GD&T Symbols and Guidelines Cheat Sheet

Provided by GD&T Basics - For the best GD&T training online, visit

0.030 M

Datum
The controlling feature
(axis, surface, plane or point)
where GD&T is referenced to.
This feature is held fixed
when the part
is measured.

ABC

NAME

Tolerance Zone
The total tolerance listed in the feature
control frame where all the points of
the referenced feature must lie.
Tolerance zones are the total range of
the tolerance. (sum of both directions)

Datum Reference Frame

The concept of controlling the degrees of
freedom though datum features using
perpendicular blocks in a fixture that represent
the datum controls.

6 degrees of freedom
All the possible translation
and rotation movements a
part can make in free state.
X,Y,Z movement and
rotation about the
X,Y and Z Axes.

5. Modifier/Feature
of size
6. Primary Datum
7. Secondary Datum
8. Tertiary Datum

1. Leader Arrow
2. Geometric Control
Symbol
3. Diameter Symbol
4. Geometric Tolerance

SYMBOL

www.gdandtbasics.com

To control all 6 degrees of freedom:

Primary Datum: 3 Points of contact
Secondary Datum: 2 Points of contact
Tertiary Datum: 1 Point of contact

ry
a
d

Ter
t

n
o
c
e

iar

ry
a
m

Pri

ON DRAWING

MEANING

DESCRIPTION

GAUGING

2D Tolerance Zone:
Two parallel lines

Two parallel lines

0.030 apart

Straightness

DATUM MMC OR LMC

REQUIRED APPLICABLE?
No

No (Surface)

POINTS TO REMEMBER
Tolerance must be less than dimensional tolerance.
RFS applies in surface condition.

0.030

(Surface)

100.050

FORM

Straightness
(Axis under

0.030

Cylindrical Tolerance Zone

0.030 when Part = 10.050
0.130 when Part = 9.950

Cylinder Gauge ID = M +
Gauge ID =
10.080

Two parallel planes

0.030 apart

0.030

Flatness

Two concentric circles

0.030 apart

0.030

Circularity

Two concentric cylinders

0.030 apart

0.030

Cylindricity

Two parallel planes

0.030 apart
0.030 A

ORIENTATION

Parallelism

Flat datum block

(Datum A)

Datum A

100.050
0.030 M A
Bonus tolerance

Perpendicularity
(Axis under

Two parallel planes

0.030 apart

(Feature)

Datum A

0.030 A

Perpendicularity

Flat datum block

(Datum A)

Axis
Tolerance Zone
at M

Pin Gauge = 9.920

(9.950 - 0.030)

90

Pin Gauge OD = M

Gauge pin
inserted
perpendicular
to datum

0.030 A
Gauge
Block

60

PROFILE

Profile
of a surface

Gauge must
follow true profile.

Datum B

Profile is usually
measured with a CMM.

Datum A

Gauge must
follow true profile.

Datum B
Datum A

Profile is usually
measured with a CMM.

Part (actual) position

0.030 A B

Measure X and Y location and compare to the true position.

True Position

(Actual X - True X) + (Actual Y + True Y)

2

Actual
True

20.0

True X Actual X

LOCATION

100.050
0.030 M A B C

True Position

Actual
Pin Position

Tolerance Zone
of Hole Gauge

Part

Pin Gauge =
Min hole

Gauge

tolerance

Tolerance Zone
of Pin Gauge

True position

20.0

30.0

3D Tolerance Zone:
Coaxial cylinders which
all elements on the entire
cylinder must fall into.

No

2D or 3D Tolerance Zone:
Parallel lines or planes, equally
set apart, that are controlled
parallel to a datum feature.

Yes

2D or 3D Tolerance Zone:
Parallel lines or planes,
equally set apart, that are
set perpendicular (90)
to a datum feature.

Yes

3D Tolerance Zone:
Cylindrical boundary that is
directly perpendicular to the
datum plane. The derived axis
of the referenced feature must
entirely fall in this zone.

Yes

2D or 3D Tolerance Zone:
Parallel lines or planes,
equally set apart that are
set at a specified angle.

Yes

No

No

No (Surface)
Yes (Axis)

No (Surface)

Yes (Axis)

Rule#1 still applies. If a flat surface is at its

maximum size dimension, the flatness must be
perfect.
Tolerance must be less than dimensional tolerance.
Different from Parallelism: No Datum or references.
Can be measured in multiple locations to
determine if each cross section is round.
Cannot control taper.
Tolerance must be less than dimensional tolerance.
Combination of straightness and circularity.
Can control taper and straightness of part.
Tolerance must be less than dimensional tolerance.

