GD&T

Rules, virtual condition

Datum targets and shift
GD&T-WM05601JL

GD&T rules
• Developed to help dimensioning and tolerancing
• There are three fundamental rules that are used extensively in
geometric tolerancing:
• Rule #1: envelope rule
• Rule #2: tolerance of position rule

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Rule #1 - envelope rule

“Forfeatures-of-size,w hereonly asizedim ensionisspecified,the

surfacesshallnotextendbeyondaboundary (envelope)ofP ER FECT
FO R M AT M M C ”

• Perfect form means perfect flatness, straightness, roundness and

cylindricity.

• W hatdoesthism ean?

Rule #1 - envelope rule

• A shaft which is an external feature-of-size with only a diameter
specified.

• MMC = 11mm LMC = 10.5mm

• What is the form error allowed if the diameter was 10.75mm?

Ø 11mm
10.5mm

2
Rule #1 - envelope rule
MMC – Actual Part Ø = Allowed Form Error

11mm – 10.75mm = 0.25mm Form Error

Otherwise would not fit into internal feature-of-

Ø 11mm size
Boundary of
perfect form Actual part Ø
@ MMC 10.75mm

Rule #1 - envelope rule

• Rule #1 applies to individual features-of-size only.

• It does not apply to the inter-relationship of features-of-size.

• Rule does not apply to non-rigid parts or stock sizes such as bar stock,
tubing or sheets.

• Standards for these items govern these parts are governed by the
finished part.

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Feature control frame
 Saw earlier how a feature control frame can be applied to either a
feature or a feature-of-size.
 Rule #1 only applies to a feature not a feature-of-size.
 It does not apply to a feature-of-size because its tolerance governs
the envelope size.

Rule #2: tolerance of position rule

“ Fortoleranceofposition M or L m ustbespecifiedinthefeature
controlfram ew ithrespecttothetolerancevalue,datum reference,or
bothasapplicable”
Position Geometric
Characteristic

1.4 M A B M C M

Specified if Datum is
a Feature-of-Size

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 Rule #3: Other than tolerance of position rule
“Forotherthantoleranceofposition,R FS appliedw ithrespecttothe
tolerance,datum reference,orboth.M M C m ustbespecifiedinthefeature
controlfram ew henitisappropriate* anddesired”

• *Certain geometric characteristics are always RFS by definition cannot use

the MMC modifier

Virtual condition
• Virtual condition is important when analysing parts that assemble
together.

• It is the theoretical extreme boundary for of feature-of-size.

• It is generated usually by the collective effects of MMC and any

geometric tolerances.

• When no geometric tolerance is applied virtual condition is

dependent upon MMC and Rule #1.

• When a tolerance is applied to a feature-of-size this overrides Rule

#1.

5
Virtual condition
• Virtual condition when no geometric tolerance is applied.

Ø12.7
12.2

MMC = 12.7mm

At MMC its form cannot vary otherwise the envelope size will be breached.

Virtual condition = 12.7mm + 0mm = 12.7mm

Virtual condition
• Virtual condition for external features-of-size with a tolerance.

Ø12.7
12.2
Ø 0.1 M

• What does the tolerance apply to?

6
Virtual condition
• It applies to the axis of the shaft.

Ø12.7
12.2
Ø 0.1 M 0.1mm Ø Tolerance Zone

12.8mm = MMC + Tolerance

MMC = 12.7mm

Virtual Condition = 12.7 + 0.1 = 12.8mm

Virtual condition
• Virtual condition for internal features-of-size with a tolerance.

• Have to deduct the tolerance from the MMC.

Ø12.7
MMC = 12.2mm 12.2
Ø 0.1 M

Virtual Condition =
12.2mm – 0.1mm =
12.1mm

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Virtual condition
• For external feature-of-size the virtual condition gets larger.

• For internal feature of size the virtual condition gets smaller.

Hole @ MMC

Virtual Condition

Virtual condition
• For an internal feature-of-size @ MMC its diameter is at its smallest.

• Therefore when it moves around its tolerance zone its target reduces
further.

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Virtual condition
• Important for product designers when analysing mating parts.

• Important for gage designers when calculating gage dimensions.

TARGET ZONE
FOR PIN

http://youtu.be/qEv9BO_BUbg

Datum systems
• A theoretically exact point, line, axis or plane to which other
toleranced features are related.

• Datums are used primary to locate a part in a repeatable manner.

• Datum is the measurement gage – datum feature is the part feature

that the gage relates to.

• Datum features also communicates function design information for

how the part is located in its assembly.

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How are datums referenced?
• Datum features are usually expressed by a small triangular base and a
letter.

