Datums

What are datums?

Datum: A theoretically exact point, axis,
or plane derived from the true geometric
counterpart of a specified datum feature. A
datum is the origin from which the location
or geometric characteristics of features of a
part are established and measured from.
Datums are abstractions (that is, they are
not real objects).

What are datum features?

Datum feature: An actual
feature of a part that is used to
establish a datum.
Unlike datums, datum features are
real objects
The true geometric counterpart of a
datum feature is a datum

What are not datum

features?
Things that are not real objects (that
you can see and touch) are not
datum features
Calling imaginary objects (e.g. a
centerline between two holes) is a
common way in which GD&T is
misused

What are not datum features

(cont.)?
Not a datum
feature

What are not datum features

(cont.)? Not datum
features

Datum feature simulators

Datum feature simulator: A
surface of adequately precise form
contacting the datum feature(s) and
used to establish the simulated
datum(s).
What are some examples of datum
feature simulators?

Datum feature simulators

(cont.)

Not perfect, but considered accurate

enough such that deviations from perfect are
insignificantly small.
Datum feature simulators are often tooling, for
example:

Granite surface plates

Manufacturing machine tables and locators
Angle blocks
Gages

Increasingly, computer-aided tools are used as

datum simulators
Coordinate measuring machines
Laser trackers and laser scanners
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Datum feature simulators examples

Extremely flat
surface simulates
a datum plane

Big thick
heavy slab of
granite

Datum feature simulators

examples Expanding/contracting
(cont.)
jaws simulate a cylindrical
datum feature of size
Datum feature on
part

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Datum feature simulators

examples (cont.) Custom fixture

Simulates
three datum
planes and
their
relationships
to each other

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Datum feature simulators

examples (cont.)Coordinate Measuring
Machine (CMM)

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Datum feature simulators

examples (cont.)

Table of milling machine

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Considerations when choosing

datums & datum features
Function of the part or feature
Assembly considerations (e.g. how does
the part or feature relate to mating parts?)
Manufacturing processes used
Inspection methods available (ability to
simulate datum)
Ease of access to features
Appropriate size and location for desired
control
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Datum feature symbols

Suction cup

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Relationship between datum,

datum feature, and simulated
datum

Datum
simulator
Contact between datum simulator
and datum features establishes the
simulated datum

16

Placement of datum feature symbols

for datum surface
Placed on edge view or extension line in view
where surface appears as a line

On edge view
of surface

On extension line
from surface

17

Geometric control of a datum

surface

18

Datum reference frame

Normally three mutually perpendicular
planes established by datum features used
to position the part
Like a datum, exists only in theory and not
on the part

19

Datum reference frame

(cont.)

Datum features used to establish the

datum reference frame should be
selected based on their importance to
the design of the part.

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Datum order of precedence

In feature control frame, datums are listed
in an order of precedence.
Indicated the order in which the datum
features should contact the datum
simulators.

21

Datum order of precedence

(cont.)

Primary datum: 3 points of contact

minimum
Secondary datum: 2 points of contact
minimum
Tertiary datum: 1 point of contact
Secondary
minimum
Tertiary

Primary

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Step-by-step: Positioning the

part in the datum reference
frame

Step one: Place the part on the

primary datum plane simulator
Step two: Push the part against the
secondary datum plane simulator
Step three: Push the part against
the tertiary datum plane simulator

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Step one: Place part on

primary datum plane simulator

Part contacts
this surface at 3
points minimum

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Step two: Push part against

secondary datum plane
simulator

Part contacts this

surface at 2 points
minimum

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Step three: Push part against

tertiary datum plane simulator
Part contacts this
surface at 1 point
minimum

Now the part is fully constrained and it can be manufactured

or measured relative to the datum reference frame

26

Multiple datum reference

frames
4x .25
L M

Two different
datum
reference
frames

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Datum targets
Datum targets: Points, lines, or areas on the
part used to establish datums
Often used when its not possible or not
desirable to use entire surfaces as datums
Commonly used on parts that have
significantly irregular surfaces such as castings
and sheet metal parts
The use of datum targets can make
measurements more repeatable and consistent

