Lecture 09

DIMENSIONING AND
TOLERANCES

Mechanical Engineering Drawing

MECH 211
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 Content of the Lecture
• Dimensions
• Nomenclatures
• Dimensioning practices
• Dimensioning examples
• Dimensioning rules
• Aligned dimensions
• Dimensions outside the view
• The extension line practice
• The center line

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 Content of the Lecture

• Radial and diametrical dimensions

• Chained features
• Explanations
• Not to scale designations
• Reference of the extension lines
• General dimensioning
• Contour dimensioning
• Size vs. location

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 Dimensions
• Dimensions the numerical value that defines the size,
shape, location, surface texture, or geometric characteristic
of a feature.
• What should be defined before dimensioning?
• Perfect understanding of the shapes
• Units
• Minimizing the data to geometrically define the part
• Features to be defined
• Dimensioning rules

• Start with a base of reference

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 Dimensions – Cont’d

• Shape, location, relative position of

features in one part.
• Locate the position of the tool with respect
to the blank – manufacturing hints
• Feature sizes (dimensions -linear, angular)
• Position or location (linear, angular)

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Nomenclature

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 Nomenclature
• Dimension: A numerical value which defines size
or relative position
• Basic dimension: Theoretically exact size of the
feature
• Reference dimension: Dimension not directly
used, but indicated
• Dimension line: Thin dark solid line that shows
the extent and the direction of the feature
• Arrowhead: Symbol at the end of
dimension lines
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 Nomenclature – Cont’d
• Extension line: Line that shows which feature is
associated with the size
• Visible gap: Gap between corners of the feature
and extension lines
• Leader line: Extension line that shows the size of a
inaccessible feature
• Diameter/Radius symbols: /R followed by a
number, the size of the feature
• Datum: A reference line/surface for datum
dimensioning
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 Dimensioning Practice
• Text is usually 3mm or 0.125’’ high, and the space
between lines of text is 1.5 mm or 0.0625’’
• Text should be legible, do not crowd dimensions
• Do not letter on object lines. Lines may be broken - clarity
• Note: Number of digits to the right of decimal varies in
mm and inch dimensioning

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Dimensioning Practice – Cont’d
• REMEMBER -
Sizes and
dimensions are
used for
manufacturing
purposes
• Both Sizes and
Location of
features should
be indicated

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Dimensioning Practice – Cont’d
• Size dimensions Position dimensions
• 1. Horizontal 1. Horizontal position
• 2. Vertical 2. Vertical position
• 3. Diameter 3. Angle
• 4. Radius

• Standard practice in dimensioning – promotion of

clarity
• Make sure that you could build the part according
to your dimensioning
• The provided dimensions must be measurable
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Location Dimensions - Example
Tabular dimensioning
• Series of objects, with like features but varying dimensions
can be done in one drawing with use of letters
• The variable values of letters can be
given in a tabular form. Commonly
seen in catalogs, handbooks etc

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Location Dimensions - Example
Co-ordinate dimensioning
• Set of perpendicular planes are needed for dimensioning in
this manner. It should be clearly identified.
• Dimensions need to be in decimals and angles in degrees
and decimal parts of degrees

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 Dimensioning rules
 Each feature of an object is dimensioned once and only once.
 Dimensions should be selected to suit the function of the
object.
 Dimensions should be placed in the most descriptive view of
the feature being dimensioned.
 Dimensions should specify only the size of a feature. The
manufacturing method should only be specified if it is a
mandatory design requirement.
 Angles shown on drawings as right angles are assumed to be
90 degrees unless otherwise specified, and they need not be
dimensioned.
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 Dimensioning rules – Cont’d
 Dimensions should be located outside the boundaries of the
object whenever possible.
 Dimension lines should be aligned and grouped where
possible to promote clarity and uniform appearance.
 Crossed dimension lines should be avoided whenever
possible. When dimension lines must cross, they should be
unbroken.
 The space between the first dimension line and the object
should be at least 3/8 inch (10mm). The space between
dimension lines should be at least ¼ inch (6mm).
 There should be a visible gap between the object and the
origin of an extension line. 15
 Dimensioning rules – Cont’d
 Extension lines should extend 1/8 inch (3mm) beyond the
last dimension line.
 Extension lines should be broken if they cross or are close
to arrowheads.
 Leader lines used to dimension circles or arcs should be
radial.
 Dimensions should be oriented to be read from the bottom
of the drawing.
 Diameters are dimensioned with a numerical value
preceded by the diameter symbol.