• Datums are referenced in the feature control frame in the

compartment next to the tolerance value.

1.4 M A B M C M

Datum selection
• Datums are selected based on the functional design requirements of
the part.

• Datum features are surfaces which locate and mount the part in its
assembly.

• Other part features are dimensioned relative to these datums

through the use of geometric tolerancing.

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Datum selection example
In the drawing bolt holes need to be held relative to the features which
locate the part.

Bolt Holes

Datum selection example

Part is clamped against surface A - establishes the attitude of the part -
primary datum.

Primary Datum

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Datum selection example
Pilot hole C is used to locate the part and is the secondary datum in
dimensioning the bolt holes.

Secondary Datum

Datum selection example

Datum ssystem enoughtom easureboltholesbutnotenoughto
establishcoordinatesystem ?

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Datum reference frames
• When more than one datum plane is required for repeatable
measurement a datum reference frame is used.

• It is a set of three mutually perpendicular planes.

• To position a part on datum reference frame datums must have an

order of precedence.

• This order of precedence is denoted in the feature control frame.

1.4 M A B M C M

Datum targets (more symbols!)

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Datum targets
• Datum targets are designated points, lines or areas of contact used to
locate a part in a datum reference frame.

• Datum targets should considered when the whole surface may

introduce uncertainties.

Continuous leader line Target area size

point on visible surface Ø5
Dashed leader line point
on hidden surface A 3
Target number
Datum identifying
letter

Feature-of-size datums
• When referencing a feature-of-size datum, it is necessary to specify if
the datum feature is to be simulated: MMC, LMC or RFS.

• RFS: the datum axis or centreplane is established through physical

contact between the part feature-of-size and the measuring
instrument.

• MMC: the gauging equipment used to simulate the true geometric

counterpart and establish the datum has a fixed size.

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Feature-of-size datums
RFS example – Gauge contacts with part feature and centre of contact
is the datum axis.

Smallest true cylinder contacting

with the high points of the datum
GAUGE feature

Datum axis
(of smallest true cylinder)

Feature-of-size datums
MMC Example – Gauge has a fixed width equal to the MMC diameter
of the datum feature.

True cylinder size equal to MMC

of datum feature
GAUGE

Datum axis
(axis of measurement gauge)

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Datum shift
• When gauging a part with a datum feature-of-size at MMC, the gauge
is a fixed size.

• If the diameter of the datum feature is smaller than the MMC (or
virtual condition) a looseness will exist between the part and the
gauge.

• This is known as datum shift.

• The maximum amount of datum shift is equal to the datum feature

MMC (or virtual condition) minus the datum feature LMC.

Datum shift
“Functionalrequirem entsofapartdeterm inew henadatum shouldbe
referencedatM M C orR FS ”

“W henadatum featureisreferencedatM M C,theinspection

equipm entisusually sim plerandlessexpensive”

“S inceadatum shiftisperm itted,thepartm ay bem oreeconom icalto

m anufacture”

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Feature-of-size datum precedence

When interpreting datum reference frames that involve both feature-

of-size and planer datums – the datum precedence plays a major role in
the final part tolerancing.

Feature-of-size datum precedence

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Flatness ( )
• Flatness tolerance is the amount which planar surface elements can
deviate from true plane.

• Flatness tolerance is the difference between two planes – a true

plane (from CAD) and an offset plane (by the tolerance value).

• All points on the planar surface must lie between these two planes.
0.5mm
Offset Plane
0.5 Nominal Plane

Flatness ( ) – Rule #1
• Rule #1 – The envelope rule applies to a planar feature-of-size.

• When a feature-of-size is at MMC both surfaces must be perfectly flat.

• However when the part departs from MMC the flatness tolerance comes
into effect.

• Flatness tolerance is applied to the planar feature not the planar feature-
of-size.
0.2

12.5
12

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Flatness ( ) – Rule #1
• Example: When the feature-of-size is between 12.3-12.5mm Rule #1
dictates the tolerance.

• When the apart approaches LMC flatness tolerance comes into effect.

• Flatness tolerance used to refine Rule #1

Boundary envelope
set be rule #1
0.2
12.5 12 Limits set by flatness
MMC LMC tolerance

Flatness ( ) – Rule #1
• The flatness control limits the surface flatness only when the part
departs from MMC by more than the flatness tolerance.

• Flatness tolerance does not override rule #1 or affect virtual

condition.

• The flatness tolerance should be less the feature-of-size dimension

tolerance.

• Flatness can only be applied to a planar surfaces - cannot use the

MMC or LMC modifiers.

