Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Chapter 3, Datums

GDT
1. Establish a reference coordinate system. 2. Tell me where perfect is.

3. Tell me how far off from perfect is allowed.

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Introduction
Datums are nothing more and nothing less than the physical features of parts from which to make repeatable measurements. These features are considered theoretically exact. Datums define a coordinate system from which to measure everything. Datums are usually a plane, a line, or a point.

We will need to label the datums on our drawing so that the part inspector will know from where to measure.
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Datum Feature Symbol

Datum Feature Symbol

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept
define primary, secondary, and tertiary datum planes the primary datum is the one that functionally is usually the most critical feature or surface of the part the primary datum feature of the part will make contact with the theoretical datum plane in a minimum of three points

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept
the secondary datum plane is to the primary datum secondary datum feature is the one that functionally is the 2nd most critical feature or surface of the part 2 point minimum contact

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept
the tertiary datum plane is to the primary & sec. datums 1 point minimum contact

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept - Circular

circular parts also require a three-plane concept for repeatable orientation the primary datum is usually one flat surface of the part, defines a datum axis along the center of cylinder

should be a construction line (or omitted)

should have a center line

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept - Circular

datum A defines an axis along the center of the cylinder

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Partial Datums
Occasionally, designs require a datum on a particular surface, but not necessarily the entire surface.

EML 2023 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

10

Features with and without

Size

1.9

Establishing Datums from Primary Plane Surfaces

15.9 0.2

5H7(5/5.012) 0.2

250.3

L L

M-10x1.25 12.7 0.1

25 0.3 H 2X 60.25

Theory Datum features H and L are mated with a theoretical perfect plane contacting the high points of the datum feature.

Physical Datum features H and L are mated on the high points of the manufacturing or inspection equipment

6.15

Establishing Datums from Primary Plane Surfaces

P h y sical

Workpiece

Datum feature

W O R K P IE C E

Datum feature

Physical datum feature simulator (surface plate or processing equipment)

Tool and gage variation

SU R FA C E Datum feature simulator

Theoretical datum plane

Magnified View

Simulated datum plane

6.15

Datum Features without Size

P 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

L 0.2

250.3
M-10x1.25 N M 12.70.1

K 2 SURFACES

H 2X 60.25

25 0.3 S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high points of the rear surface.

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high points of the bottom surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high points of the left side of the slot. Datum feature K establishes a plane on the high points of two surfaces.

6.16

Datum Features without Size

P 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

L 0.2

250.3
M-10x1.25 N M 12.70.1

K 2 SURFACES

H 2X 60.25

25 0.3 S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high points of the rear surface.

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high points of the bottom surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high points of the left side of the slot. Datum feature K establishes a plane on the high points of two surfaces.

6.16

Datum Features without Size

P 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

L 0.2

250.3
M-10x1.25 N M 12.70.1

K 2 SURFACES

H 2X 60.25

25 0.3 S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high points of the rear surface.

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high points of the bottom surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high points of the left side of the slot. Datum feature K establishes a plane on the high points of two surfaces.

6.16

Datum Features without Size

P 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

L 0.2

250.3
M-10x1.25 N M 12.70.1

K 2 SURFACES

H 2X 60.25

25 0.3 S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high points of the rear surface.

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high points of the bottom surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high points of the left side of the slot. Datum feature K establishes a plane on the high points of two surfaces.

6.16

Datum Features without Size

P 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

L 0.2

250.3
M-10x1.25 N M 12.70.1

K 2 SURFACES

H 2X 60.25

25 0.3 S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high points of the rear surface.

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high points of the bottom surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high points of the left side of the slot. Datum feature K establishes a plane on the high points of two surfaces.

6.16

Datum Features of Size

C R 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

250.1 M10x1.25 F B 12.7 0.1 A

250.1 2X 60.25 0.2 M D

G

SR 8.5 0.4

Theory
Datum axis E is the axis of the theoretical datum feature simulator

Physical

Simulated datum axis E is the axis of a collet, chuck, CMM etc.

6.18

Datum Features of Size

C R 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

250.1 M10x1.25 F B 12.7 0.1 A

250.1 2X 60.25 0.2 M D

G

SR 8.5 0.4

6.19

Datum Features of Size

C R 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

250.1 M10x1.25 F B 12.7 0.1 A

250.1 2X 60.25 0.2 M D

G

SR 8.5 0.4

Physical Theory
D a t u m c e n t e r p la n e B i s t h e c e n t e r p la n e o f th e d a t u m f e a t u r e s im u l a t o r . S im u la t e d d a tu m c e n te r p la n e B is th e c e n te r p la n e o f th e g a g e b lo c k .

6.19

Datum Features of Size

C R 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

250.1 M10x1.25 F B 12.7 0.1 A

250.1 2X 60.25 0.2 M D

G

SR 8.5 0.4

Theory

Datum axis C is the axis of the datum feature simulator

Physical
Simulated datum axis C is the axis of the gage pin

6.20

Datum Features of Size

C R 15.9 0.2 5H7(5/5.012)

250.1 M10x1.25 F B 12.7 0.1 A

250.1 2X 60.25 0.2 M D

G

SR 8.5 0.4

Theory
Datum D axis and two planes are established from a pattern of two holes

Physical

Simulated datum feature D axis and two intersecting planes established from gage

6.20

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in line with the dimension line, establishes center plane of the width.

R 5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2 250.2

Datum feature symbol K on the extension line, establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol B in line with the dimension line establishes the center plane of the slot.

Datum feature symbol M on the extension line establishes a plane from the high points on the surface.

M
B 12.70.1 S 170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Evaluation
specified dimension , orientation

planes, axis, center lines, edges, points, areas no three

90
X X X X X convey rocking X
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circle size

tolerance

33