GD&T BASICS

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01. WHAT IS GD&T

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is a system for defining and

communicating engineering tolerances.

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02. Features Overview Review

1. GD&T can apply to two types of features:

o Surface Features – Surface with no dimension
o Features of Size – Any feature or section that has dimensional size to it
2. Features of size
o Internal Features are defined by the lack of material like a hole or slot
o External Features are defined by the presence of material like a pin or 3D object
3. The material condition
o MMC: Max Material Condition is the dimension where the most amount of
material exists.
o LML: Least Material Condition is the dimension where the least amount of material
exists

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03. RULE NUMBER 1 : ENVELOPE PRINCIPLE

Definition: where only a tolerance of size is specified, the limits of size

of an individual feature of size prescribe the extent to which variations in
its geometric form, as well as its size, are allowed.
If the paper is small (LMC), it doesn’t have to be straight or flat edges to
insert into envelope
If the paper is large (MMC), you need to insert the it perfectly straight,
and have no variation

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03. RULE NUMBER 1 : ENVELOPE PRINCIPLE_EXAMPLE

Exp.1: If the dimension measured to have diameter of 20.4 .

How much form tolerance ( bend ) can you have ?

NONE: part is at MMC so it cannot deviate from it

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03. RULE NUMBER 1 : ENVELOPE PRINCIPLE_EXAMPLE

Exp.2: If the dimension measured to have diameter of

20.37 . How much form tolerance are you allowed if
straightness 0.1 is called out

0.03: 20.4(MMC)-20.37

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03. RULE NUMBER 1 : ENVELOPE PRINCIPLE_EXAMPLE

Exp.3: If the dimension measured to have diameter of

15.55 . How much form tolerance are you allowed in
the hole ?

0.15: 15.55-15.4(MMC)

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04. MATERIAL CONDITIONAL MODIFIER

Bonus Tol (external feature) : MMC-Actual.

Bonus Tol (internal feature) : Actual-MMC
Example :
Bonus = 10.2-9.8= 0.4 mm

Perpendicularity = Bonus + called = 0.4+0.2 = 0.6

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05. DATUMS

1. What is datum : is theoretical reference plane, axis, or point. Orientation, profile,

location, or runout of geometric features are controlled in reference to these datum

Which letter would represent the actual Which of the above datum callouts are
datum feature A? A,B,C,D ? surface datums?

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05. DOF-DEGREES OF FREEDOM
How many degrees of freedom are
being controlled by the datum reference
frame |L|N|?
Which combination of datum controls below would fully
constrain the part in all 6 degrees of freedom when used in
the Feature Control Frame for the 5±0.25 hole?
1. L|N|M ? 2. N|P ? 3. P|M ?
4. P|L|M ? 5 P|M|N
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05. DOF-DATUM SELECTION
HOW: reasons to choose a datum in order of importance :
1. Part Functionality : how does the part mate at the next assembly ?
2. Constraining the Part : what features are going to provide the best stability within the part’s
datum reference frame ? Is SLOF met ?
3. Inspection/Manufacturability : what is a good datum reference frame will be practical
regarding the production and inspection of the parts ?

Lets add some GD&T to this drawing :

Primary datum ? Secondary datum, tertiary
datum ? Which refer to which one ?
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05. DATUM TARGET
Definition: datum target is datum point, plane, or axis allow you to specify exact locations to
secure your parts for measurement
1. Symbols:
o Upper portion : contains the target size
o Lower portion : datum target letter and number
2. Datum Target Point : single point of contact btw the
datum simulator and the part by using spherical-tipped gauge pin
3. Datum target line: A phantom line designating a line contact
btw the datum simulator and the part by using the edge of a
cylindrical gauge pin
4. Datum target area : A designated area location specified on
a part where the datum simulator and the part should make contact

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05. DATUM TARGET
The part illustrated is frequently used to cover electrical cables
Example and Quiz running along the exterior length of a rocket motor. It is made of bent
sheet metal and will not rest flat on the inspection table. As the
designer, you elect to use datum targets and want to control all 6
degrees of freedom when you set this up for measurement. 

Select the 2 Answers that describe errors with this drawing. 

A. There are not enough points to secure

Datum A in 3 DOF
B. Datum B uses both lines and points
which is not allowed
C. The part is not controlled in all 6 DOF
D. The locations of Datum Targets A & B
are not fully defined in the X ( left and
right ) axis
E. You can not use datum targets on a
curved part ( datum target A )

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05. MAXIMUM/LEAST MATERIAL BOUNDARIES ( MMB/LMB )
1. Definition: MMB is the condition of a datum surface or feature of size, where the part has the
maximum amount of material
2. Compare to MMC:

MMC : specify a material condition for the feature being MMB : specify a ‘ boundary for a particular datum
controlled by Feature Control Frame referenced by the feature called out in the Feature Control
Frame

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05. MAXIMUM/LEAST MATERIAL BOUNDARIES ( MMB/LMB )
Example : at RMB which is diameter of the center pin gauge to be designed ?
The gauge must be expandable ( contracting pins, mandrels, chucks, etc.. )

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05. MAXIMUM/LEAST MATERIAL BOUNDARIES ( MMB/LMB )
Example : at MMB which is diameter of the center pin gauge to be designed ?
The center gauge’s diameter is fixed at any value as long as it is within feature’s tolerance

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05. SLOF : SIZE-LOCATION-ORIENTATION-FORM
The four components to a complete drawing

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05. STRAIGHTNESS

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05. FLATNESS

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05. CIRCULARITY & CYLINDRICITY

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05. PARALLELISM

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05. PERPENDICULARITY

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05. ANGULARITY

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05. PROFILE OF A LINE & SURFACE

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05. POSITION

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05. CONCENTRICITY

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05. SYMMETRY

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05. RUNOUT & TOTAL RUNOUT

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