19
Straightness ( )
• Straightness can be applied to both a feature and a feature-of-size
(cylindrical or flat feature).

• A straightness tolerance for a surface element (feature) is two parallel

lines spaced a distance apart equal to the straightness tolerance
value.

• The tolerance zone applies in the view that the straightness symbol is
shown on the drawing.

• For a feature it is a two-dimensional control.

Straightness ( )
• When applied to its surface (feature) it refers to the straightness of
that surface in the 2d view.

• When applied to the diameter it refers to the straightness of its axis

(MMC + LMC can apply).

• Overrides rule #1 when applied to a feature-of-size and virtual

condition is affected.
0.02 Ø12.7
12.2
0.02

Ø12.7
12.2

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Circularity ( )
• Circularity – At any section of a cylinder (cone or sphere)its surface is
a perfect circle.

• Circularity tolerance – the amount which surface elements may vary

from the theoretical circle.
Lowest measured Circularity Highest measured
points on diameter tolerance value points on diameter

Inner Diameter (Hole) Outer Diameter (Pin)

Circularity ( )
• Circularity tolerance can only be applied to a feature not a feature of
size.

• Consequently the MMC and LMC modifiers cannot be used.

• Rule #1 applies at MMC up to where the feature-of-size deviates away

from MMC by more than tolerance value.

0.5

90o

21
Cylindricity ( )
• Cylindricity tolerance is the amount which surface elements can very
from a theoretically exact cylinder.

• Tolerance zone consists of two concentric cylinders.

• Applied in the same method as the circularity tolerance.

0.5

90o

Profile controls
• Profile controls can be used to limit the form, size or orientation of a
part feature.

• The outline of an object in a given plane is referred to a profile.

• A true profile is the exact profile of a geometric shape as described

by basic dimensions.

22
Profile controls
• Example of a surface profile with a bilateral tolerance related to a
datum frame.

• The profile control limits the feature size, orientation and form.

C A
6
0.5 A B C 5.5

12R 10

7.5 B

Orientation controls
• Controls the orientation of one part feature relative to another.

• Sometimes not directly specified on a part feature but controlled by a

general note.

• Parallel features are also controlled by rule #1.

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Orientation controls
• Orientation controls are necessary for part features which require
further specification.

• They are considered “related feature tolerances” – must contain a

datum reference in the feature control frame.

• There are three types of orientation control tolerance zone.

• Two parallel planes.
• Two parallel lines.
• Cylindrical.

Pependicularity ( )
• Perpendicularity is the condition of a surface, centreplane or axis
being exactly 90o to a datum.

• Used in a number of cases:

Case Perpendicularity Applied to Shape of Comments
control tolerance zone
1 Surface Two parallel Controls
0.5 A
planes surface only
2 Hole Two parallel Controls axis in
0.5 A
planes one view only
3 Ø 0.5 A Hole Cylindrical Controls axis in
all directions

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Angularity ( )
• Condition of a surface, centreplane or axis being exactly a specified
angle from a datum.

• Angularity tolerance always two parallel planes.

• Tolerance indicates the distance the parallel planes should be spaced

apart.

• Surface/axis should lie between the two planes.

0.5 A

60o

A 0.5mm

Parallelism ( )
• Parallelism – condition where all points of a surface, centreplane or
axis are an equal distance from a datum plane or axis.

• Tolerance zone is two parallel planes or a cylinder within which all

points of a controlled surface must lie.

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Symmetry ( )
• The symmetry tolerance is specified when a non-cylindrical feature
must be centred.

• Tolerance specifies the acceptable zone of space in which non-

cylindrical features must lie.

• Tolerance zone defined by two parallel planes set a set distance apart.

• Tolerance zone centred about the centre plane or datum of the non-
cylindrical feature (slot).

Symmetry ( )
Verification of symmetry is difficult and it is recommended that
position, parallelism or straightness is used instead.

Median points 0.7mm Tolerance Zone

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Runout controls
• Runout is a control which affects both the form and location of a part
feature relative to a datum axis.

• It is specified whenever a part rotates about an axis or is itself an axis

of rotation.

Circular runout ( )
• A Circular Runout tolerance applied to surfaces constructed around
a datum axis controls cumulative variations of roundness and co-
axiality.
• When applied to surfaces constructed at right angles to the datum
axis, it controls elements of a surface.

• Datum axis established by the smallest true cylinder.

• The tolerance is applied independently at any circular measuring

position as the part is rotated 360 degrees.

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Circular runout

Axial runout

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Total Runout Tolerances
• Provides composite control of all surface elements.
• The tolerance applied simultaneously to circular and longitudinal
elements as the part is rotated 360 degrees.

Circular Axial

Axial total runout

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Cylindrical total runout

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