GD&T Basics

Engineering Drawings
• Definition: A document that communicates

a precise description of a part.
• Engineering drawings are legal documents,
so they must be formal and precise.
• What makes a complete engineering
drawing?
Tolerancing
• Definition: The total amount that features of
the part are permitted to vary from the
specified dimension.
• The tolerance is the difference between the
maximum and minimum limits.
• Two common methods to specify tolerances
– limit tolerances
– plus-minus tolerances
History of Tolerancing
• In the 1800’s, manufacturing used the “cut and
try, file and fit” approach.
• The plus-minus (or coordinate) system of
tolerancing was developed.
• In the 1900’s, the first standards came out to
improve the quality of drawings.
• In 1966, the united standard was published -
ANSI - Y14.5M-1994.
Questions:
• Why use GD & T?
• What is GD & T?
• Why do we want to learn about it?
Coordinate Tolerancing System
• Definition: A dimensioning system where a
part feature is located (or defined) by means
of rectangular dimensions with given
tolerances.
• Shortcomings
– square or rectangular tolerance zones
– fixed size tolerance zones
– ambiguous instructions for inspection
Krulikowski text Figures 1-7, 1-8, 1-11, 1-14
What is GD & T?
• an international language consisting of a
well-defined set of symbols, rules,
definition, and convention.
• can be used to describe the size, form,
orientation, and location of part features.
• uses a design philosophy called “functional
dimensioning”.
Benefits of GD & T
• Improves communication
• Provides better product design
• Increases production tolerances
Why do we want to learn
GD&T?
• No other course (that I know of) teaches
GD & T
• Companies really use it!
• You may use it on the job
• You may be working on a team who uses it
• You may be managing someone who is
using it
Definitions
• Feature
– General term applied to a physical portion of a
part, such as a surface, hole, or slot.
• Feature of Size (FOS)
– One cylindrical or spherical surface, or a set of
parallel surfaces, associated with a size
dimension. (Can be external or internal)
• Location Dimension
– Locates the centerline or centerplane of a part
feature relative to a part feature, centerline, or
datum.
Definitions
• Tolerance zones
– all geometric tolerances have imaginary
tolerance zones that are the basis for acceptance
or rejection of the product
– have specific shapes depending on the
geometric tolerance and feature being
controlled
Krulikowski text Figure 2-1
Definitions cont’d
• Actual Local Size
– the value of any individual distance at any cross
section of a FOS
• Actual Mating Envelope (AME)
– a similar perfect feature counterpart that can be
circumscribed/inscribed about/within the
feature so it just contacts the surfaces at the
highest points
– It is derived from an actual part
Krulikowski text Figures 2-3, 2-4
• Maximum Material Condition (MMC)
– the condition in which a feature of size contains
the maximum amount of material everywhere
within the stated limits of size.
• Least Material Condition (LMC)
– the condition in which a feature of size contains
the least amount of material everywhere within
the stated limits of size.
Krulikowski text Figure 2-6
• Regardless of Feature Size
– indicates a geometric tolerance applies at
whatever size the part is produced.
Material Condition Usage
• MMC
– usually when geometric tolerances are applied
at MMC, the function is assembly
• LMC
– function is usually to insure that a minimum
distance on a part
• RFS
– often specified to insure symmetrical
relationships
“Perfect”
• We use the term “perfect”, although we
know that nothing is truly perfect
• For our purposes, any inspection instrument
will be considered “perfect” if it is at least
10 times more accurate than the part being
measured
Geometric Tolerances
• Tolerances applied at MMC or LMC have a
significant cost advantage over tolerances
applied RFS.
• We’ll find out why very soon!
• Modifiers
– communicate additional additional information
about the drawing or tolerance of a part
– MMC M
– LMC L
– no symbol for RFS because it is the default
condition for all geometric tolerances
– can only be used when referring to FOS
Other Symbols
• Feature control frame (Krulikowski text Figure 2-12)
– rectangular box that is divided into
compartments where a geometric
characteristic symbol, tolerance value,
modifiers, and datum references are placed.
• Diameter symbol
– inside a feature control frame as a modifier
denotes the shape of the tolerance zone
– outside the feature control frame means
diameter
• Radius symbol “R”
– used to dimension arcs
Placement of FCF
• Very important!
• If attached or directed to a surface, it
controls that surface
• If attached to or associated with a feature of
size, then it controls the axis or median
plane of that feature
Rules and Concepts of GD&T
• Rule #1 (Krulikowski text Figures 3-1, 3-2)
– Used to ensure that FOS’s will assemble with
one another
– When Rule #1 applies, the maximum boundary
(or envelope) for an external FOS is its MMC
– Minimum envelope for internal FOS is its MMC.
– When Rule #1 applies, the size limits define the
size and form of an FOS (not orientation,
location or relation between FOS)
When Rule #1 Applies
• Actual size shall be within limits of size
• Form of feature:
– Surfaces must not extend beyond a boundary of
perfect form at MMC
– Where actual size has departed from MMC
toward LMC, a variation in form is allowed
equal to that amount of departure

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Engineering Drawings

• Definition: A document that communicates

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