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 Dimensioning rules – Cont’d
 Concentric circles should be dimensioned in a longitudinal
view whenever possible.
 Radii are dimensioned with a numerical value preceded by
the radius symbol.
 When a dimension is given to the center of an arc or
radius, a small cross is shown at the center.
 The depth of a blind hole may be specified in a note. The
depth is measured from the surface of the object to the
deepest point where the hole still measures a full diameter
in width.
 Counterbored, spotfaced, or countersunk holes should be
specified in a note. 17
 Dimension figures - Direction
Aligned and unidirectional dimensioning

 Aligned Dimensions have text placed parallel to the

dimension line, with vertical dimensions read from the right
of the drawing.
 Unidirectional Dimensions are read from bottom of page

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Dimension outside the view

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 Extension line practice
 Use any of the four methods, as long as
they are legible
 While grouping, stagger dimensions
 Do not break dimension lines for object
lines, but for arrow heads

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Center line practice

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Radial and diametric dimensions

 More than half a circle:

diameter

 Leaders to point towards centre

of the circle or arc (Radial)

 Less than half a circle or arc:

radius

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 Dimensioning arcs
 Arc in dimensioned in a view where true shape is
seen
 If space is available leader and the value is
located inside the arc. If not numeral alone or
including leader is moved out
 Cross is indicated with or without dimensions for
centre of all arcs except small and unimportant
radii
 For long radius, false center with jogged leader
can be used

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 Dimensioning chained features
• smaller dimension
should be placed
closer to the object
to avoid unnecessary
crossing

Staggering dimension text Aligning dimension lines

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 Detailed explanations

• Extension lines and line indicators are used

to detail manufacturing requirements

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 Not to scale dimensioning
• All features in drawings are scaled accordingly
• Not-scaled features could be also represented but
also indicated with an underline

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Reference for the extension line
• Dimensioning is always performed between crisp surfaces
• Sometimes, such surfaces are not available and the
dimensioning is given to facilitate the manufacturing
process, extension lines with reference marks are used

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 General dimensioning

• Holes should be dimensioned in the view

that they are best seen

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General dimensioning – Cont’d
• Features should be dimensioned in the
views that are best seen

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General dimensioning – Cont’d

• Do not draw a
view/section for a
feature that could be
indicated by a symbol

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 General dimensioning – Cont’d

Section veiw
is needless as
Counterbore Countersink Spotface symbols in the
topview
means this

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General dimensioning – Cont’d
• Dimension keyseats from the bottom of the
keyseat to opposite end of the shaft
• For key seat, from top of keyway to bottom of
hole

Keyseat and keyway

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General dimensioning – Cont’d
• By giving centre to
centre distances and
radii of ends
• One radius
dimension is only
needed, but number
of places need to be
mentioned

Slot cuts 33
General dimensioning – Cont’d

Chamfers
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General dimensioning – Cont’d
• Dimensioned in the
longitudinal view

Concentric circles
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 General dimensioning – Cont’d

• Dimensioned with
local notes
• Or by showing the
dimensions of both
the depth of undercut
and the distance

Grooves
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 General dimensioning – Cont’d

• Threads are
dimensioned with
local notes
• Internal or tapped
threads on the
circular view
• External threads on
the longitudinal view

Threads
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 Size Vs. Location

• Both size and location dimensions have to

be provided to avoid any confusion

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 Size Vs. Location
• Both size and location dimensions have to be
provided to avoid any confusion

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 Reminder
• Each feature of an object is dimensioned once and
only once
• The location and/or size dimensions for a feature
should be placed in the view in which that feature is
most clearly seen i.e. where its shape description is
most complete
• Any dimension specified should correspond to a range
of dimensions in the final product, i.e. each dimension
should include an appropriate tolerance
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 Reminder
• Dimensions lines should never coincide with
object lines or other extension lines
• Dimension lines should be unbroken except for
the number between the arrowheads
• There should be a visible gap between the object
and the origin of an extension line
• Crossing of dimension lines should be avoided
wherever possible

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 Reminder
• Dimensions should reference object lines rather than
hidden lines
• Dimensions should be placed in spaces as close as
possible to their point of application
• When dimensions are "nested", the smaller dimension
should be placed closer to the object to avoid
unnecessary crossing
• Dimensions should be located outside the boundaries
of the object wherever possible
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Superfluous dimensions

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TOLERANCING

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 Tolerances basics
• Undesired but accepted abatement form a
basic size or shape
• Types of tolerances:
– Dimensional tolerances (limits of the linear or
angular dimensions)
– Positional tolerances (limits of linear or angular
location of features within a part
– Geometric tolerances (abatement form shape or
position of a specific feature)
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 Fundamentals
• The not desired but permitted dimensional
variation of a certain feature due to the
economic aspect in manufacturing
• Tolerances are essential when two or more
parts are assembled together - clearance
• The amount of the permitted variation is
related to the functions of the parts

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Fundamentals
MMC

MMC – Maximum Material

Condition
LMC – Least Material Condition

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 What is Important?

