CYLINDRICITY DEFINITION

In GD&T, cylindricity tolerance is used when cylindrical part features must have good
circularity and straightness, like pins or camshafts. While circularity applies only to cross sections,
cylindricity applies simultaneously to the entire surface. Since cylindricity is applied to an individual
surface, this tolerance does not need to be related to a datum.
An example of cylindricity tolerance is shown below. In the top figure, a shaft has a
cylindricity tolerance applied to it. The boxed symbols can be read "this surface must lie between
two concentric cylinders spaced 0.2 apart". The lower figure shows a sample part that meets this
tolerance. Note that this tolerance requires verification in all three dimensions. Because cylindricity
refines the form of a surface, it is treated like flatness in order to perform a tolerance stack.


It is a common misconception that roundness and cylindricity can be checked by taking
diametral measurements (as with a micrometer) or by using an indicator and vee block. A diametral
measurement does just what the words imply; it measures the diameter. It does not check the shape
of the surface which is what roundness and cylindricity control. Since the roundness or cylindricity
tolerance is a radial distance between concentric boundaries, a radial method of checking the
surface is necessary. However, rotating a part between centers is not an acceptable method since it
relates the part surface to an axis, which technically is a check of another geometric tolerance called
runout.
To truly check for the roundness or cylindricity of a surface without regard to the axis of the
part, the part must be rotated about the ultra-precision spindle of a specialized roundness
measuring machine. A probe contacts the surface and transcribes an enlarged profile of the surface
onto a polar graph. The profile is then checked against a clear overlay of concentric circles to
determine if it falls within the allowable tolerance zone.
Concentricity is the condition in which the axes of all cross-sectional elements of a surface of
revolution are common to the axis of a datum feature. Because the location of the datum axis is
difficult to find, it is easier to inspect for cylindricity or runout.



SOURCE OF ERRORS


Cross section deviations Median Line deviations Radial deviations
FOUR REFERENCE CYLINDERS


PROCEDURE
i. First of all 5 markings equally along the workpiece are made on the face of the
workpiece to be measured.
ii. The workpiece after properly cleaning is then placed on the V-block. The dial
indicator is placed just above the workpiece so that it is touching the workpiece
nearly at the centre of the V-block.
iii. The dial indicator is then moving along the workpiece according to the mark that was
created.
iv. The readings of the dial indicator are noted down for all the markings. This is
repeated three times to take the average value.


Table 1. Values obtained during the cylindricity deviation measurement tests.
Parameters (mm) 1
st
Cycle 2
nd
Cycle 3
rd
Cycle

4
th
Cycle 5
th
Cycle
Max(Maximum
reading)
0.4510 0.4425 0.4450 0.4440 0.4340
Min(Minimum
reading)
0.3810 0.3705 0.3680 0.3580 0.3545
Cylindricity deviation 0.0700 0.0720 0.0770 0.0860 0.0795