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Source: Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing for Mechanical Design

Chapter

Concentricity and Symmetry

10
Both concentricity and symmetry controls are reserved for a few unique tol-
erancing applications. The controls employ the same tolerancing concept but
apply to different geometries. Concentricity controls features constructed about
an axis, and symmetry controls features constructed about a center plane. Con-
centricity and symmetry both locate features by controlling their center points
within a specified tolerance zone. They are typically used when it is important
to accurately balance the mass of a part about its axis or center plane.

Chapter Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to
 Define concentricity and symmetry
 Specify concentricity and symmetry on drawings
 Describe the inspection process of concentricity and symmetry
 Explain applications of concentricity and symmetry

Concentricity
Definition
Concentricity is that condition where the median points of all diametrically
opposed points of a surface of revolution are congruent with the axis (or cen-
ter point) of a datum feature. Concentricity applies to correspondingly located
points of two or more radically disposed features, such as the flats on a regular
hexagon, or opposing lobes on features such as an ellipse.

Specifying concentricity
Concentricity is a location control. It has a cylindrical-shaped tolerance zone
that is coaxial with the datum axis. Concentricity tolerance applies only on a

167

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Concentricity and Symmetry

168 Chapter Ten

2.000 - 2.010
A

4.000- 4.014

Cylindrical
Tolerance
Zone

Figure 10-1 Concentricity has a cylindrical tolerance zone and applies at RFS.

regardless of feature size (RFS) basis; it must have at least one datum that also
applies only at RFS. The feature control frame is usually placed beneath the size
dimension or attached to an extension of the dimension line. The concentricity
tolerance has no relationship to the size of the feature being controlled and may
be either larger or smaller than the size tolerance. If the concentricity tolerance
is specified to control the location of a sphere, the tolerance zone is spherical
and its center point is basically located from the datum feature(s).

Interpretation
Concentricity controls all median points of all diametrically opposed points on
the surface of the toleranced feature. The aggregate of all median points, some-
times described as a cloud of median points, must lie within a cylindrical
tolerance zone whose axis is coincident with the axis of the datum feature. The
concentricity tolerance is independent of both size and form. Differential mea-
surement excludes size, shape, and form while controlling the median points
of the feature. The feature control frame in Fig. 10-2 specifies a cylindrical

2.000 - 2.010
A
.005

4.000- 4.014

Figure 10-2 A concentricity tolerance locating a coaxial feature.

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Concentricity and Symmetry

Concentricity and Symmetry 169

tolerance zone .005 in diameter and coaxial with the datum axis. Differential
measurements are taken along and around the toleranced feature to determine
the location of its median points. If all median points fall inside the tolerance
zone, the feature is in tolerance.

Inspection
Concentricity can be inspected, for acceptance only, by placing a dial indica-
tor on the toleranced surface of revolution and rotating the part about the
datum axis. If the full indicator movement (FIM) on the dial indicator does
not exceed the specified tolerance, the feature is acceptable. This technique
is a simple first check that will accept parts but will not reject them, and
it can be used only on surfaces of revolution. Features such as regular poly-
gons and ellipses must be inspected using the traditional method of differen-
tial measurements. If the measurement does exceed the FIM, the part is not
necessarily out of tolerance. To reject a part with a concentricity tolerance, the
datum is placed in a chucking device that will rotate the part about its da-
tum axis. A point on the surface of the toleranced feature is measured with
a dial indicator. The part is then rotated 180 so the diametrically opposed
point can be measured. The difference between the measurements of the two
points determines the location of the median point. This process is repeated a
predetermined number of times. If all median points fall within the tolerance
zone, the feature is in tolerance. The size and form, Rule # 1, are measured
separately.

Chucking device 2.000 - 2.010

about datum A
A

4.000- 4.014

Figure 10-3 Inspecting a part with a concentricity tolerance.