• Understanding of tolerances
• Selection and calculations
• Prescription of tolerances

• Tolerance of a size: the difference between

the maximum and the minimum allowed size
of the specific dimension
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 Nomenclature
• Nominal Size – The general size (used for general
identification of part)
• Basic Size – Theoretical size (size from which limits are
worked out)
• Actual Size – Measured size of the actual part
• Limits – the max and min sizes shown by tolerances
• Allowance – for mating parts – min clearance or max
interference
• Tolerance - total allowable variance

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 Nomenclature
• Maximum material condition (MMC) – where part
contains maximum amount of material
• Least material condition (LMC) – where part
contains minimum amount of material
• Clearance fit – condition of fit that enables space
between mating parts
• Interference fit – condition of fit that enables no
space between mating parts
• Transition fit – clearance or interference fit
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 Tolerance representation
• Direct limits
(limit dimensioning)

• Tolerance value
(plus or minus dim)

• Unilateral Tolerances
(only in one direction from basic size)

• Specific note
(The * dimensions 2+0.001)

• General note
(All diameters 2+0.001)
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Clearance and interference fits

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Transition fit

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 How to determine fits?

• Evaluate the allowance

and the interference

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 Functional dimensioning
• Functional dimensioning begins with tolerancing
the most important features
• The functionality of the assembly has to be very
clearly established by the designer
• The assembly procedure as well as the
manufacturing processes involved in producing
the part must be also clear to the designer
• Tolerances should be as “coarse” as possible and
still permit satisfactory use of part – Why?
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 Tolerance Stack-up
• Tolerances taken in the same direction from one point of
reference are additive – tolerances stack-up or
accumulation of tolerance
• Tolerance stack-up can be eliminated by careful selection
and placement of dimensions
• If Z not given, it will be governed by both X and Y (.01
instead of intended tolerance of .005)

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 Tolerance Stack-up

Tolerances stack-up may cause assembly problems

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 Tolerance Stack-up

Dimensioning with respect to the base base would help

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 Tolerance Stack-up

Providing tolerances for the locating dimensions is a better solution

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 Tolerancing in ISO

International tolerance (IT) Grades 60

Metric preferred hole based system of fits

Minimum hole size is the basic size

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Line form vs. note form tolerancing
Hole Tolerance =
.025

Shaft Tolerance =
.016

Loosest fit =
40.025-39.975 =
.050

Tightest fit =
40.000 – 39.991 =
.009
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Metric Tolerances-Standard representation

• If limits are shown up and down, largest limit up

• If shown side by side, smallest limit first
• For angular dimensions, it can be in general note or it can be
mentioned similar to that of linear dimensions 63
Basic hole and shaft system-Imperial size
Hole Basis Fit Shaft Basis Fit

Smallest hole Basic

Size Largest shaft
.500 .500 .500

Clearance fit Interference fit

Interference fit Clearance fit

• Hole Basis fit: the basic size is the minimum dia of the hole
and fit is calculated based on this

• Shaft Basis fit: the basic size is the maximum dia of the shaft
and the fit is calculated base on this
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 Example – Run Fit
0.500 is the lower limit hole
0.496 is the upper limit shaft
0.004 is the ALLOWANCE
.503 .496 0.496 is the upper limit shaft
.500 .493
0.003 is the shaft tolerance
0.493 is the LOWER LIMIT SHAFT
0.500 is the lower limit hole
0.003 is the hole tolerance
0.503 is the UPPER LIMIT HOLE
0.500 is the smallest hole 0.503 is the largest hole
0.496 is the largest shaft 0.493 is the smallest shaft
0.004 is the tightest fit 0.10 is the loosest fit
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 Geometric tolerancing
• Used to limit the abatement in the geometric
or positional variation of features
Total flatness tolerance, Flatness tolerance
.05inch. This entire tolerance Total height indication in
zone may move up and down tolerance .2 inches drawing
within the size tolerance zone

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 Example of feature control frames
Geometric
tolerance symbol Geometric
(Parallelism) tolerance value
Size dimension

Reference Datum

Geometric Geometric
tolerance symbol tolerance value
(Roundness) 67
Dimensioning and
tolerancing symbols

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Straightness of the axis

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Roundness

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Cylindricity

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Drawing with GT - Example

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Think practical when approach a design problem

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 Problems

• Draw all the necessary views/sections that

would enable the correct dimensioning of
the following parts:

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Problems

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Problems

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Dimensioning – sample problems

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Tolerancing – sample problems

Limits of Size 1 2 FN4 Fit

Nominal Size .500 .750
± Limit ± ±
Hole
= Upper Limit = =
Nominal Size .500 .750
+ Limit + +
= Lower Limit = =
Nominal Size .500 .750
± Limit ± ±
Shaft

= Upper Limit = =
Nominal Size .500 .750
+ Limit + +
= Lower Limit = =
Smallest Hole
Limits of Fits

- Largest Shaft - -
Tightest Fit
Largest Hole
- Smallest Shaft - -
Loosest Fit 79
Dimensioning and tolerances standard
• Representation Standards – ANSI Y 14.5 M
New standard Old standard

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 A B

Which of the two dimensioning practices is better

for assembly purposes?
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Bracket with GT - Example

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Dimensioning and
tolerancing symbols

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Contour dimensioning

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Steps to create a dimensioned drawing

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Functional dimensioning

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