GeometricDimensioningandTolerancingTheCommon.PDFVIP

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing The Common Thread of a Multifunctional Design Team By Donald E. Day, Chairman, Mechanical Quality Technologies Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY ABSTRACT Once the design team has performed their DFA/M analysis, it is essential to document the solutions. Old methods of dimensioning and tolerancing leave the engineering document open to interpretation. The national standard on Geometric Dimensioningand Tolerancing (ANSI Y14.5M-1982) provides a method of defining parts with one clear meaning. A review of the dimensioning and tolerancing of parts by the multifunctional team answers the questions related to reliability, tooling, inspection, function, etc. prior to release of the drawing. Numerous examples will be presented that illustrate how this approach has reduced costs and design time while improving quality. The engineering drawing or file is a legal document. It is a contract between departments or customers and vendors. Just like any other legal document, it should represent the drafter’s intent and be free of any loopholes. It is estimated that over 80% of the engineering documents generated in the United States are flawed in some way. Often the ideal geometry is well defined. It is the amount of acceptable variation or tolerance from the ideal or nominal geometry that is usually unclear. In most companies the responsibility of assigning tolerances is left up to the drafter or CAD operator without significant input from the areas that must live with the specifications. Problems resulting from overly tight tolerances, unclear geometry and non-producible designs include: Scrap Rework “Use as is” decisions Requests for engineering changes