GD&T

(Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing)

 GD&T - Definitions

The Datum System is a set of symbols and rules that

communicate to the drawing user where part
dimensional measurements are to be made from.

Benefits of the Datum System:

1) It aids in making repeatable measurements
2) It aids in communicating part functional relationship
3) It aids in making dimensional measurements per design
intent

A Functional Gage is a gage that verifies functional

relationships of part features.
 GD&T Definitions (continued)
Maximum Material Condition MMC
Is that condition of a feature of size where the maximum
amount of material that is allowed to be there (per the size
tolerance) is still there. The Largest Allowable Shaft, or the
Smallest Allowable Hole.

This is M

For more
This is M information
see ASME
Y14.5M-1994
 GD&T Definitions (continued)
Least Material Condition LMC
Is that condition of a feature of size where the most amount
of material that is allowed to be removed (per the size
tolerance) has been removed. The Smallest Allowable Shaft,
or the Largest Allowable Hole.

This is L

For more
information
This is L see ASME
Y14.5M-1994
 GD&T Definitions (continued)
A Feature Control Frame is a rectangular box that is divided into
compartments within which the geometric characteristic
symbol, tolerance value, modifiers, and datum references are
placed.
 GD&T Definitions (continued)

A Datum Feature is a part feature

that contacts a datum.
A Datum is a theoretically point,
axis or plane from which a
dimensional measurement is made.
A Plane ot True Geometric
Counterpart is the theoretically
perfect boundary or best fit tangent
plane of a specified datum feature.

Datum Features are selected on the basis of part function and assembly requirements
 GD&T Degrees of freedom

Fig. 1
A part in space has six (6) degrees
of freedom, which are:

Rotation around X, Y, Z axis (3)

Movement along X, Y, Z axis (3)
(as shown in Fig. 1)
 GD&T Degrees of freedom (cont.)

In order to measure the part, the Fig. 2

degrees of freedom must be
restrained.
On a part with all planar datums, it
takes three datum references to
restrict all six degrees of freedom.
(as shown in Fig. 2, the three datum
references for the part in Fig. 1 are
Datum Planes A, B, C)
 GD&T - Degrees of freedom The 3-2-1 Rule
The 3-2-1 rule defines the minimum
number of points of contact of part
datum features with their datum planes
in order to restrict a parts all six
degrees of freedom.
Fig. 3
- the 3 stands for 3 points of contact
needed to define Datum plane A.
This restricts 3 degrees of freedom (two
rotations around X axis & Y axis and one
movement along Z axis).
- the 2 stands for 2 more points of contact
needed to define Datum plane B. This
restricts 2 more degrees of freedom (one
rotation around Z axis and one movement
along Y axis)
- the 1 stands for 1 more point of contact
needed to define Datum plane C.
This restricts 1 more - the last - degree of
freedom. (one movement along X axis)
Per above and also shown in Fig. 3, a
minimum of 6 points of contact are required
to restrict all 6 degrees of freedom for the
part shown in Fig. 1.
 GD&T Datum targets
Datum Targets = symbols that describe the shape, size and
location of gage elements used to establish a datum axis.
Datum Targets Point, Line, Area Symbols

Point: X Line: line Area: rectangle

 GD&T - Bonus tolerance
Geometric Tolerance is a tolerance used to control a form, profile,
orientation, location or runout.
Usually a geometric tolerance is small (such as 0.2 mm).
Not all parts can be machined to this tight tolerance, therefore an additional
tolerance (bonus tolerance) is defined for the correspondent part feature.

Bonus Tolerance is an additional tolerance for a geometric tolerance.

Bonus Tolerance is the amount of the actual mating size of a feature of size
departing from MMC (or LMC) (as shown in the Bonus Tolerance columns
of both Examples 1 and 2 on the next two pages)
Bonus Tolerance is permissible only when an MMC (or LMS) modifier is
shown in the tolerance portion of a control frame.
GD&T - Bonus tolerance example #1
The Geometric
Tolerance is maximum
0.2 deviation from
straightness.
The additional (bonus)
tolerance for the part
feature (pin diameter)
is from 16.0 to 16.6.
The maximum bonus
tolerance permissible
is the difference
between MMC and
LMC of the part
feature dimension
(16.616.0=0.6)
GD&T Bonus tolerance example #2
The Geometric
Tolerance is
maximum 0.2
deviation from
straightness.
The additional
(bonus) tolerance for
the part feature (shim
thickness) is from 2.0
to 2.5.
The maximum bonus
tolerance permissible
is the difference
between MMC and
LMC of the part
feature dimension
(2.5-2.0=0.5)
 GD&T - Datum shift
Datum Shift definition:
- the allowable movement or looseness between the
part datum feature and the gage.

Datum Shift calculation:

- when the MMC modifier is specified, the maximum
amount of datum shift permissible is the difference
between the datum feature simulator (gage size) and
the LMC of the datum feature.
 GD&T Datum shift calculation
example
In this example, the maximum amount of datum shift permissible is 0.6

AM of Datum Feature A Datum Shift Possible

Maximum Datum
Diam 12.6 0.0
(Feature A) Shift Permissible
Diam 12.4 0.2
Diam 12.2 0.4
12.6 12.0 = 0.6
Diam 12.0 0.6
 GD&T Profile Tolerancing vs.
Coordinate Tolerancing
Profile Tolerancing
- Definition: the outline of a part feature in a given plane.
- Advantages:
- clear definition of the tolerance zone
- communicates the datums and sequence
- eliminates accumulation of tolerance
Coordinate Tolerancing
- Definition: dimensioning system where a part feature is located by
means of rectangular dimensions with given tolerances.
- Coordinate Tolerancing should not be used to locate holes because holes
cannot be located by means of rectangular dimensions.
GD&T other examples
GD&T other examples
GD&T