POSITION

Position is defined as the total permissible variation that a feature can have from its “true”
position. Depending on how it is called out, true position can mean several different things. It can
be used with Max Material Condition(MMC), Least Material Condition (LMC), projected
tolerances, and tangent planes. It may apply to everything from points to axes to planes to entire
features. In these examples we will use holes, since these are the most common types of features
controlled by true position. Keep in mind though that true position can be used on any feature.

A datum is theoretical exact plane, axis or point location that GD&T or dimensional tolerances
are referenced to. You can think of them as an anchor for the entire part; where the other
features are referenced from. A datum feature is usually an important functional feature that
needs to be controlled during measurement as well.

All GD&T symbols except for the form tolerances (straightness, flatness, circularity and
cylindricity) can use datums to help specify what geometrical control is needed on the part.
When it comes to GD&T, datum symbols are your starting points where all other features are
referenced from.

PARALLELISM
Parallelism is a fairly common symbol that describes a parallel orientation of one referenced
feature to a datum surface or line. It can reference a 2D line referenced to another element, but
more commonly it relates the orientation of one surface plane parallel to another datum plane in
a 3-Dimensional tolerance zone. The tolerance indirectly controls the 0° angle between the parts
by controlling where the surface can lie based on the datum. See the tolerance zone below for
more details.
Note: Parallelism does not control the angle of the referenced feature, but only creates an
envelope in which the feature must lie.

It is important to determine what the reference feature is (surface or axis) and then what is
acting as the datum (surface or axis) to determine how the parallelism is to be controlled.

The Cylindricity symbol is used to describe how close an object conforms to a true cylinder.
Cylindricity is a 3-Dimensional tolerance that controls the overall form of a cylindrical feature to
ensure that it is round enough and straight enough along its axis. Cylindricity is independent of
any datum feature the tolerance needs to be less than the diameter dimensional tolerance of the
part. Cylindricity essentially forms a perfect cylindrical boundary around the object that the
entire 3-Dimensional part must lie in.

Profile of a surface describes a 3-Dimensional tolerance zone around a surface, usually which is
an advanced curve or shape. If it is called out on a curved surface, like a fillet on a welded part,
the entire surface where the radius is has to fall within the tolerance zone. Profile controls all the
points along the surface within a tolerance range that directly mimics the designed profile. Any
point on the surface would not be able to vary inside or outside by more than the surface profile
tolerance. Usually when surface profile is required, there are no tolerances on the dimensions
that describe the surface and use the GD&T callout to give the acceptable range.

Runout is how much one given reference feature or features vary with respect to
another datum when the part is rotated 360° around the datum axis. It is essentially a control of
a circular feature, and how much variation it has with the rotational axis. Runout can be called
out on any feature that is rotated about an axis. It is essentially how much “wobble” occurs in the
one part feature when referenced to another.
Concentricity, sometimes called coaxially, is a tolerance that controls the central axis of the
referenced feature, to a datum axis. The axes for the datum and referenced feature are derived
from the median points of the part or feature. Concentricity is a very complex feature because it
relies on measurements from a derived axis as opposed tangible surface or feature.

Perpendicularity in GD&T can mean two very different things depending which reference feature
is called out. The normal form or Surface Perpendicularity is a tolerance that controls
Perpendicularity between two 90° surfaces, or features. Surface Perpendicularity is controlled
with two parallel planes acting as its tolerance zone. Axis Perpendicularity is a tolerance that
controls how perpendicular a specific axis needs to be to a datum. Axis Perpendicularity is
controlled by a cylinder around a theoretical perfectly parallel axis. Pay close attention if a
hole or pin is referenced since axis perpendicularity is commonly called out on these
features.

Surface Perpendicularity

Perpendicularity is a fairly common symbol that requires the referenced surface or line to be
perpendicular or 90° from a datum surface or line. Perpendicularity can reference a 2D line, but
more commonly it describes the orientation of one surface plane perpendicular to another
datum plane. The tolerance of the perpendicularity callout indirectly controls the 90° angle
between the parts by controlling the location where the surfaces have to lie. See the tolerance
zone below for more details.