Applications of concentricity
The concentricity tolerance is often used to accurately control balance for
high-speed rotating parts. Runout also controls balance, but it controls form
and surface imperfections at the same time. Runout is relatively easy and

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Concentricity and Symmetry

170 Chapter Ten

inexpensive to inspect, but manufacturing is more difficult and costly. Con-

centricity is time-consuming and expensive to inspect but less expensive to
manufacture since it is not as rigorous a requirement as runout. Concentricity
is appropriately used for large, expensive parts that must have a small coax-
ial tolerance for balance but need not have the same small tolerance for form
and surface imperfections. Concentricity is also used to control the coaxiality
of noncircular features such as regular polygons and ellipses.

Symmetry
Definition
Symmetry is that condition where the median points of all opposed or corre-
spondingly located points of two or more feature surfaces are congruent with
the axis or center plane of a datum feature.

Specifying symmetry
Symmetry is a location control. It has a tolerance zone that consists of two
parallel planes evenly disposed about the center plane or axis of the da-
tum feature. Symmetry tolerance applies only at RFS; it must have at least
one datum that also applies only at RFS. A feature control frame is usu-
ally placed beneath the size dimension or attached to an extension of the di-
mension line. The symmetry tolerance has no relationship to the size of the
feature being controlled and may be either larger or smaller than the size
tolerance.

Datum Feature Center Plane

B

4.000-4.002
2.000-2.002

Tolerance Zone A

Unless Otherwise Specified:

.XXX = .005
ANGLES = 1

Figure 10-4 The symmetry tolerance zone consists of two parallel planes.

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Concentricity and Symmetry

Concentricity and Symmetry 171

4.000-4.002 2.000-2.002
.010

Unless Otherwise Specified:

.XXX = .005
ANGLES = 1

Figure 10-5 A symmetry tolerance locating a symmetrical feature.

Interpretation
Symmetry controls the median points of all opposed or correspondingly located
points of two or more surfaces. The aggregate of all median points, sometimes
described as a cloud of median points, must lie within a tolerance zone defined
by two parallel planes equally disposed about the center plane of the datum
feature, i.e., half of the tolerance is on one side of the center plane, and half is
on the other side. The symmetry tolerance is independent of both size and form.
Differential measurement excludes size, shape, and form while controlling the
median points of the feature. The feature control frame in Fig. 10-5 specifies
a tolerance zone consisting of two parallel planes .010 apart, perpendicular to
datum plane A, and equally disposed about datum plane B. Differential mea-
surements are taken between the two surfaces to determine the location of the
median points. If all median points fall inside the tolerance zone, the feature is
in tolerance.

Inspection
A simple method of measuring symmetry is shown in Fig. 10-6. This method
can be used only if the datum surfaces are parallel compared to the symmetry
tolerance. In this example, one of the datum surfaces is placed on the surface
plate. A dial indicator is used to measure a number of points on the surface of
the slot. These measurements are recorded. The part is turned over, and the
process is repeated. The measurements are compared to determine the location
of the median points and whether or not the feature is in tolerance. The size
and form, Rule # 1, are measured separately.

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172 Chapter Ten

4.000-4.002
2.000-2.002

Figure 10-6 Inspecting a part with a symmetry tolerance.

Applications of symmetry
The symmetry tolerance is often used to accurately control balance for rotating
parts or to insure equal wall thickness. Specify symmetry only when it is neces-
sary because it is time-consuming and expensive to manufacture and inspect.
The symmetry control is appropriately used for large, expensive parts that re-
quire a small symmetry tolerance to balance mass. If the restrictive symmetry
control is not required, a more versatile position tolerance may be used to con-
trol a symmetrical relationship. See chapter 8 for a discussion of the application
of the position control to tolerance symmetrical features.

Summary
 Concentricity is that condition where the median points of all diametrically
opposed points of a surface of revolution are congruent with the axis of a
datum feature.
 Concentricity is a location control that has a cylindrical tolerance zone coaxial
with the datum axis.
 The concentricity tolerance and datum reference apply only on an RFS basis.
 The aggregate of all median points must lie within a cylindrical tolerance
zone whose axis is coincident with the axis of the datum feature.

