GD&T Symbols and Terms

All Around Symbol

Indicang that a tolerance applies to surfaces all around the part.

All Over Specificaon [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 8.3.1.6]

In addion to a general profile of a surface tolerance there is the opon of specifying
that the tolerance applies all over on the field of the drawing. It is important to realize
that this specificaon, whether in a general note or on the field of the drawing, applies
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.

All Around This Side of Parng Line [ ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 3.14.1]
To apply a requirement to all features all around one side of a parng line, the graphical
symbol for all around this side of parng line is indicated on the leader line.

All Over This Side of Parng Line [ ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 3.14.2]
To apply a requirement to all features all over one side of a parng line, the graphical
symbol for all over this side of parng line is indicated on the leader line.

Angularity
Is the condion of a surface, axis, or centerplane, which is at a specified angle from a
datum plane or axis.

Arc Length
Indicang that a dimension is an arc length measured on a curved outline. The symbol is
placed above the dimension.

Basic Dimension
Used to describe the exact size, profile, orientaon or locaon of a feature. A basic di-
mension is always associated with a feature control frame or datum target.
(Theorecally exact dimension in ISO)

Between
To indicate that a profile tolerance applies to several conguous features, le1ers may
designate where the profile tolerance begins and ends. These le1ers are referenced
using the between symbol (since 1994) or the word between on drawings made to earli-
er versions of the Standard.
Concentricity
Describes a condion in which two or more features , in any combinaon, have a com-
mon axis.
 GD&T Symbols and Terms
Conical Taper
Is used to indicate taper for conical tapers. This symbol is always shown with the vercal
leg to the le5.

Connuous Feature [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 2.7.5]

The note CONTINUOUS FEATURE or the connuous feature symbol is used to idenfy a
group of two or more features of size where there is a requirement that they be treated
geometrically as a single feature of size. Although the definion only menons features
of size, there is an example of CF being applied to a pair of planar features.

Controlled Radius
Creates a tolerance zone defined by two arcs (the minimum and maximum radii) that
are tangent to the adjacent surfaces. Where a controlled radius is specified, the part
contour within the crescent-shaped tolerance zone must be a fair curve without flats or
reversals. Addionally, radii taken at all points on the part contour shall neither be

Counterbore/Spo6ace
Is used to indicate a counterbore or a spo9ace. The symbol precedes the dimension of
the counterbore or spo9ace, with no space.

Countersink
Is used to indicate a countersink. The symbol precedes the dimensions of the counter-
sink with no space.

Cylindricity
Describes a condion of a surface of revoluon in which all points of a surface are equi-
distant from a common axis. .

Datum Feature
Is the actual component feature used to establish a datum

Datum Target
Is a specified point, line, or area on a part that is used to establish the Datum Reference
Plane for manufacturing and inspecon operaons.

Depth/Deep
Is used to indicate that a dimension applies to the depth of a feature. This symbol pre-
cedes the depth value with no space in between.
 GD&T Symbols and Terms
Diameter - indicates a circular feature when used on the field of a drawing or indicates
that the tolerance is diametrical when used in a feature control frame

Dimension Origin
Signifies that the dimension originates from the plane established by the shorter surface
and dimensional limits apply to the other surface.

Feature Control Frame

Is a rectangular box containing the geometric characteriscs symbol, and the form,
runout or locaon tolerance. If necessary, datum references and modifiers applicable to
the feature or the datums are also contained in the box.

Flatness
Is the condion of a surface having all elements in one plane.

Free State Variaons

Is a term used to describe distoron of a part a5er removal of forces applied during
manufacture.

Least Material Condion (LMC)

Implies that condion of a part feature of size wherein it contains the least (minimum)
amount of material, examples, largest hole size and smallest sha5 size. It is opposite to
maximum material condion.

Independency Symbol [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 2.7.3]

The Independency symbol is applied to the size dimension in order to invoke the princi-
ple of independency to regular features of size and override Rule #1.

Maximum Material Condion (MMC

Is that condion of a part feature wherein it contains the maximum amount of material
within the stated limits of size. That is: minimum hole size and maximum sha5 size.

Movable Datum Targets [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 4.24.6]

The movable datum target symbol may be used to indicate movement of the datum
target datum feature simulator.
 GD&T Symbols and Terms
Number of Places
The X is used along with a value to indicate the number of mes a dimension or feature
is repeated on the drawing.

