Geometric Dimensioning and

Tolerancing
Chapter 3, Datums

GDT
1. Establish a reference coordinate system.
2. Tell me where perfect is.
3. Tell me how far off from perfect is allowed.

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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Introduction
Datums are nothing more and nothing less than the
physical features of parts from which to make repeatable
measurements.
These features are considered theoretically exact.
Datums define a coordinate system from which to
measure everything.
Datums are usually a plane, a line, or a point.

We will need to label the datums on our drawing so that

the part inspector will know from where to measure.
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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Datum Feature Symbol

Datum Feature Symbol

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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept

define primary, secondary,

and tertiary datum planes

the primary datum is the

one that functionally is
usually the most critical
feature or surface of the
part

the primary datum feature

of the part will make contact
with the theoretical datum
plane in a minimum of three
points

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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept

the secondary datum plane

is to the primary datum

secondary datum feature is

the one that functionally is
the 2nd most critical feature
or surface of the part

2 point minimum contact

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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept

the tertiary datum plane is

to the primary & sec.
datums

1 point minimum contact

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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept - Circular

circular parts also require a three-plane concept for
repeatable orientation
the primary datum is usually one flat surface of the part,

defines a datum axis along the center of cylinder

should be
a construction line
(or omitted)

should have
a center line

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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Three-Plane Concept - Circular

datum A defines an axis along the center of the cylinder

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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Features with
and without
Size

1.9

Establishing Datums
from Primary
Plane Surfaces

15.9 0.2

5H7(5/5.012)

0.2
250.3

M-10x1.25
12.70.1

25 0.3 H
2X 60.25

Theory
Datum features H and L are mated with a
theoretical perfect plane contacting the
high points of the datum feature.

Physical
Datum features H and L are mated on the high points
of the manufacturing or inspection equipment

6.15

Datum Features
without Size

5H7(5/5.012)

15.9 0.2

0.2
250.3

M-10x1.25
N

K 2 SURFACES

12.70.1

H
2X 60.25

25 0.3
S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high
points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high

points of the rear surface.

Datum feature K
establishes a plane on
the high points of two
surfaces.

6.16

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high

points of the bottom
surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high

points of the left side of the
slot.

Datum Features
without Size

5H7(5/5.012)

15.9 0.2

0.2
250.3

M-10x1.25
N

K 2 SURFACES

12.70.1

H
2X 60.25

25 0.3
S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high
points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high

points of the rear surface.

Datum feature K
establishes a plane on
the high points of two
surfaces.

6.16

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high

points of the bottom
surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high

points of the left side of the
slot.

Datum Features
without Size

5H7(5/5.012)

15.9 0.2

0.2
250.3

M-10x1.25
N

K 2 SURFACES

12.70.1

H
2X 60.25

25 0.3
S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high
points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high

points of the rear surface.

Datum feature K
establishes a plane on
the high points of two
surfaces.

6.16

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high

points of the bottom
surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high

points of the left side of the
slot.

Datum Features
without Size

5H7(5/5.012)

15.9 0.2

0.2
250.3

M-10x1.25
N

K 2 SURFACES

12.70.1

H
2X 60.25

25 0.3
S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high
points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high

points of the rear surface.

Datum feature K
establishes a plane on
the high points of two
surfaces.

6.16

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high

points of the bottom
surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high

points of the left side of the
slot.

Datum Features
without Size

5H7(5/5.012)

15.9 0.2

0.2
250.3

M-10x1.25
N

K 2 SURFACES

12.70.1

H
2X 60.25

25 0.3
S 170.02

Datum planes established from planar datum features

Datum feature N establishes a plane on the high
points of the left surface.

Datum feature L establishes a plane on the high

points of the rear surface.

Datum feature K
establishes a plane on
the high points of two
surfaces.

6.16

Datum feature H establishes a plane on the high

points of the bottom
surface.

Datum feature M establishes a plane on the high

points of the left side of the
slot.

Datum Features
of Size

C
15.9 0.2

R
5H7(5/5.012)
250.1

M10x1.25

E
F

12.7 0.1

250.1
2X 60.25
0.2 M

SR 8.5
0.4

Theory
Datum axis E is the axis of the
theoretical datum feature simulator

6.18

Physical

Simulated datum axis E is the axis

of a collet, chuck, CMM etc.

Datum Features
of Size

C
15.9 0.2

R
5H7(5/5.012)
250.1

M10x1.25

E
F

12.7 0.1

250.1
2X 60.25
0.2 M

SR 8.5
0.4

6.19

Datum Features
of Size

C
15.9 0.2

R
5H7(5/5.012)
250.1

M10x1.25

E
F

12.7 0.1

250.1
2X 60.25
0.2 M

SR 8.5
0.4

Theory

6.19

Physical
Datum center plane B is
the center plane of the
datum feature simulator.

Sim ulated datum center plane B is

the center plane of the gage block.

Datum Features
of Size

C
15.9 0.2

R
5H7(5/5.012)
250.1

M10x1.25

E
F

12.7 0.1

250.1
2X 60.25
0.2 M

SR 8.5
0.4

Theory

6.20

Datum axis C is the axis of the

datum feature simulator

Physical

Simulated datum axis C is

the axis of the gage pin

Datum Features
of Size

C
15.9 0.2

R
5H7(5/5.012)
250.1

M10x1.25

E
F

12.7 0.1

250.1
2X 60.25
0.2 M

SR 8.5
0.4

Theory

Physical
Datum D axis and two planes are
established from a pattern of two
holes

6.20

Simulated datum feature D axis

and two intersecting planes
established from gage

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Datum Feature Symbol Placement is Important

Datum feature symbol R in
line with the dimension line,
establishes center plane of
the width.

5H7(5/5.012)

15.90.2

250.2

Datum feature
symbol K on the
extension line,
establishes a
plane from the
high points on
the surface.

M10x1.25

Datum feature symbol

M on the extension line
establishes a plane from
the high points on the
surface.

Datum feature symbol B

in line with the dimension
line establishes the center
plane of the slot.

M
B

12.70.1

170.2

250.2

6.21

2X

60.25

Evaluation
specified
dimension , orientation
planes, axis, center lines, edges, points, areas
no
three
circle

X
X
X

90
size
tolerance

X
X
convey
rocking
X
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Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering