Contents

Objective:....................................................................................................................................................2
Apparatus:...................................................................................................................................................2
Description:.................................................................................................................................................2
True Position using material conditions (MMC/LMC)..................................................................................3
GD&T Tolerance Zone:................................................................................................................................3
True Position –Location of a feature...........................................................................................................3
True Position using modifiers (MMC/LMC).................................................................................................3
Gauging / Measurement:............................................................................................................................4
True Position –Location of a Feature...........................................................................................................4
True Position Using material modifiers (MMC only)....................................................................................4
Gauging of an Internal Feature....................................................................................................................4
Gauging of an External Feature...................................................................................................................5
Note on Bonus Tolerance:...........................................................................................................................6
Relation to Other GD&T Symbols:...............................................................................................................7
True Position –Location of a feature.................................................................................................7
True Position using features of size (MMC/LMC)...........................................................................7
When Used:.................................................................................................................................................7
True Position –Location of a feature.................................................................................................7
True Position using material condition (MMC/LMC)......................................................................7
True Position –Location of Hole Example 1:................................................................................................7
True Position – Hole size and location using MMC Example 2:...................................................................9
Final Notes:................................................................................................................................................12
Bonus Round.............................................................................................................................................12
Called with or without the Ø symbol.........................................................................................................13
Slotted Features:.......................................................................................................................................13
Procedure:.................................................................................................................................................13
Observations & Results:.............................................................................................................................14
Discussion:.................................................................................................................................................20
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................................20
 Laboratory # 9: Positional Tolerance
Objective:
The aim of this lab is to ensure that all the students understand the concept of Position
Tolerance in the engineering drawing.
Apparatus:
 Solidworks
Description:
True Position is just referred to as Position in the ASME Standard. Many people refer to the
symbol as “True” Position, although this would be slightly incorrect. The Position tolerance is
the GD&T symbol and tolerance of location. The True Position is the exact coordinate, or
location defined by basic dimensions or other means that represents the nominal value. In other
words, the GD&T “Position” Tolerance is how far your feature’s location can vary from
its “True Position”.

Although incorrect, we title this page and may sometimes refer to the symbol as True Position
since this is typically the term people are referencing when they are looking for the specified
tolerance. However, if you want to be correct to the ASME standard, just use the term
“Position”.

Position is defined as the total permissible variation that a feature can have from its “true”
position. Depending on how it is called out, true position can mean several different things. It
can be used with Max Material Condition (MMC), Least Material Condition (LMC), projected
tolerances, and tangent planes. It may apply to any feature of size (Feature with physical
dimensions like a hole, slot, boss, or tab) and control the central elements of these size features.
In these examples, we will use holes, since these are the most common types of features
controlled by true position. Position can be used on any feature of size.

Position is probably the most widely used symbol in GD&T. If you are looking for more
information about Position or any of the other symbols, you should check out our GD&T
Fundamentals Course. If you like the simplified approach to GD&T on this website and in the
video above, be sure to contact us to learn more about the course!

GD&T Position Definition

In GD&T, position is a versatile tolerance that can be used to control location, coaxiality,

The bottom figure shows an enlarged view of the upper hole.  In side view of the part, the
orientation of the hole is controlled in the same manner as perpendicularity or parallelism.  In the
top view, the position of the hole is controlled by its axis location.  The actual position of the
hole’s axis (shown in red) must lie within a tolerance zone related to the true axis position
(shown in black) specified on the drawing.  Note that in this example, both location and
orientation are controlled simultaneously in 3D.

True position
Consider a hole defined with a positional tolerance of 1 mm. This defines a circular tolerance zone of
the radius 0.5 mm around the true position. The axis of the manufactured feature must lie within this
⌀1mm circle, meaning the maximum distance from the intended axis spot is the same in every
direction.
Now, consider a point within this tolerance zone at a distance of 0.25 mm from the X-axis and 0.25
mm from the Y-axis (considering the true position as origin).
At this point, the position of the feature is calculated as ~0.7 mm, as position = 2 x √(x 2 + y2). This
number lies within 1 mm, and so, the final product is within the acceptable range.
If we want this position to be the upper limit, we will have to define the positional tolerance as ⌀0.7
mm.
Plus/minus tolerancing
Now, let’s compare this with plus/minus tolerancing. 
Plus/minus tolerancing refers to the traditional method of assigning tolerances to feature dimensions.
Due to the upper and lower limits assigned in each direction, the resultant tolerance zone is a square.
To accept the manufactured product above, we would have to set up a tolerance limit of ±0.35 mm
(Total tolerance width = 0.7 mm). This would define a square of side 0.7 mm.
At the same time, the corners of the square are further away than the sides. This means that
the tolerance given using X and Y axes is not uniform in every direction.
Comparison
he red dot signifies the axis of a hole. The image shows how the same circle can accommodate the axis
but the same does not apply to X-Y tolerances.