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Datum target symbols

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Datum target types

Example 3-13

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Datum target point

Example 3-13
31

Datum target line

Example 3-13
32

Datum target area

Diameter of
area

Normally indicated with phantom

line circle with section lines inside

33

Datum reference frame

established by datum target
points

34

Components of datum
identification

35

Locating datum target

points
Basic dimensions,
going back to datums,
are used

If desired, chain
dimensioning could be
used and would not
result in tolerance
accumulation

36

Simulating datum target

points
Point
contact

Pins have
spherical tops

37

Simulating datum target

areasOne point
contact
minimum for
each pin
Target areas
shown
graphically
Pins have flat
tops

38

Showing small datum target

areas as points
Typically used
when areas
are too small
to show
Upper part of frame
specifies diameter of
target area

39

Simulating a datum target

line

Minimum one point

contact somewhere
along line

40

Partial datum features (using only

part of a surface for datum)

Chain line
indicates area to
be used for datum

41

Referencing coplanar feature

as a single datum
Coplanar:
Two or
more
features
share the
same
theoretical
plane.

42

Cylindrical object as a datum

feature

Center axis is
datum axis

43

Placement of datum feature

symbol for datum axes
On edge of surface

On extension line,
aligned with
dimension arrow
On dimension
shoulder or stub

On feature control
frame
44

Simulated datum axis external

feature
Simulator needs to be dynamic
For mechanical simulator, needs to squeeze
down to contact datum feature (assuming
datum is applied RFS)

45

Simulated datum axis

external feature: Example
Datum feature
simulator (jaws of
chuck)

Datum feature
(surface of part)

46

Simulated datum axis internal

feature
Simulator needs to be dynamic
For mechanical simulator, needs to expand
out to contact datum feature (assuming datum
is applied RFS)

47

Simulated datum axis internal

feature
Simulator needs to be dynamic
For mechanical simulator, needs to expand
out to contact datum feature (assuming datum
is applied RFS)

48

Coaxial datum features

Coaxial: Two or
more features
share the same
theoretical axis
A single datum
axis is established
by two coaxial
datum features
Order of datum
letters doesnt
matter
Normally used as a
primary datum

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Datum axis of screw threads,

gears, splines
For screw threads, axis is established from
pitch cylinder unless otherwise noted
If it is desired to use another feature of the
thread, the note MAJOR DIA or MINOR DIA
should be used.
For gears and splines, the note MAJOR DIA,
MINOR DIA, or PITCH DIA should be used.
The use of threads, gears, and splines as
datums should be avoided when possible.

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Datum axis of screw threads,

gears, splines Specifying
(cont.)
the screw
feature for datum

MAJOR DIA

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Datum axis established with

datum target points one
diameter

Two sets of three points establish an

axis

52

Datum axis established with

datum target points two
diameters
Again, two sets of three points
establish an axis

L-M

53

Cylindrical datum target areas

and lines
Target
line
Target
area

54

Secondary datum axis from

target points
Points on cylindrical
surface complete the
constraint

End surface of
cylinder is primary
constraint
55

Datum center planes

rectangular, symmetric feature
The datum is
the center
plane between
the two
opposing
surfaces

56

Placement of datum feature

symbol for datum center
planes

On extension line,
aligned with
dimension arrow

On feature control
frame
57

Simulated datum center plane

external feature
Simulator needs to be dynamic
For mechanical simulator, needs to squeeze
down on datum feature (assuming datum is
applied RFS)

58

Simulated datum center plane

internal feature
Simulator needs to be dynamic
For mechanical simulator, needs to expand
out to datum feature (assuming datum is applied
RFS)

59

Center of a pattern of features

as the datum axis
Will be covered more in Chapter 7.

60