for design engineers

1. Least Material Condition is fairly rare in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
There are only a few reasons why a LMC should be called. The most common
reason for calling it would be that you have a hole or other internal feature that is
very close to the edge of a part. If you call LMC with true position in figure 2 below
– you would be specifying that if the hole is at its largest size, it can only vary by as
much as the true position tolerance. However if the hole is smaller than its Least
Material Condition, you can apply a bonus tolerance to the part, because now the
true center of the hole can be closer to the edge, without minimizing the thickness
of the material.
Least material condition should only
be used when absolutely needed
Least Material Condition is really only
used to ensure there is enough
thickness between the edge and the
inside of the hole.

3. Feature Size
Position Tolerance
Allowed
2.500 .010
2.501 .010
2.502 .010
2.503 .010
2.504 .010
2.505 .010
2.506 .010
2.507 .010
2.508 .010
2.509 .010
2.510 .010
Here we have a Ø2.500 +.010/-.000 hole and its position tolerance is Ø.010. Each of these
conditions described above will have a different effect on the allowed position of this hole.
RFS: When a tolerance is implied at RFS, the specified tolerance is independent of the
feature's actual size. This means that no matter what the actual hole diameter ends up
being, the applied tolerance is always the stated value. In this case .010. Here's a table to
show what that means:

4. Feature Size
Position Tolerance
Allowed
2.500 .010
2.501 .011
2.502 .012
2.503 .013
2.504 .014
2.505 .015
2.506 .016
2.507 .017
2.508 .018
2.509 .019
2.510 .020
MMC: The stated tolerance applies at the MMC size of the feature, and additional
tolerance is gained as the feature departs from the MMC size. This means that at the MMC
(smallest diameter), the stated tolerance is applied. As the holes gets larger the position
gains additional tolerance. Here's a table showing that:

5. Feature Size
Position Tolerance
Allowed
2.500 .000
2.501 .001
2.502 .002
2.503 .003
2.504 .004
2.505 .005
2.506 .006
2.507 .007
2.508 .008
2.509 .009
2.510 .010
Zero @ MMC: This is very similar to MMC, except that the stated tolerance is zero. At
the MMC feature size, the allowed positional tolerance is zero. As the feature departs
from the MMC, additional tolerance is gained. Here's a table showing the effect:

6. Feature Size
Position
Tolerance
Allowed
2.510 .010
2.509 .011
2.508 .012
2.507 .013
2.506 .014
2.505 .015
2.504 .016
2.503 .017
2.502 .018
2.501 .019
2.500 .020
LMC: This is the exact opposite of MMC. The stated tolerance applies at the feature's
LMC (largest diameter) and as the feature departs from the LMC more tolerance is
allowed. Here's a table showing that effect:

7. Now that the effect of each modifier has been shown, how do you
decide which one (if any) to use?
RFS: Used when locating a press fit pin or shaft.
MMC: When the hole is being used in a clearance application.
Zero @ MMC: Can be used in place of MMC.
LMC: Used in a locational application.
Important note: LMC is not commonly used. RFS is usually the best
option when using a feature to locate another.

8. When a geometric characteristic is specified with MMC, the geometric
tolerance may have a bonus tolerance when its FOS is approaching to
its Least Material Condition (LMC).
From the table shown in this figure, if the diameter of a part is measured at
1.02, which is the MMC, there is no bonus tolerance and the Position
Tolerance remains at 0.05. However, when the diameter is measured at 0.98,
which is the LMC, the bonus tolerance is equal to 0.04. Therefore, the total
Position Tolerance in this case increases to 0.09. Because of the bonus
tolerances, application of MMC can be easily found in most GD&T design
drawings.

9. When a geometric tolerance is specified
with LMC, the geometric tolerance may
have a bonus tolerance when its FOS is
approaching to its MMC.
From the table shown in this figure, when the diameter of a part is measured
at 1.02, which is the MMC, there is a bonus tolerance and the total Position
Tolerance increases to 0.09. However, when the diameter of a part is
measured at 0.98, which is the LMC, there is no bonus tolerance. LMC is
particularly applied to guarantee a larger minimum thickness in a thin part
than MMC.

10. Unlike MMC and LMC, Regardless of Feature Size gives no additional
geometric tolerance. The concept of RFS has been used prior to the
introduction of MMC and LMC principles. Figure 4 shows a design drawing
using an RFS Position Tolerance. Since there is no modifier added to the
Position Tolerance, according to Rule 26, the Position Tolerance is an RFS.
From the table shown in this figure, the Position Tolerance remains the
same regardless the variations on the FOS.

