Engineering Reference

GD&T

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing — a symbolic language for specifying allowable variation.

Definition

GD&T controls form, orientation, location and runout, which size tolerances alone cannot. A cylindrical part specified only by diameter can be oval, tapered or bent and still pass; a GD&T callout constrains those.

The system is defined by ASME Y14.5 in North America and ISO 1101 internationally, and the two are similar but not identical — mixing them on one drawing is a real hazard.

Common misuse

Using a feature control frame without a datum reference. Without a datum the tolerance has nothing to be measured against.

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