For the same point to lie in both tolerance zones, the circular tolerance zone will circumscribe the
square tolerance zone. If we compare the area of two zones, the area of the circular zone exceeds the
square zone. 
We can calculate the extra zone by dividing the area of the circumscribed circle by the area of the
square. In all cases, we get a 57% increase in the zone when we prefer the positional tolerance over
the plus/minus tolerance.
Thus, for the same deviation, we can use looser overall tolerance and still accept the part. This reduces
the part manufacturing cost.
This can be a bit difficult to comprehend. We must ask ourselves the question: Why is a part
acceptable when the manufactured feature’s axis is at a distance of 0.7 mm at the corners of a square
but not acceptable in all 360 degrees?
Using true position helps us exploit the extra 57% area while essentially maintaining the same limit.
Characteristics of the Tolerance Zone
The tolerance zone using true position may appear in two ways depending on the callout used –
cylindrical and square.
Cylindrical tolerance zone
The true position symbol in GD&T is represented using a crosshair symbol (⌖). When we use the
callout with a diameter symbol (⌀), we get a cylindrical tolerancing zone and this is how it is intended
to use most of the time.
Usually, we set a datum to fix the true position as per our design. Sometimes, we may use multiple
datums to accurately locate the feature. We denote this reference point using basic dimensions.
This true position acts as our reference to measure the deviation of the actual manufactured parts. The
true position is usually set at the centre of the feature being toleranced. For example, for a hole, the
true position is set at the hole’s axis. Around it, we define the 2D or 3D diameter tolerance zone based
on the feature characteristics.
So, we have a reference axis for the hole at the true position and the tolerance zone sets the limit up to
which the actual part feature’s axis may stray.
The 3D tolerance zone is basically a virtual cylinder fixed around the hole axis at the tolerance value
and goes through the entire thickness of the part. 
Square tolerance zone
Without using the diameter sign, the true position tolerance refers to exactly the same square zone like
the traditional linear tolerancing does.
This creates a tighter tolerance zone as explained before and hence is rarely used. We may lose more
than 36% of the tolerance zone by using the callout in this manner.
How to Use True Position
True position is one of the most extensively used callouts in GD&T. We can easily control the
location of different features by using it. It provides a standardised method to express the location
dispelling any confusion.
To understand how to apply true position to a feature, we need knowledge of the feature control
frame.
Briefly, the feature control frame consists of three main blocks.

 Geometric characteristic symbol

Let’s suppose we need to display, on our drawing, the true position and positional tolerance of a hole
lying at the centre of a workpiece that measures 100 x 100 x 50 mm(l x b x h). The size of the hole is
⌀1 mm with a tolerance of ±0.005 mm.
Selecting the type of geometric characteristic
Since we are denoting true position in the feature control frame, we will denote it using its assigned
symbol of the crosshair (⌖) in the geometric characteristic symbol block.
Selecting datums
We start with selecting our reference datum plane. We can use a minimum of one datum. Datums
could be points, lines, or planes.
In this sample example, we will select three datum planes. We name them in decreasing order of
importance.
For our first datum, we will select the bottom plane of the workpiece. We will name it A. This datum
specifies that the hole centre axis must be perpendicular to this plane. This is a form of
perpendicularity control.

For our 2nd and 3rd datums, we will select the planes of the left and front face. We will mark these
datums as Datum B and C respectively on our engineering drawing.
Then, we will mention the distance of our feature (hole) from datum planes B and C on the drawing.
In this case, it is 50 mm for both as the hole position is at the centre. These distances are shown as
basic dimensions and are enclosed in a box to express the same.
In the feature control frame, we will write down A, B, and C, in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th blocks
respectively
Expressing the tolerance zone and values
In this example, we will use the cylindrical tolerancing zone. We will denote this in the feature control
frame using the diameter symbol (⌀).
Following this, we shall denote the total tolerance width as 0.01 mm (±0.005 mm).
Material condition modifiers
If there are any material condition modifiers present, we add them after the tolerance value. A circled
‘M’ for maximum material condition (MMC), or a circled ‘L’ for least material condition (LMC).
MMC is used more commonly than LMC.