Note: Perpendicularity does not control the angle of the referenced feature –the tolerance is in
distance units. (mm/in)

Axis Perpendicularity

Axis control can also be called out for Perpendicularity and is one of the more common forms of
axes call outs. When it is referenced for a circular feature, the feature control frame will contain
the diameter (Ø) symbol. Axis Perpendicularity can be applied to a positive feature (pin/boss) or
to a negative feature (a hole). When Perpendicularity is referenced for axial control of a feature,
the symbol now specifies a cylindrical boundary where the axis of the referenced feature must
lie. This cylindrical boundary is formed by taking a line that is directly perpendicular to the
datum feature. When this version of Perpendicularity is called out it is to be used with maximum
material condition to enable easy gauging of the part. See example 2 below for how these
particular parts are gauged.

Total Run out is how much one entire feature or surface varies with respect to a datum when the
part is rotated 360° around the datum axis. Total runout controls both the amount of variation in
the surface as the part is rotated, but the amount of variation in the axial dimension. Both radial
variation and axial variation are measured and held within the tolerance. Total Runout is usually
called on a part that is rotated about an axis where the entire surface is critical to be in spec.

Maximum Material Condition or for short, MMC, is a feature of size symbol that describes the
condition of a feature or part where the maximum amount of material (volume/size) exists
within its dimensional tolerance. The callout also removes GD&T Rule#2 which states that all
geometry tolerances are controlled independently of the feature size.

When you have a feature that GD&T is called on:

If it is a hole or internal feature: MMC = smallest hole size

If it is a pin or external feature: MMC = largest size of the pin

Least material condition is a feature of size symbol that describes a dimensional or size condition
where the least amount of material (volume/size) exists within its dimensional tolerance. The
callout also overrides GD&T Rule#2 or the Regardless of Feature Size rule.

For simplicity:

If it is a hole or internal feature: LMC =Largest hole size (least material in part)

If it is a pin or external feature: LMC = Smallest size of the pin

Regardless of Feature Size (RFS) is the default condition of all geometric tolerances by rule #2 of
GD&T and requires no callout. Regardless of feature size simply means that whatever GD&T
callout you make, is controlled independently of the size dimension of the part.

This rule can be overridden by Maximum Material Condition or Least Material Condition, which
specify the GD&T conditions at the Max or Min size of the part. LMC or MMC must be called out
on the drawing specifically though to eliminate the regardless of feature size default.

For simplicity, the definitions of all the GD&T symbols are by default, stated as Regardless of
Feature Size. For most geometric symbols besides those that allow maximum material condition,
RFS can never be overridden. Regardless of feature size eliminates any potential bonus
tolerance, allowing the GD&T tolerances to be more tightly controlled.

Parts of the Feature Control Frame

1. Leader Arrow – This arrow points to the feature that the geometric control is placed on. If
the arrow points to a surface than the surface is controlled by the GD&T. If it points to a
diametric dimension, then the axisis controlled by GD&T. The arrow is optional but helps
clarify the feature being controlled.
2. Geometric Symbol – This is where your geometric control is specified. See our page on GD&T
symbols or the sidebar for a description of each symbol.
3. Diameter Symbol (if required) – If the geometric control is a diametrical tolerance then the
diameter symbol (Ø) will be in front of the tolerance value.
4. Tolerance Value – If the tolerance is a diameter you will see the Ø symbol next to the
dimension signifying a diametric tolerance zone. The tolerance of the GD&T is in whatever
unit of measure that the drawing is written in. All of our examples on GD&T basics are metric
units.
5. Feature of Size or Tolerance Modifiers (if required) – This is where you call out max material
condition or a projected tolerance in the feature control frame. See the Modifiers section of
the GD&T Symbols page for further clarification on these features.
6. Primary Datum (if required) – If a datum is required, this is the main datum used for the
GD&T control. The letter corresponds to a feature somewhere on the part which will be
marked with the same letter. This is the datum that must be constrained first when
measuring the part. Note: The order of the datum is important for measurement of the part.
The primary datum is usually held in three places to fix 3 degrees of freedom
7. Secondary Datum (if required) – If a secondary datum is required, it will be to the right of
the primary datum. This letter corresponds to a feature somewhere on the part which will be
marked with the same letter. During measurement, this is the datum is fixated after the
primary datum.
8. Tertiary Datum (if required) – If a third datum is required, it will be to the right of the
secondary datum. This letter corresponds to a feature somewhere on the part which will be
marked with the same letter. During measurement, this is the datum is fixated last.