11. According to ASME14.5M1,6,7, Rule 1 states:
“Where only a tolerance of size is specified, the limits of size of an individual feature
prescribe the extent to which variations in its form – as well as in its size- are allowed.”
This definition includes two main components: (1) the envelope-size principle and (2) the
Form Tolerance allowed when a FOS departs from MMC. For example, Figure 1 shows
the diameter of a shaft in an engineering drawing. Figure 2 shows the envelope-size
principle, which states that the FOS is applicable not only to the size at each cross
section,
but also to the whole length of the feature. Figure 3 shows that, when the FOS departs
from its MMC, a Form Tolerance will be allowed. Therefore, when the FOS is at its
MMC, the part must have a perfect form.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
The envelope-size principle
An allowable Form Tolerance for a part
when its diameter departs from MMC

12. According to ASME14.5M, Rule 2 states:
“For all applicable geometric tolerances, Regardless of Feature of
Size (RFS) applies with respect to the individual tolerance, datum
reference, or both, where no modifying symbol is specified.
Maximum Material Condition M, or Least Material Condition L, must
be specified on drawing where it is required.”
The rule can be applied to the design drawing shown in Figure. Due to
the nature of the control, RFS can be applicable at most of geometric
characteristics except at three Form Tolerances: Flatness, Circularity,
and Cylindricity. While Rule 2 seems clear and simple, several geometric
characteristics without m or l are still non RFS. These exceptions cause
confusions to the students when taking this class.

13. Cases in Which Rule 2 Applies
There are two cases in which Rule 2 is applicable.
The first case is when a geometric characteristic is applied with an FOS,
and the second case is
when a geometric characteristic is applied with a feature.
RFS when Geometric Characteristics applied with FOS
Geometric characteristics which are allowed to specify with FOS are
Straightness, Perpendicularity, Parallelism, Angularity, Position, Circular Runout,
Total Runout, Concentricity, and Symmetry, are RFS.
RFS with Straightness Figure shows that a Straightness
Tolerance is specified with an FOS.
The Straightness is used to control
the central axis of the shaft.
As shown from the table, the
Straightness Tolerance remains the
same regardless the change on the
FOS of the diameter.
Therefore, this is an RFS. In the
Form Tolerances, RFS is only
applicable to Straightness.
Fig : RFS Straightness control on the
central axis of a shaft

14. RFS with Orientation Tolerances
Figure shows that a Perpendicularity Tolerance is specified with an FOS.
Similar to the RFS with Straightness, the Perpendicularity is used to
control the central axis of the hole.
As shown from the table, the Perpendicularity Tolerance remains the
same regardless the change on the FOS of the diameter. Therefore, this
is an RFS. The same situation can be applied to other Orientation
Tolerances.
RFS with Perpendicularity

15. RFS with Position Tolerances
As given in Table 1, Location Tolerances includes Position, Concentricity, and
Symmetry Tolerances. Figure shows a Position Tolerance with RFS. The
Position Tolerance zone of φ0.015 is used to control the central location of the
hole. The boxed dimensions in this drawing are called basic dimensions, which
can be described as the theoretically exact dimensions. As shown from the
table, the Position Tolerance remains the same regardless the variations on
the FOS of the diameter. The same rule can be applied to other Position
Tolerances, such as Concentricity and Symmetry.
From the examples shown above, when a geometric characteristic is specified
with an FOS, the tolerance will be an RFS

16. RFS with Runout - FOS
Figure shows a Runout Tolerance with RFS. The tolerance zone of 0.015” is used
to control the Total Runout on the outer surface of φ4.500”. Therefore, when
compared to tolerance zone in Figure 10, there is no φ in front of 0.015”. The
datum axis is at the center axis of φ2.000”. As shown from the table, the Total
Runout remains the same regardless the variations on the FOS of the diameter.

17. RFS with Runout when applied with a feature
Apart from the examples given, there is only one RFS example when the
geometric characteristic is applied with a feature. The geometric characteristic is
a Runout control, which is shown in Figure 12. The circular runout of 0.06 is to
control the wobble of the Surface B, and is measured when the surface is
rotated around the datum axis A. Based on the nature of the runout
measurement, the Circular Runout remains the same regardless the variations
on the FOS (2.25”). Therefore, this is also an RFS.