GD&T Symbols and Terms

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

Flatness - is the condition of a surface having all elements in one plane.

Roundness - describes the condition on a surface of revolution (cylinder, cone, sphere) where all points of the surface intersected by any plane.   

Cylindricity - describes a condition of a surface of revolution in which all points of a surface are equidistant from a common axis.

Profile of a Line - is the condition permitting a uniform amount of profile variation, ether unilaterally or bilaterally, along a line element of a feature.

Profile of a Surface - is the condition permitting a uniform amount of profile variation, ether unilaterally or bilaterally, on a surface.

All Around Symbol - indicating that a tolerance applies to surfaces all around the part.

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

Perpendicularity - is the condition of a surface, axis, or line, which is 90 deg. From a datum plane or a datum axis. 

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

Position Tolerance - defines a zone within which the axis or center plane of a feature is permitted to vary from true (theoretically exact) position. 

Concentricity - describes a condition in which two or more features , in any combination, have a common axis. 

Symmetry - is a condition in which a feature (or features) is symmetrically disposed about the center plane of a datum feature.

Runout - is the composite deviation from the desired form of a part surface of revolution through on full rotation (360 deg) of the part on a datum axis. 

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

Maximum Material Condition (MMC) - is that condition 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 shaft size. 

Least Material Condition (LMC) - implies that condition of a part feature of size wherein it contains the least (minimum) amount of material, examples, largest hole size and smallest shaft size. It is opposite to maximum material condition. 

Regardless Of Feature Size (RFS) - the condition where the tolerance of form, runout or location must be met irrespective of where the feature lies within its size tolerance.

Projected Tolerance Zone - applies to a hole in which a pin, stud, screw, etc., is to be inserted. It controls the perpendicularity of the hole to the extent of the projection from the hole and as it relates to the mating part clearance. The projected tolerance zone extends above the surface of the part to the functional length of the pin, stud, and screw relative to its assembly with the mating part. 

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

Free State Variations - is a term used to describe distortion of a part after removal of forces applied during manufacture.

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.

Basic Dimension - used to describe the exact size, profile, orientation or location of a feature. A basic dimension is always associated with a feature control frame or datum target. (Theoretically exact dimension in ISO)

Reference Dimension - a dimension usually without tolerance, used for information purposes only. It does not govern production or inspection operations. (Auxiliary dimension in ISO)

Datum Feature - is the actual component feature used to establish a datum.

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 characteristics symbol, and the form, runout or location tolerance. If necessary, datum references and modifiers applicable to the feature or the datums are also contained in the box.

Conical Taper - is used to indicate taper for conical tapers. This symbol is always shown with the vertical leg to the left.

Slope - is used to indicate slope for flat tapers. This symbol is always shown with the vertical leg to the left.

Counterbore/Spotface - is used to indicate a counterbore or a spotface. The symbol precedes the dimension of the counterbore or spotface, with no space

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

Depth/Deep - is used to indicate that a dimension applies to the depth of a feature. This symbol precedes the depth value with no space in between.

Square - is used to indicate that a single dimension applies to a square shape. The symbol precedes the dimension with no space between.

Number of Places - the X is used along with a value to indicate the number of times a dimension or feature is repeated on the drawing.

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

Radius - creates a zone defined by two arcs (the minimum and maximum radii). The part surface must lie within this zone.

Spherical Radius - precedes the value of a dimension or tolerance.

Spherical Diameter - shall precede the tolerance value where the specified tolerance value represents spherical zone. Also, a positional tolerance may be used to control the location of a spherical feature relative to other features of a part. The symbol for spherical diameter precedes the size dimension of the feature and the positional tolerance value, to indicate a spherical tolerance zone.

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. Additionally, radii taken at all points on the part contour shall neither be smaller than the specified minimum limit nor larger than the maximum limit.

Between - to indicate that a profile tolerance applies to several contiguous features, letters may designate where the profile tolerance begins and ends. These letters are referenced using the between symbol (since 1994) or the word between on drawings made to earlier versions of the Standard.

Statistical Tolerance - is the assigning of tolerances to related components of an assembly on the basis of sound statistics (such as the assembly tolerance is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the individual tolerances). By applying statistical tolerancing, tolerances of individual components may be increased or clearances between mating 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 statistical process control will be used. Therefore, consideration should be given to specifying the required Cp and /or Cpk or other process performance indices.

Datum Target - is a specified point, line, or area on a part that is used to establish the Datum Reference Plane for manufacturing and inspection operations.

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