Controls orientation as well as straightness (2D)

or Flatness (3D).
MMC can also be applied to parallelism when
controlling an axis.

Controls orientation as well as straightness (2D)

or Flatness (3D).
MMC can also be applied to parallelism when
controlling an axis. (see below).

Envelope Principle (Rule #1) no longer applies

but hole must fall within size limits.
Functional Gauge is allowed if MMC is called to
control both size and geometry.

tolerance

True position

Gauge

0.030 A
Measured axis

Datum axis

Concentricity
Datum A
Tolerance Zone

A
A

No (Surface)
Yes (Axis)

Parallelism and perpendicularity are specific forms

of angularity.
Tolerance Zone is in distance units, NOT an angle.

Optional

Optional

2D or 3D Tolerance Zone:
Cylindrical or circular boundary
where the center of a round
feature must lie, with respect to
the theoretically true location.

Yes

No

No

Yes

Tolerance can be Unilateral with the callout to

allow the tolerance zone to be unsymmetrical.
Commonly used on curved surfaces or complex
geometry.

Tolerance can be Unilateral with the callout to

allow the tolerance zone to be unsymmetrical.
Commonly used on curved surfaces or complex
geometry.
Also may be used to control how two surfaces are
with respect to each other.

Tolerance must be less than dimensional tolerance.

RFS applies in surface condition.

3D Tolerance Zone:
Cylindrical boundary, or parallel
planes, where the entire axis
or median plane of a feature
must lie, with reference to its
theoretical true location. (In
this example it is for an axis)

Yes

3D Tolerance Zone:
Cylindrical boundary where all
the reference features median
axis points must lie. Boundary is
controlled with reference to the
central axis of the datum feature.

Yes

3D Tolerance Zone:
Two parallel planes where
all the median points of the
referenced features must
lie. Boundary is controlled
with reference to the central
plane of the datum feature.

Yes

Yes

Envelope Principle (Rule #1) no longer applies.

Can control perpendicularity and straightness
as well as size.
Very common for use with functional gauging
in MMC.

The following is usually done

with a CMM:
1. Determine Datum plane
2. Measure both
surfaces of features
3. Determine if
midpoints fall in TZ

Symmetry

No

No

Very difficult to measure for! Use only when inertial

effects need to be controlled or part cannot be
measured with runout.
Median points of reference feature are held in
control by datum axis.

Very difficult to measure for! Use true position

with orientation or form control to specify.
Median points of reference feature are held in
control by datum median plane.

Two parallel planes

0.030 apart

Datum A
Fixed axially
+ Rotated

Runout

RUNOUT

A
A

Datum A
Fixed + Rotated
Normal/Circular runout
only checks individual sections
independent of each other

0.030 A
A

Total Runout

Datum A
Fixed axially
+ Rotated

Datum A
Fixed + Rotated

A
All points are to be
in spec at all times

2D Tolerance Zone:
Two concentric circles that are
controlled with relation to the
datum axis, where all points
on the reference feature must
lie when the part is rotated.

Yes

3D Tolerance Zone:
Two concentric cylinders that
are controlled with relation
to the datum axis, where
all points on the reference
feature must lie (all at once)
when the part is rotated.

Yes

No

RFS always applies.

Combination of Concentricity and Circularity.
Very useful to prevent wobble of cylindrical parts.

Rule # 1 Explained
Rule # 1 means the part in its virtual condition
(size + geometry) cannot extend beyond the
dimensional tolerance on the drawing. The part
envelope is the full limit of all geometry.

Where only normal dimensional tolerance of

size exists on a part, the variation of size and
the geometric form must not extend past
dimensional tolerance zone.

10.00.1

Cannot exceed boundaries,

no matter what the geometric
tolerances are.
10.1
9.9

Example: If circularity was called on the

example to the left, but the part is at its
maximum diameter, the circularity must be
near perfect as to not extend the boundary of
the size (diameter) tolerance beyond the
upper boundary.

Rule # 1 exceptions
This does not apply to features of size under
is used.
or if the independence symbol

For an internal feature like a hole - Largest Size

For an external feature like a pin - Smallest Size
Bonus Tolerance
When a feature is controlled under M the entire
virtual condition is established. (See virtual
condition below).
If there is a difference between the actual value
and MMC, this bonus tolerance may then be
added to the geometrical tolerance.
For an internal feature like a hole:
Bonus tolerance = Actual feature size MMC.
For internal features, the smallest diameter is the
MMC, and you gain bonus tolerance as you get
larger.
For an external feature like a pin:
Bonus tolerance = MMC Actual feature size.
For external features, the largest
diameter is the MMC, and you gain
bonus tolerance as you get smaller.