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Concentricity and Symmetry

Concentricity and Symmetry 173

 The concentricity tolerance is independent of both size and form.

 Differential measurement excludes size, shape, and form while controlling
the median points of the feature.
 The concentricity tolerance is often used to accurately control balance for
high-speed rotating parts.
 Symmetry is that condition where the median points of all opposed or corre-
spondingly located points of two or more feature surfaces are congruent with
the axis or center plane of a datum feature.
 Symmetry is a location control that has a tolerance zone that consists of two
parallel planes evenly disposed about the center plane or axis of the datum
feature.
 The symmetry tolerance and datum reference apply only at RFS.
 The aggregate of all median points must lie within a tolerance zone defined
by two parallel planes equally disposed about the center plane of the datum
feature.
 The symmetry tolerance is independent of both size and form.
 The symmetry tolerance is often used to accurately control balance for rotat-
ing parts or to insure equal wall thickness.
 Specify symmetry only when it is necessary because it is time-consuming and
expensive to manufacture and inspect.

Chapter Review
1. Both concentricity and symmetry controls are reserved for a few
.
2. Concentricity and symmetry both employ the same tolerancing ;
they just apply to different .
3. Concentricity is that condition where the median points of all diamet-
rically opposed points of a surface of revolution are congruent with

.
4. Concentricity is a control. It has a
tolerance zone that is coaxial with .
5. Concentricity tolerance applies only on a basis.
It must have at least that also applies only
.
6. For concentricity, the aggregate of all
must lie within a tolerance zone
whose axis is coincident with the axis of .
7. Concentricity can be inspected, for acceptance only, by placing a
on the toleranced surface of revolution and rotating
the part about the .

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174 Chapter Ten

8. To reject parts and to inspect features, such as regular polygons and ellipses,
the traditional method of is employed.
9. The concentricity tolerance is often used to accurately control
for high-speed rotating parts.
10. Concentricity is time-consuming and expensive to
but less expensive to than the runout tolerance.
11. Symmetry is that condition where the of all opposed
or correspondingly located points of two or more feature surfaces are
with the of a datum feature.
12. Symmetry is a control.
13. Symmetry has a tolerance zone that consists of
evenly disposed about the of the datum feature.
14. Symmetry tolerance applies only at .
15. Symmetry must have at least one that also applies only at
.
16. The aggregate of all
must lie within a tolerance zone defined by
equally disposed about the center plane of the .
17. The symmetry tolerance is independent of both .
18. Differential measurement excludes
while controlling the median points of the feature.
19. The symmetry tolerance is often used to accurately control
for rotating parts or to insure equal .
20. Specify symmetry only when it is necessary because it is
to manufacture and inspect.

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Concentricity and Symmetry 175

Problems

7.990-8.000 3.995-4.000

Figure 10-7 Coaxiality of a cylinder: Problem 1.

1. The mass of the high-speed rotating part in Fig. 10-7 must be accurately bal-
anced. The form of the surface is sufficiently controlled by the size tolerance.
Specify a coaxiality control for the axis of the 4.000-inch diameter within a
tolerance of .001 at RFS to datum A at RFS.

Figure 10-8 Coaxiality of an ellipse: Problem 2.

2. The mass of the ellipse shown in Fig. 10-8 must be accurately balanced.
Specify a coaxiality control that will locate the median points of the ellipse
within a tolerance of .004 at RFS to datum A at RFS.

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176 Chapter Ten

3 X 24.990-25.000

Figure 10-9 Coaxiality of the hexagon: Problem 3.

3. The mass of the hexagon shown in Fig. 10-9 must be accurately balanced.
Specify a coaxiality control for the median points of the hexagon within a
tolerance of .005 at RFS to datum A at RFS.

4.000 2.000-2.004

Figure 10-10 Symmetry of the slot: Problem 4.

4. The part in Fig. 10-10 rotates at a high speed, and the mass must be accu-
rately balanced. Specify a geometric tolerance that will centrally locate the
slot in this part within a tolerance of .005 at RFS to datum A at RFS.

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