Geometrical Tolerances

By Chavan A. G.

References and Suggested readings

Machine Drawing- N.D. Bhatt. Machine Drawing- Ajeet Singh. Machine Drawing- K.L. Narayana. Lecture Notes NPTEL. Machine Design Databook- McGraw Hill Publications.

Introduction

Dimensional Tolerances: Permissible errors in dimensions of a component. Geometric Tolerances: Permissible errors in geometrical form of a component. Surface Roughness: Surface quality and texture.

Types of Geometrical Tolerances

1. Form Tolerances:

Deviation in Flat Surface

Tolerance of straightness. Tolerance of flatness.

Deviation in Cylindrical and Conical Sections:

In axial section:

Barrel form. Concave or Convex form. Curvature of Axes. Taper. Oval Form Lobed Form

In transverse Section:

Types of Geometrical Tolerances

2. Position Tolerances:

Deviations in relative location of surfaces:

Radial run out Axial run out. Misalignment. Non Parallelism of axis. Incorrect location of intersecting axes. Non parallel surfaces. Non perpendicular surfaces.

Need of Geometrical Tolerances

Tolerances of size are not always sufficient to provide the required control of form. Fig. a, b and c shows some examples where dimensions are within acceptable zone but geometric form makes the components worthless.

Geometrical tolerance - Maximum permissible overall variation of form or position of a feature. Geometrical tolerances are used,

to specify the required accuracy in controlling the form of a feature to ensure correct functional positioning of the feature to ensure the interchangeability of components to facilitate the assembly of mating components

Tolerance zone: Imaginary area or volume within which the controlled feature of the manufactured component must be completely contained. Datum: Theoretically exact geometric reference (such as axes, planes, straight lines, etc.) to which the tolerance features are related. Datum feature: Feature of a part, such as an edge, surface, or a hole, which forms the basis for a datum or is used to establish its location.

Representation
Datum Features

Datum triangle :- The datum's are indicated by a leader line, terminating in a filled or an open triangle Datum letter :- To identify a datum for reference purposes, a capital letter is enclosed in a frame, connected to the datum triangle Datum feature:- It is the feature to which tolerance of orientation, position and run-out are related. The form of a datum feature should be sufficiently accurate for its purpose and it may therefore be necessary in some cases to specify tolerances of form from the datum features.

Geometric Characteristic Symbols

Representation of Straightness

This on Drawing Each longitudinal element must lie between two parallel lines (0.02 mm apart) which are in same plane with nominal axis of the part

Means This !!!

Representation of flatness
This on Drawing

Means This !!!

The surface must lie within surfaces which are 0.25 mm apart

Representation of Parallelism
This on Drawing Means This !!!

The surface must lie within parallel planes 0.12 mm apart which are parallel to datum plane A

Parallelism Example

Representation of circularity
Each radial element in a plane perpendicular to the axis must lie between two concentric circles having radial difference of 0.25
This on Drawing

Means This !!!

Representation of circularity

Representation of circular run out

At any measuring position , each circular element of the surface must be within specified run out tolerance i.e. (0.02)

This on Drawing

Means This !!!

Total Run out

This on Drawing

Means This !!!

Entire surface must lie within surface runout tolerance zone

Cylindricity
Cylindrical surface must lie between two concentric cylinders having radial difference of 0.25
This on Drawing

Means This !!!

Perpendicularity
Feature axis must lie between two parallel planes (0.2 apart) which are perpendicular to datum A
This on Drawing

Means This !!!

Angularity
This on Drawing

Surface must lie between two parallel planes (0.4 apart) which are inclined at 300 to datum plane A

Means This !!!

Material Conditions

Maximum Material Condition

Minimum Material Condition