Profile of a line describes a tolerance zone around any line in any feature, usually of a curved
shape. Profile of a line is a 2-Dimensional tolerance range that can be applied to any linear
tolerance. If it is called out on a surface, like a radius on a part – profile of a line would specify
how much that cross-section could vary from a true curved radius. Profile of a line takes a cross
section at any point along the surface and sets a tolerance zone on either side of the profile. The
profile of a line callout can also be set with an all-around leader or given a specific range (see
example).

Angularity is the symbol that describes the specific orientation of one feature to another at a
referenced angle. It can reference a 2D line referenced to another 2D element, but more
commonly it relates the orientation of one surface plane relative to another datum plane in a 3-
Dimensional tolerance zone. The tolerance does not directly control the angle variation and
should not be confused with an angular dimension tolerance such as ± 5°. In fact the angle
for now becomes a Basic Dimension, since it is controlled by your geometric
tolerance. The tolerance indirectly controls the angle by controlling where the surface can lie
based on the datum.

Surface Straightness:

The standard form of straightness is a 2-Dimensional tolerance that is used to ensure that a part
is uniform across a surface or feature. Straightness can apply to either a flat feature such as the
surface of a block, or it can apply to the surface of a cylinder along the axial direction. It is
defined as the variance of the surface within a specified line on that surface.
Axis Straightness:

The form of straightness that controls the central axis of a part is sometimes referred to as Axial
Straightness. This tolerance callout specifies how straight the axis of a part is (usually a
cylinder). By definition, axis straightness is actually a 3D tolerance that constrains the center axis
of the part preventing it from bending or twisting too far.

Maximum Material Condition further specifies this by controlling the size of the feature in
addition to the allowed “bend” of the axis. Although a control of the axis, when MMC is called out,
the entire part is used to determine if the tolerance has been met with a Go-Gauge. (See Gauging
Section)

GD&T Symmetry is a 3-Dimensional tolerance that is used to ensure that two features on a
part are uniform across a datum plane. An established “true” central plane is established from
the datum and for the symmetry to be in tolerance, the median distance between the every point
on the two surface features need to fall near that central plane. Each set of points on the
reference features would have a midpoint that is right between the two. If you take all the
midpoints of the entire surface, this must lie within the tolerance zone to be in
specification. Symmetry is not a very common GD&T callout since it has very limited functional
uses (centering location is done with Position) and the verification and measurement of
symmetry can be difficult

GD&T Flatness is very straight forward. It is a common symbol that references how flat a surface
is regardless of any other datum’s or features. It comes in useful if a feature is to be defined on a
drawing that needs to be uniformly flat without tightening any other dimensions on the
drawing. The flatness tolerance references two parallel planes (parallel to the surface that it is
called out on) that define a zone where the entire reference surface must lie. Flatness tolerance
is always less than the dimensional tolerance associated with it.

The circularity symbol is used to describe how close an object should be to a true circle.
Sometimes called roundness, circularity is a 2-Dimensional tolerance that controls the overall
form of a circle ensuring it is not too oblong, square, or out of round. Roundness is independent
of any datum feature and only is always less than the diameter dimensional tolerance of the part.
Circularity essentially make a cross section of a cylindrical or round feature and determines if
the circle formed in that cross section is round.