True position tolerance is used very often with a material condition modifier. Parts are toleranced at
these limits to ensure that they do not interfere when mating or if they do, it happens in a limited
manner even when they are at their tolerance limits.
MMC for a shaft is the largest allowable size (diameter), and for a hole the smallest allowable size.
We can ensure that there is always some clearance between the two by ensuring that the MMC of the
shaft is less than the MMC of the hole in our designs.
When we add this modifier to our true position control frame, it specifies that we are applying the
tolerances at the maximum material condition to ensure that a hole is not too small or a shaft too big at
any point throughout the depth of the feature. Thus, with this size of feature control, we can control
the orientation besides the size and location.
How to Calculate and Measure True Position
The true position feature provides many uses. But when it comes to inspection, it is a bit complicated.
Let’s start with how to calculate the position of a manufactured part with respect to the true position of
the feature.
The true position is calculated using the following formula:
True Position = 2 x Square root[(Measured X – True X)2 + (Measured Y – True Y)2], where
Measured value – Reading obtained by measuring instruments.
True value – True position stated using basic dimensions.
These calculations can be done with a simple calculator or manually as it is basically twice the value
of the hypotenuse obtained through the Pythagorean theorem.
If the value obtained is within the value of the defined zone, we accept the part. There are several
ways to carry out the part measurements. Let’s look at these options.
Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)
These machines provide high accuracy when it comes to measurements. Usually, machine shops with
CNC machines will have a coordinate measuring machine that measures the parts and does all
calculations digitally.
This is the most accurate way of measuring true position. The machine contains a ball at the end of a
robotic arm. We guide the ball to the feature we need to measure. It then traces the feature and
converts the motion into the feature’s profile using the embedded software. 
The measurement method can be a bit confusing. And so, we have noted down the general steps that
can be of help. We follow the following steps when measuring using a CMM.
Measure your datums
Check the print and locate your datums. For example, say A is a datum surface. Datum B is a datum
axis, and C is a datum origin.
Align the part
Level the plane. Rotate to the line and set the origin as the C datum.
Measure features
Identify the dimension calling out the true position and measure it.
Dimension position
Now, click on Dimension and select the position. Then report it.
In case you are using feature control frames, you must define the datums in the editor prior to picking
the features you want to report.
Special caliper
We can use a special set of calipers known as the center distance digital caliper to measure the
position. This caliper can measure the center distance between two holes or step holes. They can
measure a range of hole center sizes.
We can use it for step as well as external measurement. They are easy to use with locking features,
fine adjustment, and data presetting functions.
Fixed functional gauge
This is probably the fastest way to measure true position. We generally see its use in high volume
manufacturing due to its efficiency. A functional gauge measures position only and not the feature
size.
For example, for a workpiece with a hole, the gauge would be a block with a protruding pin at the true
position of the hole and other features to align to the datums. If the pin can enter the hole when the
gauge is in line with the datum, we accept the part. The feature size has to be measured separately.
Procedure:
1. Open the Solidworks and select part for drawing of the object.
2. Draw all the required drawing according to the given dimensions.
3. After completing the drawing make sure all dimensions are correct.
4. Also add general tolerances to the part according to the given requirements.
5. From All the parts make an assembly.
6. Now open the Solidworks and go to drawing module.
7. Select the format of the sheet and browse the part in it.
8. First draw the sheet for all parts.
9. Then make sheet for an assembly drawing.
10. Then we make the sheet of exploded view of the assembly
11. Now edit the title of the sheet according to the requirements.
Observations & Results:
Discussion:
The Position tolerance is the GD&T symbol and tolerance of location. The True Position is the
exact coordinate, or location defined by basic dimensions or other means that represents the
nominal value. In other words, the GD&T “Position” Tolerance is how far your feature's location
can vary from its “True Position”.

Conclusion:
It is concluded that the engineer or designer should strive to maintain as much tolerance as
possible while maintaining the function of this part. Low tolerance can increase costs in the
production, testing and use of certain components. Tight tolerance is sometimes required, but it
is important to keep them in perspective.