Geometric Tolerance

Attached to a part feature or a pattern of part features.

Provides greater control of geometric attributes:
o Shape (DIMENSIONAL TOLERANCE DOES NOT CONTROL
THIS)
o Orientation
o Position
Describes relationships between part features.
Describes a tolerance zone for an attribute.
Part Feature
When you look at a design, youre trying to ID either solid
material or empty space:
o Slots (radial grooves, pockets)
o Shafts
o Holes
o Boss (protrusion represents solid material)
Manufactured Part
Does the attribute of a part feature lie within the tolerance zone?
o We dont measure tolerances we measure deviations
from nominal.
Deviations from nominal produce unique attributes for individual
parts.
Attributes derived from part data:
o Axis
o Cylinder
o Circle
o Plane
Basic Questions
Does the actual part feature have the correct shape?
Is it in the correct position/orientation wrt other features?
Feature Control Frame (indicates a geometric tolerance)
Annotation in a CAD model/drawing (symbol, size,
position/orientation)
Specifies information describing the geometric tolerance foe a
feature or pattern of features.
Frame associated with a feature using a leader or existing
dimension line.
Frame Elements:
o Symbol for the type of tolerance

o Tolerance zone size

o Position or orientation information
FOR EACH FEATURE CONTROL FRAME, THERE IS ONE GEOMETRIC
TOL.

Shape Symbols

Location Symbols

Orientation Symbols

Axial Symbols
Geometric Tolerance Zone
Key attributes of tolerance zone:
o Dimensionality tells us something about geometry
(2D,3D)
o Shape
o Size
o Location
o Orientation

Attribute values depend on:

o Tolerance type (symbol)
o Feature control frame
o Part features
o Dimensional tolerance

Effect of Tolerance Zone

Creates a bounded region for the part feature.
Fixed region constrains:
o Shape
o Location
o Orientation
Floating region constrains:
o Shape
o Orientation
Usage
The geometry being controlled must be contained in the zone
over the length of the part feature.
Multiple zones may be necessary to control a feature.
Typically 1 or 2 zones for a part feature.