DIMENSIONING

• Geometrics is the science of

specifying and tolerancing the shapes
and locations of features on objects.
•Once the shape of the part is defined
with an orthographic drawing, the size
information is added in the form of
dimensions.
•Dimensioning a drawing identifies the
tolerance required for each dimension.
• All drawings should be understood by all
users of the drawings, regardless of the
user's role in the design process.
• For a drafter or designer, communication of
the design needs of a part to the others on
the team is done by dimensioning.
• A fully defined part has three elements :
Graphics, dimensions and words (notes).
• Dimensioning provides the vital details that
cannot be conveyed by drawing details
alone.
 Terminology in GD & T
• Dimension : the numerical value that
defines the size or geometric
characteristic of a feature.
• Dimension text height = 3 mm (0.125”)
• Space between lines of text = 1.5 mm
(0.0625”)
• In metric dimensioning, when the value is
less than one, a zero precedes the decimal
point.
• Basic Dimension : a numerical value
defining the theoretically exact size of a
feature.
• Reference dimension : a nemurical value
enclosed in parenthesis, providing for
information only and not used in the
fabrication of the part.
• Arrows : Symbols placed at the ends of
dimension lines to shoe the limits of
dimension. Arrows are uniform in size and
style, regardless of the size of drawing.
• Arrows are usually about
• 3 mm (1/8”) long and
• should be one third as
• wide as they are long.
• Extension Line : a thin, solid line
perpendicular to a dimension line,
indicating which feature is associated
with the dimension.
• There should be a visible gap between
the feature’s corners and the end of the
extension line.
• Visible Gap : a visible space of 1.5 mm
(1/16”) between the feature’s corner4s
and the end of the extension line.
• Limit dimensioning : the largest
acceptable size and minimum acceptable
size of a feature. The value for the
largest acceptable size, expressed as the
maximum material condition (MMC), is
placed over the value for the minimum
acceptable size, expressed as the least
material condition (LMC), to denote the
limit-dimension based tolerance for the
feature.
• Plus and minus dimensioning : the largest
allowable positive and negative variance
from the dimension specified. The plus and
minus values may or may not be equal.
• Tolerance : the amount of a particular
dimension is allowed to vary. All
dimensions (except reference dimensions)
have an associated tolerance. A tolerance
may be expressed either through limit
dimensioning, plus and minus
dimensioning, or a general note.
• Dimensions should not be excessive,
either through duplication or
dimensioning a feature more than one
way.
 CO-ORDINATE DIMENSIONS

• The advent of computer controlled

manufacturing has encouraged
dimensioning in terms of rectangular
coordinates. In rectangular dimensioning, a
baseline is established for each Cartesian
coordinate direction, and all dimensions are
specified with respect to these baselines.
This is also known as datum dimensioning,
or baseline dimensioning. Dimensions may
be given with dimension lines and
arrowheads (fig.) or without dimension lines
and arrowheads
Co ordinate dimensioned part with the
origin at the center of hole A4 instead of the
lower left corner of the part
• Tabular coordinate dimensioning
involves labeling each feature with a
letter, and then providing information
on size and location in a table as
shown.
• Standard practices : the guiding
principle for dimensioning the drawing
is clarity.
• Placement : dimension placement
depends on the space available
between the extension lines. When
space permits, dimensions and arrows
are placed between the extension lines,
as shown next.
• Spacing : the minimum distance from
the object to the first dimension is 10
mm (3/8”).
• The minimum spacing between the
dimensions is 6 mm (1/4”). These
values may be increased where
appropriate.
• Grouping and Staggering : dimensions
should be grouped, for uniform
appearance, as shown .
• As general rule do not use object lines
as part for your dimension.
• Where there are several parallel
dimensions, the values should be
staggered, as shown next.
 EXTENSION LINES

• Extension lines are used to relate a

dimension to one or more features and
are usually drawn perpendicular to the
associated dimension line. Where the
space is limited, the extension line can
be drawn at an angle, as shown. Where
angled extension lines are used, they
must be parallel, and the associated
dimension lines must be drawn in the
direction to which they apply.
• Extension lines should not cross
dimension lines, and should avoid
crossing other lines whenever
possible.
• When the center of a feature is being
dimensioned, the centerline of the
feature is used as an extension line.
• When a point is being located by
extension lines only, the
extension line must pass through
the point.