Geometric Dimensioning and

Tolerancing
Unit 1 Introduction, Symbols, and Terms

History and Background

Eli Whitney, is the inventor of the
cotton gin and a pioneer in the
use of mass production methods.
Around 1798, he won a contract
to supply muskets to the United
States government. The firearms
manufacture were based on the
concept of interchangeable parts.
He made a presentation to
congress by building 10 guns and
assembling and disassembling
them claiming the same exact
parts and mechanisms.
Eli Whitney 1765 - 1825
EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Limit Tolerancing

EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Limit Tolerancing

EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Limit Tolerancing
Is the .620-.630 hole horizontal position
measured from a true vertical plane or from the
as built face?
A .005 tolerance on the horizontal and vertical
position of the hole means that the position
could be off by as much as .007.

max allowed error

for hole center

.007
perfect location
for hole center

+.005

+.005
EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Limit Tolerancing
Limit tolerances dont have an origin or any orientation or
location relative to datums.
The datums are usually implied.
The drawings are subject to different interpretations.
Plus/minus tolerancing works well for individual features
of size (ex. diameter of a shaft), but does not control the
relationship between individual features very well.

EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Geometric Tolerancing Workbook

Everyone should have a
workbook to follow along.
It contains necessary
reference information along
with class exercises.
Page numbers in yellow on
the slides match pages in the
workbook.

EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

History of Dimensioning and

Tolerancing Standards in the USA
Mil Std 8 1950s
Mil Std 8A
Mil Std 8B
Mil Std 8C-1963
ASA-Y14.5-1957
USASI Y14.5-1966
ANSI Y14.5-1973
ANSI Y14.5M-1982
ASME Y14.5M-1994
ASME Y14.5-2009
1.3
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Computer Aided Design

Common Symbols

Lightning bolts show new symbols

1.7

Geometric
Characteristic
Symbols

1.10

Common Tolerance Zone Shapes

1.11

Geometric Tolerance
Categories
Happy Features

1.12

Features of Size
and
Features without Size

1.9

Tolerances
All dimensions require a tolerance.
A tolerance should be as large as possible
without interfering with the function of the part to
minimize production costs.
Consider how your part will be checked to see if
it meets the tolerances.

EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Tolerance Notes

EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Geometric Dimensioning and

Tolerancing (GDT)
1. establish a reference coordinate system by
defining datums
2. provide basic dimensions (perfect dimensions)
relative to the datums
3. specify allowable tolerances

EML 2023
Computer Aided Design

Common Symbols

units are mm

applied to a Drawing

25

10

18

1.8

C
B

Specify flatness.
Document tolerances for the center hole.

Document tolerances for the outer holes.

Document tolerances for the square hole.

Document tolerances for the three slots.

Dimension the thickness.

Indexer Assembly

1.17

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Computer Aided Design

Indexer Plate

1.17

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Computer Aided Design

Indexer Assembly

ASME Y14.41 - 2003, Digital Product

Definition Data Practices

1.19

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Computer Aided Design

Workshop Exercise 1.1

12

1.23