Datum Target
A1
Reference to locate datum points needed
to create a theoretical datum plane in order to
measure the part.
4

Target Points
Specific measurement location for the
datum targets shown on the current drawing view.

Additional Symbols used in GD&T

Projected Tolerance
P The tolerance zone is extended out
beyond the limit of the part, to a specified
location. Used commonly with perpendicularity to
represent the virtual condition of a pin or stud.

Free State
F The part may not be restricted during
inspection.

Independency
Rule #1 is overridden and the
parts geometric tolerance is no longer
restricted by the limits of size.

Statistical Tolerance
ST The tolerances of the part are
derived from statistical analysis of individual
components and will vary depending on a
calculation done for assembly. Usually the Pp
or Ppk is specified for the given assembly.
Tangent Plane
T A tangent plane is established on the
surface of a part based on the parts orientation.
When called, only the virtual tangent plane
needs to be within the tolerance zone, and
not all the surface points need to be within.

Basic Dimensions
10.5 Dimensions that are listed without a
tolerance and in a rectangular box that represent
the true location of a feature to locate a tolerance
zone. Used commonly with true position.

Diameter Symbol

All Around Symbol

Indicates that the geometric
tolerances apply to every surface around
the part in the specified view.

No

RFS always applies.

Combination of Concentricity and Cylindricity.
Controls two features together during rotation.
Very useful to prevent wobble of cylindrical parts
but is a very tight control.
Controls two features together during rotation.

RULE # 1 OF GD&T: ENVELOPE PRINCIPLE

Least Material Condition (LMC)

L The specific dimension within the
tolerance range of a feature where the least
amount (volume) of material would be in the part.

Profile Specific Callouts

Datum A plane

0.030 A

For an internal feature like a hole - Smallest Size

For an external feature like a pin - Largest Size

Actual
Hole Position

The following is usually done

with a CMM:
1. Determine Datum axis
2. Measure referenced surface
3. Determine if
central axis fall in TZ

Maximum Material Condition (MMC)

M The specific dimension within the
tolerance range of a feature where the maximum
amount (volume) of material would be in the part.

Other Datum Symbols

Part

Hole Gauge =
Max feature +

0.030 A

No

No

(Maximum Material
Condition)

This formula must be less than

the True Position tolerance

Actual Y
True Y

0.030

True
center

30.0

2D Tolerance Zone:
Coaxial circles which all
elements must fall into.

3D Tolerance Zone:
Two uniform parallel surfaces
(usually curved) that follow
the true profile of the feature.
All points along the profile
surface must lie between
this tolerance zone.

Two parallel planes

0.030 apart

0.030 A B
B

No

Envelope Principle (Rule #2) no longer applies.

Functional Gauge is allowed if MMC is called to
control both size and geometry.

RFS - Regardless of Feature Size

Geometric tolerances are as-is and need to be
within tolerance regardless of the size of the
feature. No additional allowances for features
of size. No functional gauging is allowed.
This is the default condition on all GD&T unless
otherwise specified - See Rule # 2 below.

2D Tolerance Zone:
Two uniform parallel lines
(usually curved) that follow the
true profile of the feature. All
points along the profile line must
lie between this tolerance zone.

Two parallel lines

0.030 apart

0.030 A B
B

3D tolerance Zone:
Two parallel planes, where
the entire surface must lie.

MMC (Axis)

60

60

Datum A

60

Profile
of a line

No

Datum A

Two parallel planes

0.030 apart

Angularity

3D Tolerance Zone:
Cylindrical Boundary
within which the central
axis must entirely lie.

Features of Size Condition

Virtual Condition
The total sum of all size and geometric tolerances
on a part that form the "worst" case limit of all
the tolerances.

RULE # 2: IMPLIED REGARDLESS OF FEATURE SIZE

For internal features like a hole:

Virtual Condition = M - Geometric tolerance

Regardless of Feature Size is always implied on geometric

tolerances unless otherwise specified by Least Material
Condition L or Maximum Material Condition M .

For external features like a pin:

Virtual Condition = M + Geometric tolerance

Copyright 2014 GD&T Basics <www.gdandtbasics.com> - Chart designed by Andrea Barbieri <www.andreabarbieri.net>

Unilateral Symbol
U When called the tolerance zone for a
profile is not symmetrical with respect to the
true profile. The value following the symbol
is the amount of shift the profile is allowed
in the direction of max material condition.
Between Symbol
Specifies the exact limits of the surface
or line that the profile tolerance controls.
This helps clear up where exactly the
profile needs to be within tolerance.