctd.)
4) A zone defined by 2 parallel lines
perpendicular to a datum plane or
axis. In the example shown, each
radial element of the surface must lie
within this zone 0.05mm wide and at
right angles to datum A.
The surface must also be within the
specified limits of size.
(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)
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PARALLELISM ACTIVITY 4
Describe the type of tolerance control shown in the
figure

The surface of the feature must lie within 2 planes 0.25

mm apart which are parallel to datum A.

ACTIVITY 5
Describe the type of tolerance control shown in the
figure

The tolerance applies at the minimum diameter of 9.000

(MMC). As the feature size increases from MMC, the
parallelism tolerance zone is increased a corresponding
amount.

TRUE POSITION

If position tolerances are to be modified as features depart from

maximum material condition, the MMC modifier must be specified on the
drawing.

A positional tolerance defines a zone within which the center, axis or

center plane of a feature of size is permitted to vary from the true (exact)
position. Basic dimensions establish the true position.

In the example shown, the center of the holes must lie within circles of
0.5 mm diameter when the holes are at 10.25 mm diameter.

As the diameter of the holes increases to 10.5 mm diameter, the

tolerance zones increase proportionately to 0.75 mm diameter.

(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)

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CONCENTRICITY CONCENTRICITY

CONCENTRICITY CIRCULAR RUNOUT

Concentricity is the condition Runout is a composite tolerance used to control the

where the axes of all cross relationship of one or more features to a datum axis. The
sectional elements of a surface illustration shows the types of features that can be
of revolution are common to the controlled by runout tolerances.
axis of a datum feature.

Concentricity tolerance
specifies a cylindrical tolerance
zone whose axis coincides with
the datum axis.

In this example, the zone has a

diameter of 0.2mm and the
feature axis must lie within this
zone.

(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html) (http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)

Circular runout provides control of circular elements of a In the example shown, each circular element of the surfaces
surface. It can be used to control the cumulative variations toleranced must fall within 0.04mm (Full Indicator Movement)
of circularity (roundness) and coaxiality. when the part is rotated 360 about the datum axis.

(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html) (http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)

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TOTAL RUNOUT
For surfaces perpendicular to a datum axis it includes:
Total runout provides composite Perpendicularity
control of all surface elements.
Flatness
For surfaces around a datum
axis, including: In the example shown, the entire surface must lie within the 0.04mm
wide (Full Indicator Movement) tolerance zone when the part is
Circularity (Roundness)
rotated 360 about the datum axis.
Straightness
Coaxiality
Angularity
Taper
Profile of a Surface

(http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html) (http://www.actphx.com/gd_and_t/gd_and_t.html)

Activity 5
Name the following symbols:

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