DATUM AXIS & DATUM CENTER PLANE

INTRODUCTION

• Here Feature of Size is

used as a datum
features
• When a diameter is
used as a datum
feature, It results in a
datum axis
• When a planar is used
as a datum feature, it
results in a datum
center plane

GOAL1.1 Describe the datum that results from a FOS datum feature
 3 Ways for representing an axis as
datum
• Datum identification symbol can be touching the surface of a
diameter to specify axis as the datum

GOAL1.2 Describe the ways to specify an axis as a datum.

3 Ways for representing an axis as datum
(Contd….)
• Datum identification symbol can be touching the beginning
of a leader line of FOS to specify an datum axis
3 Ways for representing an axis as
datum (Contd….)
• Datum identification symbol can be touching the feature
control frame to specify an axis or centre plane as datum
2 Ways for representing a centre plane as
datum
• Datum identification symbol can be inline with
dimension line to specify on axis or centre plane as
datum

GOAL1.3 Describe the ways to specify an centre plane as a datum.

 2 Ways for representing a centre plane as
datum (Contd….)

• Datum identification symbol can replace one side of the

dimension line and arrow head
 Datum Terminology
• Datum feature A
• Datum feature
simulator / Gauge
element
• Simulated datum axis
A
• Simulated datum
Feature A
 Referencing FOS Datum Features
• When using datum
features on
drawings, the
material condition
for establishing the
datum axis or
center plane must
be communicated.

GOAL1.4 Explain how FOS datum references communicate size

condition
 Referencing FOS Datum Features
(contd…)

• The feature control frame indicates both the

material condition (MMC, LMC, or RFS) and the
datum sequence (primary, secondary, or tertiary).
 Referencing FOS Datum Features
(contd…)
• Whenever a FOS datum feature is referenced in a
feature control frame, without showing any
modifier, it is automatically referenced in the RFS
condition.
 FOS Datum feature applications (RFS)

• Datum selection and referencing are directly related

to the function of the part
• features that orient and locate the part in its
assembly became the datum features for the part
 Datum axis RFS Primary

GOAL1.5 Draw the datum feature simulator for an external and

internal FOS datum feature (RFS primary)
 Datum axis RFS Primary (contd…)
• When a FOS is used as a datum feature and referenced as a
primary datum RFS
• Devices that are adjustable in size-such as a precision chuck,
collets, or centering device are used as the datum feature
simulator.
• The datum feature simulator holds the part securely on the
datum feature.
Datum Center plane RFS Primary
 Datum Center plane RFS Primary
(Contd…)

• When a FOS is used as a datum feature and

referenced as a primary datum RFS, the following
applies:
– An adjustable gage element is needed to simulate the
true geometric counterpart of a datum feature
– The part is oriented by the gage
– The part is held securely in the gage
 Datum Axis RFS Secondary

GOAL1.6 Draw the datum feature simulator for an FOS datum

feature (RFS secondary).
 Datum Axis RFS Secondary (Contd…)
• When referencing the datums with the face primary and the
diameter secondary (RFS)
• The part will have a minimum of three-point contact with the
primary datum plane.
• The secondary datum feature simulator will be adjustable in
size.
• The datum axis is perpendicular to the primary datum plane.
• A second and third datum plane will be associated with the
datum axis.
 Datum Axis RFS Secondary, Datum Center
plane RFS Tertiary

GOAL1.7 Draw the datum feature simulator for an FOS datum

feature (RFS tertiary).
 Datum Axis RFS Secondary, Datum Center
plane RFS Tertiary
(Contd…)

• When referencing the datums with the face primary,

diameter secondary (RFS), and slot tertiary (RFS).
• The part will have a minimum of three points of contact with
the primary datum plane.
• A datum axis perpendicular to the primary datum plane will
exist.
• A datum center plane that will pass through the datum axis
and be perpendicular to the primary datum plane will exist
Datum Axis from Coaxial Diameters, RFS
Primary

GOAL1.8 Describe coaxial datum features

 Datum Axis from Coaxial Diameters, RFS
Primary (Contd…)
• When coaxial diameters are used to establish a
datum axis, they are called coaxial datum features
• The datum axis is simulated by contacting the high
points of both datum features simultaneously.
• Coaxial diameters are often used when both datum
features have an equal role in locating the part in its
assembly.
• A single datum axis from two coaxial diameters is
normally used as a primary datum.
FOS datum feature referenced at MMC
 FOS datum feature referenced at MMC
(Contd…)
• The gauging equipment that serves as the datum
feature simulator is a fixed size
• The datum axis or center plane is the axis or center
plane of the gage element
• The size of the true geometric counterpart of the
datum feature is determined by the specified MMC
limit of size or, in certain cases, its MMC virtual
condition
FOS datum feature referenced at MMC
(Contd…)

