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04-19-2012, 08:27 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-19-2012, 08:29 PM by PixMan.)
Under the current Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance System in use in North America today, (ANSI 14.5 1982?) I've never seen the -C- used as it is within the dialogue box in the upper right. It presumably references datum -C-, but should only be used as it is shown in the dialogue box in the lower right area of the print (without the - - on either side of the C). The current system has no symbols or convention that I am aware of to denote "symmetry".
Note that the features within a box are known as "basic" dimensions, which have no tolerance of their own. They are known as "gage" dimensions from which other dimensions or features are derived.
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04-19-2012, 08:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-19-2012, 08:57 PM by Tony Wells.)
The latest standard I am aware of for us is (ASME) Y14.5-2009, but I believe the Symmetry callout was there in the previous version. It is still in use.
Ken is correct about the -C- being incorrectly drawn. If it is specifying Datum C it should simply be a capital C in a rectangular box.
Basic dimensions do have a tolerance, but not the same tolerance as would be given in the title block of the drawing, such as +/- 0.005 for 3 place decimals. The tolerance is according to the feature definition block referenced back to the datum controlling the basic dimension. In this case, the basic dimensions are given with modifiers on actual size of the feature and Datum C as manufactured. This time we see a positional tolerance zone of 0.006 on the outside edges (the 0.835 -0.005 dimension), modified to enlarge the tolerance zone up to 0.015, by allowing the feature to shrink within its limit. That comes from the -0.005, (the tolerance of the feature), plus 0.006 (True Position tolerance), and 0.004 (datum C @ it's LMC). The way it works is basically that the smaller each control feature is, the more error is allowed in location of the basic dimensioned feature. The intent is to actually give more overall tolerance than could be given with hard dimensions and the standard tolerance conventions. The smaller the features get, the sloppier you can work, in other words.
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These are the picitany rail dimensions. In my work I have measured many different rails on guns and have found a lot of variation in the dimensions. The clamping systems for most mounts allow for this variation so I wouldn't get too hung up on the exact dimensions shown on the spec's. I have always used the layout dimensions at nominal for my cad layouts and design with no issues.
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Guys thanks for all the replies, I am going to need some time to desipher it all means to see if myquestions have been answered. I have read drawing before but nothing like these.
One of the main things I was looking for was how far to come in from the sides withe the bevels and how much of a flat to leave between them from top to bottom. Hope that makes sense.