MEC 410 Handout: Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Spring 2016

I. Kao

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) an essential tool for communicating design
intent that parts from technical drawings have the desired form, fit, function and
interchangeability. By providing uniformity in drawing specifications and interpretation, GD&T
reduces guesswork throughout the manufacturing process improving quality, lowering costs,
and shortening deliveries. GD&T includes all the symbols, definitions, mathematical formulae,
and application rules necessary to embody a variable engineering language. It conveys both the
nominal dimensions (ideal geometry), and the tolerance for a part. GD&T is the language that
designers should use to translate design requirements into measurable specifications. [4]
The following American National Standards define GD&Ts vocabulary and provide its
grammatical rules.

ASME Y14.5-2009, Dimensioning and Tolerancing (previous standards: ASME Y14.51982; ASME Y14.5M-1994)
The Y14.5 standard is considered the authoritative guideline for the design language of
geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T). It establishes uniform practices for
stating and interpreting GD&T and related requirements for use on engineering drawings
and in related documents. ASME Y14.5-2009, for 21st-century applications, is a
replacement of ASME Y14.5M-1994. Important changes address: concept of feature of
size; datum references and degrees of freedom; composite position tolerances; surface
boundaries and axis methods of interpretation; profile tolerances; and symbology and
modifiers tools. Additionally, the subject matter has been restructured for better
readability, with profile, orientation, and form now in separate sections, and material
within sections reorganized. [4]
Intended for design, drafting, mechanical, manufacturing, production, tool/gage, quality,
process and project engineers, CAD/CAM/CAE specialists, inspectors and educators
across a broad range of global manufacturing. Special emphasis on aerospace,
automotive, medical device, precision instrumentation and related industries. [4]
The table of contents is appended at the end of this document. [4]

ASME Y14.5.1M-1994, Mathematical Definition of Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Principles
ASME Y14.41-2003, Digital Product Definition Data Practices

These are often referred to as the Y14.5 and the Math Standards, respectively.

Usage of GD&T and why do we use GD&T

The following drawing is an example for the identification of hole location.

Figure 1: Drawing showing distance to ideal hole location

A drawing which does not use GD&T (Figure 2) can be potentially misunderstood and fabricated
incorrectly (see Figure 3 for the illustration).

Figure 2: Drawing that does not use GD&T

Figure 3: Manufactured part that conforms to the drawing without GD&T in Figure 2
GD&T provides unique, unambiguous meaning for each control, precluding each persons
having his own competing interpretation. GD&T is simply a means of controlling surfaces more
precisely and unambiguously. See Figure 4 for an illustration.

Figure 4: Drawing that uses GD&T with unique and unambiguous interpretation
3

More information and a list of symbols of GD&T can be found in the reference [1].

ASME Y14.41-2003 Standard for CAD

ASME Y14.41-2003 standard is an extension of the Y14.5 standard for 2-dimensional drawings
to 3D computer-aided design (CAD) environments. The standard also provides a guide for CAD
software developers working on improved modeling and annotation practices for the engineering
community. ASME Y14.41 sets forth the requirements for tolerances, dimensional data, and
other annotations, and advances the capabilities of Y14.5. Y14.41 defines the exceptions as well
as additional requirements to existing ASME standards for using product definition data or
drawings in 3-D digital format. [2]
The standard is separated into 3 industrial practices: (i) Models Only: These portions cover the
practices, requirements, and interpretation of the CAD data when there is no engineering
drawing. While ASME Y14.41-2003 is commonly called the solid model standard, this is
misleading. The standard was intentionally written for different user levels; (ii) Models and
Drawing: These portions cover what is commonly called reduced content drawings or
minimally dimensioned drawings, where an engineering drawing is available, but does not
contain all the necessary information for producing the part or assembly; (iii) Drawings only:
These portions of the standard allow the historical practices of using engineering drawings to
define a product. However, this standard adds to the practices defined in ASME Y14.5 for
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing with some additional symbols, the use of axonometric
views as dimensionable views, and the concept of supplemental geometryall of which can help
to clarify the drawing and its interpretation. [3]
The materials in this handout have been taken from the following reference.
Reference:
[1] Walter M. Stites and Paul Drake, Jr., Dimensioning and Tolerancing Handbook, Editor
Paul J. Drake, Jr., Ch. 5, McGraw-Hill, 1999
[2] ASME Y14.41-2003 Standard on Digital Product Definition Data Practices, ISBN:
0791828107, 2003
[3] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASME_Y14.41-2003
[4] ASME Y14.5-2009 https://www.asme.org/products/codes-standards/y145-2009dimensioning-and-tolerancing

Appendix:
ASME Y14.5-2009 can be found in the following website (source: ASME; protected document)
https://www.asme.org/products/codes-standards/y145-2009-dimensioning-and-tolerancing