• Referencing a FOS datum at MMC has two effects

on the part gaging :
– The gage is fixed in size
– The part may be loose (shift) in the gage

GOAL2.1 List two effects of referencing a FOS datum at MMC

 Datum axis MMC primary

GOAL2.8 Draw the datum feature simulator for an external

and internal FOS datum feature (MMC primary).
 Datum axis MMC primary (Contd…)
• When diameter is designated as a datum feature and
referenced in a feature control frame as primary at
MMC
• A fixed-gage element may be used as the datum
feature simulator
• The size of fixed-gage element is equal to the MMC
(WBC) of the datum feature
• Depending upon the actual mating size of the datum
feature, a datum shift may be available
Datum centre plane MMC primary
 Datum centre plane MMC primary
(Contd…)
• When FOS datum feature is referenced at feature
control frame as primary at MMC
• A fixed gauge element is used as datum feature
simulator
• Size of fixed gauge element is equal to MMC (in certain
cases worst-case boundary) of the datum feature
• The datum center plane is the center plane of the
datum feature simulator
• Depending upon the actual mating size of the datum
feature, a datum shift may be available
 Datum axis MMC secondary

GOAL2.9 Draw the datum feature simulator for an FOS

datum feature (MMC secondary with virtual condition)
 Datum axis secondary (MMC) ,
Datum centre plane tertiary (MMC)
 Datum axis secondary (MMC) ,
Datum centre plane tertiary (MMC) (Contd…)

• When referencing the datums with the face primary,

diameter secondary (MMC), and slot tertiary (MMC),
the following conditions apply:
• The part will have a minimum of three points of
contact with the primary datum plane
• The datum feature simulators will be fixed size gage
elements.
• The datum axis is the axis of the datum feature
simulator
 Datum axis secondary (MMC) ,
Datum centre plane tertiary (MMC)
(Contd…)
• The datum axis is perpendicular to the primary
datum plane
• Depending upon the datum feature's actual mating
size, a datum shift may be available.
• Second and third datum planes are to be associated
with the datum axis
• The tertiary datum center plane is the center plane
of the tertiary datum feature simulator
Datum Axis from a Pattern of Holes, MMC
Secondary

GOAL2.10 Draw the datum axis when using a pattern

of FOS as a datum feature (MMC secondary)
 Datum Axis from a Pattern of Holes, MMC
Secondary (contd…)
• When referencing the datums with the face primary
and a hole pattern secondary (MMC), the following
conditions apply:
– The part will have a minimum of three points of
contact with the primary datum plane
– The datum feature simulators will be fixed size gage
elements equal to the virtual condition of each hole
diameter
– In this case, individual datum axes are established
at the basic location of each hole. Datum axis B is at
the theoretical center of the pattern. A second and
third datum plane exist from the datum axis
 Datum Axis from a Pattern of Holes, MMC
Secondary (contd…)
• When the part is mounted on the primary datum
surface, the pattern of holes establishes the second and
third datum planes of the datum. reference frame. A
tertiary datum reference is not necessary since all six
degrees of freedom are controlled
 Datum sequence

Panel-A

GOAL2.11 Explain how changing the datum reference sequence

in a feature control frame affects the part and gauge
 Datum sequence (contd…)
• Panel A
• An adjustable gauge is required.
• No datum shift is permissible on datum feature A
• The part is oriented in the gage by datum feature
A
• Datum feature B will have a minimum of one
point contact with its datum feature simulator
• The orientation of the holes will be relative to
datum axis A
Panel B

Datum feature
simulator for
datum plane B
• Panel B
• Datum feature B will have 3- point contact with its
datum plane
• The part is oriented in the gauge by datum feature B
• The orientation of holes will be relative to datum
plane B
• An adjustable gauge is required and no datum shift
is permissible on datum feature A
Panel C

Virtual
condition=Ф10.2
Panel C
• When simulating datum A, fixed gauge is allowed
and the gauge allows datum shift
• Datum feature B will have 3-point contact with its
datum plane
• The part is oriented in the gauge by datum feature
B
• The orientation of the hole will be relative to
datum plane B