Geometric Dimensioning

and Tolerancing
GD&T

What is GD & T?

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing is an international

language used on drawings to accurately describe a part.
The language consists of a well-defined set of symbols,
rules, definitions, and conventions that can be used to
describe the size, form, orientation, and location tolerances
of part features.
Geometric tolerancing is an exact language that enables
designers to say what they mean on a drawing, thus
improving product designs. Production uses the language to
interpret the design intent, and inspection looks to the
language to determine set up. By providing uniformity in
drawing specifications and interpretation, GD&T reduces
controversy, guesswork, and assumptions throughout the
manufacturing and inspection process.

Why do I need GD & T?

Whenever two parts are expected to

fit together and function without rework or adjustment, the parts must
be clearly defined.
You cant build what you cant
measure because you dont know
when youre finished.

Learning Objectives

Label datum features on a drawing

Place proper feature control frames on
drawings, establishing geometric
tolerances
Establish basic dimensions where
appropriate
Use and interpret material condition
symbols
Use and interpret datum targets and
areas

Datum
Datums are considered to be theoretically perfect
surfaces, planes, points or axes to which
additional material conditions are referenced.

Feature Control Frame

Material Conditions

Parallelism - is the
condition of a
surface, line, or axis,
which is equidistant
at all points from a
datum plane or axis.

Material Conditions (contd.)

Perpendicularity - is the
condition of a surface,
axis, or line, which is 90
deg. From a datum plane
or a datum axis.

Material Conditions (contd.)

Angularity - is the
condition of a surface,
axis, or center plane,
which is at a specified
angle from a datum plane
or axis.

Material Conditions (contd.)

Concentricity describes a
condition in
which two or
more features,
in any
combination,
have a common
axis

Material Conditions (contd.)

Straightness - a condition where an element of a surface or an
axis is a straight line. 2D
Flatness - is the condition of a surface having all elements in
one plane. 3D
Roundness - describes the condition on a surface of revolution
(cylinder, cone, sphere) where all points of the surface
intersected by any plane. 2D
Cylindricity - describes a condition of a surface of revolution in
which all points of a surface are equidistant from a common
axis. 3D
ProfileofaLine - is the condition permitting a uniform amount
of profile variation, ether unilaterally or bilaterally, along a line
element of a feature. 2D
ProfileofaSurface - is the condition permitting a uniform
amount of profile variation, ether unilaterally or bilaterally, on
a surface. 3D

Material Conditions (contd.)

AllAroundSymbol - indicating that a tolerance applies to surfaces all around the part.
PositionTolerance (True Position)- defines a zone within which the axis or center plane
of a feature is permitted to vary from true (theoretically exact) position.
Symmetry - is a condition in which a feature (or features) is symmetrically disposed
about the center plane of a datum feature.
Runout - is the composite deviation from the desired form of a part surface of revolution
through on full rotation (360 deg) of the part on a datum axis.
TotalRunout- is the simultaneous composite control of all elements of a surface at all
circular and profile measuring positions as the part is rotated through 360.
DatumTarget - is a specified point, line, or area on a part that is used to establish the
Datum Reference Plane for manufacturing and inspection operations.
TargetPoint-indicates where the datum target point is dimensionally located on the
direct view of the surface.
TargetArea-indicates where the datum target area is dimensionally located on the
direct view of the surface.

Material Conditions (contd.)

MaximumMaterialCondition(MMC)- is that condition of a part feature
wherein it contains the maximum amount of material within the stated limits of
size. That is: minimum hole size and maximum shaft size. (Condition where
part weighs the most)
LeastMaterialCondition(LMC) - implies that condition of a part feature of size
wherein it contains the least (minimum) amount of material, examples, largest
hole size and smallest shaft size. It is opposite to maximum material condition.
BasicDimension - used to describe the exact size, profile, orientation or location
of a feature. A basic dimension is always associated with a feature control
frame or datum target.
ReferenceDimension - a dimension usually without tolerance, used for
information purposes only. It does not govern production or inspection
operations.
FeatureControlFrame - is a rectangular box containing the geometric
characteristics symbol, and
the form, run out or location tolerance. If necessary, datum references and
modifiers applicable to the feature or the datums are also contained in the box.

Datum Targets, Target Areas and

Target Points
Datum targets are typically used in
situations where it is inappropriate to
specify an entire surface as a datum
feature.
There are six datum targets shown in
this diagram. Four of these datum
targets are datum target points,
each of which is represented by an
. The other two datum targets are
datum target areas, each of which is
represented by a cross-hatched
circular area.

Material Conditions and Position

When the MMC symbol appears after a geometric tolerance number, it means that the
given tolerance only applies when the feature is made at its MMC. So if a hole is given
a size of 12.0 12.1, and also a position tolerance of .02, it means that the position
of .02 is to be held if the hole is made to a size of 12.0 (its MMC)!
But suppose that we make a hole of 12.05. This is not the MMC size, but it is still
within legal range. So here's where it gets interesting -- a hole of 12.05 has deviated
from MMC by .05 inch. So we can adjust the position tolerance by .05 also! The print
said position of .02, but our part really gets a position tolerance of .07! This trend
continues until the hole reaches its LMC (12.1); at that size the position tolerance
would be .12. This is the original .02 plus a "bonus" of .10, which comes from the
deviation in hole size.
Essentially, it boils down to this: a smaller hole has to be positioned pretty accurately,
but as the hole gets larger, its center may deviate more from the true position.

Revising a Drawing with GD&T

Revising a Drawing with GD&T

(contd.)