GD&T Symbol:

Relative to Datum: Yes

MMC or LMC applicable: Yes

GD&T Drawing Callout:

Surface Perpendicularity:

Axis Perpendicularity:

Description:

Surface:

Perpendicularity is a fairly common symbol that requires the referenced surface or line to be perpendicular or 90° from
a datum surface or line. Perpendicularity can reference a 2D line, but more commonly it describes the orientation of one
surface plane perpendicular to another datum plane. The tolerance of the perpendicularity callout indirectly controls the
90° angle between the parts by controlling the location where the surfaces have to lie. See the tolerance zone below for
more details.

Note: Perpendicularity does not control the angle of the referenced feature –the tolerance is in distance units. (mm/in)

Axis:

Axis control can also be called out for Perpendicularity and is one of the more common forms of axes call outs. When it is
referenced for a circular feature, the feature control frame will contain the diameter (Ø) symbol. Axis Perpendicularity can
be applied to a positive feature (pin/boss) or to a negative feature (a hole). When Perpendicularity is referenced for axial
control of a feature, the symbol now specifies a cylindrical boundary where the axis of the referenced feature must lie.
This cylindrical boundary is formed by taking a line that is directly perpendicular to the datum feature. When this version
of Perpendicularity is called out it is to be used with maximum material condition to enable easy gauging of the part. See
example 2 below for how these particular parts are gauged.

GD&T Tolerance Zone:

Surface:

Two parallel planes or lines which are oriented perpendicular to the datum feature or surface. The planes are held
perpendicular to the datum, but only ensure that the entire feature falls into the tolerance zone.
Remember: Perpendicularity does not directly control the angle of the referenced surface; it controls the envelope
(like flatness) where the surface needs to be.

Axis:

A cylinder surrounding a referenced theoretical axis which is directly perpendicular to the datum feature. The tolerance
zone is the diameter of this symbol in which the central axis of the measured feature must lie.

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Gauging / Measurement:

Surface:

Perpendicularity is measured using a height gauge, similar to flatness, however the gauge (or part) is locked to a 90°
datum to measure how perpendicular the surface is. The entire surface has to be measured if it is a flat feature.

Axis:

To ensure that a part or feature is axially perpendicular, Maximum material condition is most often called out on axis
perpendicularity to allow easy measurement with a gauge. This allows it to be designed for either a negative (hole) or
positive (pin) feature and can take into account a bonus tolerance.*

Gauge size for an internal feature (like a hole):

Gauge Ø (pin gauge)= Min Ø of hole (MMC) – Perpendicularity Tolerance

Gauge size for an external feature (like a pin):

Gauge Ø (hole gauge) = Max Ø of pin (MMC) + Perpendicularity Tolerance

See Example #2 below for a good example Axis Perpendicularity using MMC.

*Note on Bonus Tolerance:

When a functional gauge is used for Perpendicularity, any difference the actual feature size is from the maximum material
condition would be a bonus tolerance. The goal of a maximum material condition callout is to ensure that when the part is
in its worst tolerances, the orientation and size of the hole/pin will always assemble together. This means that if you make
a pin smaller, you make more bonus tolerance for yourself. This bonus can be added to the GD&T tolerance and would
widen the perpendicularity tolerance.

Bonus Tolerance = Difference between MMC & Actual condition (See Example 2 Below)

Controlling the perpendicularity with GD&T symbol.

Axis Perpendicularity Example with MMC:

If you have a critical hole feature that needs to remain parallel to the surface that is formed into, perpendicularity can be
called out to ensure that the hole is straight. In this example a bolt hole is specified to remain perpendicular to its surface.
 Perpendicularity on a hole under MMC

Without an MMC callout you would need to control just the center axis of the hole and measure for it to ensure it is at 90°
to the bottom surface. However when MMC is called out on the print, you are controlling both the size and the orientation
of the hole. You now can check the both tolerances using a functional gauge with the following dimensions:

Formula for a perpendicularity functional gauge:

Gauge Ø (pin gauge) = Min hole Ø – Perpendicularity Tolerance

Gauge Ø = 9.9 – 0.2 = 9.7

Hole Ø + Hole Perpendicularity > 9.7 (Pin Ø) to be in spec.

Due to the Max Material Condition callout, if you have a hole that is larger than the MMC of 9.9 you will have bonus
tolerance that can be added on to your perpendicularity. (According to print Hole Ø cannot be above 10.1 though)
In the example below – The hole is at the least material condition (largest hole size) with the hole at the LMC, your bonus
tolerance that can be added to the perpendicularity is calculated as follows:
Bonus Tolerance = Actual Part Size – Max Material Condition
Bonus Tolerance = 10.1 – 9.9 = 0.2

Adding this bonus tolerance to your perpendicularity means your

“gauged” perpendicularity tolerance can go up to 0.4 when the part is at
its largest diameter.