Parallelism
Is the condion of a surface, line, or axis, which is equidistant at all points from a datum
plane or axis.

Parng Lines [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 3.14]

Are depicted on casng/forging/molded part drawings as a phantom line extending
beyond the part in applicable views, with the parng line symbol added.

Perpendicularity
Is the condion of a surface, axis, or line, which is 90 deg. From a datum plane or a da-
tum axis.

Posion Tolerance
Defines a zone within which the axis or center plane of a feature is permi1ed to vary
from true (theorecally exact) posion.

Profile of a Line
Is the condion permi?ng a uniform amount of profile variaon, ether unilaterally or
bilaterally, along a line element of a feature.

Profile of a Surface
Is the condion permi?ng a uniform amount of profile variaon, ether unilaterally or
bilaterally, on a surface.

Projected Tolerance Zone

Applies to a hole in which a pin, stud, screw, etc., is to be inserted. It controls the per-
pendicularity of the hole to the extent of the projecon from the hole and as it relates
to the mang part clearance. The projected tolerance zone extends above the surface
of the part to the funconal length of the pin, stud, and screw relave to its assembly

Radius
Creates a zone defined by two arcs (the minimum and maximum radii). The part surface
must lie within this zone.
 GD&T Symbols and Terms
Reference Dimension
A dimension usually without tolerance, used for informaon purposes only. It does not
govern producon or inspecon operaons. (Auxiliary dimension in ISO)

Regardless Of Feature Size (RFS)

The condion where the tolerance of form, runout or locaon must be met irrespecve
of where the feature lies within its size tolerance.

Roundness
Describes the condion on a surface of revoluon (cylinder, cone, sphere) where all
points of the surface intersected by any plane.

Runout
Is the composite deviaon from the desired form of a part surface of revoluon through
on full rotaon (360 deg) of the part on a datum axis.

Slope
Is used to indicate slope for flat tapers. This symbol is always shown with the vercal leg
to the le5.

Spherical Diameter
Shall precede the tolerance value where the specified tolerance value represents spher-
ical zone. Also, a posional tolerance may be used to control the locaon of a spherical
feature relave to other features of a part. The symbol for spherical diameter precedes
the size dimension of the feature and the posional tolerance value, to indicate a spher-
ical tolerance zone.
Spherical Radius
Precedes the value of a dimension or tolerance.

Spo6ace [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 1.8.14]

Counterbore and spo9ace previously used the same symbol. A spo9ace now looks like
the counterbore symbol with the addion of the le1ers SF.

Square
Is used to indicate that a single dimension applies to a square shape. The symbol pre-
cedes the dimension with no space between.
 GD&T Symbols and Terms
Stascal Tolerance
Is the assigning of tolerances to related components of an assembly on the basis of
sound stascs (such as the assembly tolerance is equal to the square root of the sum
of the squares of the individual tolerances). By applying stascal tolerancing, toleranc-
es of individual components may be increased or clearances between mang parts may
be reduced. The increased tolerance or improved fit may reduce manufacturing cost or
improve the product's performance, but shall only be employed where the appropriate
stascal process control will be used. Therefore, consideraon should be given to

Straightness - a condion where an element of a surface or an axis is a straight line.

Symmetry - is a condion in which a feature (or features) is symmetrically disposed

about the center plane of a datum feature.

Tangent Plane - indicang a tangent plane is shown. The symbol is placed in the feature
control frame following the stated tolerance.

Target Point - indicates where the datum target point is dimensionally located on the
direct view of the surface.

Total Runout - s the simultaneous composite control of all elements of a surface at all
circular and profile measuring posions as the part is rotated through 360.

Datum Translaon Symbol [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon 3.3.26 ] - This symbol indicates
that a datum feature simulator is not fixed at its basic locaon and shall be free to
translate.

Unilateral and Unequally Disposed Profile Tolerance [ASME Y14.5-2009 Secon

8.3.1.2] - To indicate that a profile of a surface tolerance is not symmetrical about the
true profile, this symbol is used. The first value in the feature control frame is the total
width of the profile tolerance. The value following the symbol is the amount of the tol-
erance that is in the direcon that would allow addional material to be added to the
true profile.