2/3/2020 Beginner's Guide to GD&T - Datums

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Beginner’s Guide to GD&T:

Datums
Introduction to Datums
Datums tell us where to measure from. Calling them out clearly
and labelling each Feature Control Block with the applicable
Datums makes it completely clear how things are to be
measured. In the drwaing below, A and B are the Datums used
to establish the center of the hole using the Position Symbol and
the Feature Control Block for the hole center..

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A simple drawing with GD&T datum symbols. Image Source

GD&T positions every part within a Datum Reference

Frame (DRF). Some say the DRF is the most important concept
in geometric positioning and tolerancing because it provides the
skeleton or frame of reference to which all requirements are
connected. For that reason, we want to start early with a solid
grounding on Datums and Datum Reference Frames.

De nition of a Datum
A Datum is a plane, axis, or point location that GD&T
dimensional tolerances are referenced to. Typically, multiple
features will be referenced by each datum, so they’re a very
important part of the whole thing. Nearly every GD&T symbol
except for form tolerances (straightness, flatness, circularity, and
cylindricity) can use datums to help specify the geometric control
that is needed on the part.

Datum Symbol On Drawings

As we said in the definition, Datums are planes, axes, or point
locations, and that’s exactly how they show up on a drawing.
Let’s go through each one to see how it looks:

On a Surface (Plane)

Two examples of Datum Sybols on a Surface

We can place the datum symbol either on the surface or on one

extension line from the surface. For any surface other than a
round cylinder, the datum is strictly on the side where the symbol
is shown. However, for a round cylinder, the datum is the entire
round surface.

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On an Axis

Place the datum symbol on the dimension of a diametric

tolerance for Axis control:

A Datum Symbol on an Axis

Remember: this places the Datum on the central axis through

the feature, not the surface of the feature. Placing the Datum on
an axis is common with GD&T symbols that can have axis
control like runout, perpendicularity, or concentricity.

On a Point or Hole’s Axis

To establish a datum axis on a feature such as a hole, there are

a number of ways to place the datum symbol:

The “A” Datum can appear in these three different places on a

drawing…

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Referring to the example above, the “A” Datum can appear in

these three different places on a drawing:

– It can be placed directly on the hole, as in the leftmost case. It

is of course referring to the axis and not the surface of the hole.

– It can be placed on the leader pointing to the hole as it is in the

middle case.

– It can be placed on the Feature Control Frame for the hole.

In addition, the datum symbol could be shown on a side view by

denoting the axis.

Datums vs Datum Features and

Datum Targets
At this point it is important to talk about the difference between
a Datum and a Datum Feature–they are not the same though it
is tempting to refer to them as such at first. Datums are abstract
geometrical concepts. They correspond to points, lines, and
planes. When we refer to the tangible feature on the part that the
Datum is associated with, we call it a Datum Feature. The
reason they’re not the same is perhaps small, but significant. It is
because real features are never perfect abstract geometrical
concepts. Surfaces on parts are not perfectly flat planes. Edges
on parts are wavy and are not perfect lines.

The standard itself defines a Datum Feature as, “An actual

feature of a part that is used to establish a datum.”

You may also come across the term Datum Target, which is
defined as, “A specified point, line, or area on a part used to
establish a datum.”

De nition of a Datum Reference

Frame
This one starts out simple:

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A Datum Reference Frame is a coordinate system, and

preferably it is a Cartesian coordinate system.

Coordinate systems are valuable because they’re used to locate

objects. In GD&T they are used to orient and locate tolerance
zones.

Datum Reference Frames

and 6 Degrees of Freedom
Every Datum exists within the context of some Datum Reference
Frame. In practice, we must eliminate 6 degrees of freedom
before we can fully locate and orient a part within a Datum
Reference Frame:

Controlling 6 degrees of freedom…

Controlling 6 degrees of freedom means controlling 3 linear

distances from Datum planes to establish an X, Y, and Z position
and controlling 3 rotary positions to orient the part at that
position. We refer to the translational degrees of freedom as X,
Y, and Z and the rotational degrees as u, v, and w.

The 3-2-1 Rule and Points of Contact

The 3-2-1 rule defines the minimum number of points of contact
required for a part datum feature with its primary, secondary, and

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tertiary datum planes. It only applies when all three plaines are
used. The 3-2-1 rule says:

– The primary datum feature has at least 3 points of contact with

its datum plane.

– The secondary datum feature has at least 2 points of contact

with its datum plane.

– The tertiary datum feature has at least one point of contact

with its datum plane.

The 3-2-1 rule only applies to planer datum features.

Inclined Datum Features

One may specify a datum feature that is at an angle other than
90 degrees relative to other datum features. These are
called Inclined Datum Features.

Datum C corresponds to an Inclined Datum Feature…

Datums in the Feature Control Frame

and Order of Precedence
Datums are specified in the Feature Control Frame in an Order
of Precedence. This Feature Control Frame has 2 Datums
specified (A and B):

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A Feature Control Frame…

Datum A is the Primary Datum and B is the Secondary Datum. If

there had been a third Datum, it would be called the “Tertiary
Datum.” It is not necessary to specify the Datums in alphabetical
order.

The first step in dimensioning a part is always to select the

Datums. When selecting Datums, designers should consider the
following characteristics:

– Functional surfaces

– Mating surfaces

– Readily accessible surfaces

– Surfaces of sufficient sizes to allow repeatable measurements

Datums are important and care must be taken when selecting

them. They must be easily identifiable on the part. When parts
are symmetrical or have identical features that make
identification of Datum Features difficult, the Datum Features
should be physically identified.

Conclusion
By now you have an idea of how Datums are shown on
drawings and how they’re used to establish a coordinate system.
You can read them, at least a little bit, but I’ll bet they still don’t
feel obvious and you’re wondering how to “write” them (in other
words, how to choose Datum Features on your parts).
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We’ll have more on exactly how to choose Datum Features

shortly. First, we need to talk about Datum Feature Simulators.

Next Article: Datum Feature

Simulators
GD&T Table of
Contents          GD&T Symbols

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