James D. Meadows and Assoc.

On-Site GD&T Training Programs

Level 1 Course
Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing [per the ASME Y14.5-2018, Y14.5-2009 and 1994 Standards and the Differences between them]

Level 2 Course
Advanced Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Level 2 Course
Tolerance Stack-Up Analysis

Level 2 Course
Dimensioning and Tolerancing of Functional Gages and Fixtures and Variables Data Collection Analysis 

Level 1:

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing [per the ASME Y14.5-2018 and 2009 and 1994 Standards and the Differences between them]

Who Should Attend?

This is the course that provides the foundation of GD&T knowledge upon which all advanced courses rely. Anyone involved with improving the quality of their parts should attend. This course is designed for personnel whose work requires them to either communicate, interpret or manufacture products through the use of engineering drawings and/or CAD models, such as (but not exclusive to): Design Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Production Engineers, Quality Engineers, Gage Designers, Estimators, Tool Designers, Inspectors, Drafters, Checkers, CAD Operators, Machinists, Manufacturing Engineers, Recent Engineering/Drafting Graduates, Managers, Concurrent Engineering Group Members...

Course Description

This comprehensive ASME Y14.5 training is for all job categories (and is the suggested prerequisite course for all advanced GD&T course). This is an introductory, but comprehensive, applications-based training program for all technical personnel who must interpret and apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. This course covers GD&T principles, rules and applications, as well as the new Y14.5-2018 symbology.

The goal of this course is not only to give the participants a comprehensive knowledge of GD&T techniques but, through the use of lectures, discussion, case histories and application problems, the ability to apply these techniques to their product line.

This course shows how to interpret design drawings and CAD representation of product definitions that use the ASME Y14.5-2018, 2009 and 1994 standards. It also explains step-by-step procedures to apply the Y14.5 practices and allow dimensioning and tolerancing professionals to express their design requirements more clearly. The results are that product representations are able to be more specific in conveying tolerancing needs, products can be more easily manufactured, and appropriate inspection techniques are clarified.

This course allows the participants the opportunity to learn and apply techniques in datum selection and tolerancing optimization. It introduces techniques in calculating more producible tolerances, choosing practical datum structures and then shows how to measure each requirement. Do’s and don’ts of proper tolerancing are taught and reinforced in every segment of the course by showing how they apply to realistic assembly tolerancing conditions.

The principles presented in this course will help you interpret and apply the ASME Y14.5-2018, 2009 and 1994 standards, reduce drawing changes, reduce interpretation errors, bid contracts with confidence, design for maximum producibility, increase part tolerances and assure mating parts will assemble.


Course Length & Class Size

We offer training in course lengths of 2 ½ to 5 days of training...and using your company drawings as a basis for this training.

Given sufficient training time, participants will be fully capable of making good choices as to how the GD&T language of symbology can best benefit your company and should be proficient enough to immediately apply learned skills to their every day, on-the-job situations.

Class Size: With ZOOM training, there is no limit placed on class size.

Course Materials:

Each course attendee will receive the following course materials:
The 576-page hardcover text entitled Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing - Applications, analysis & Measurement [per ASME Y14.5-2018].

The corresponding 367-page softcover, spiral-bound workbook entitled WORKBOOK AND ANSWERBOOK for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing. 

General Course Outline by James D. Meadows for: Level 1: Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing [per the ASME Y14.5-2018, 2009 and 1994 Standards]

1) GD&T Basic Principles: rules, datum selection criteria, fixed and floating fastener formulas and do’s and don’ts for Geometric Characteristic Symbols. A lecture and discussion on the major principles of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing will be given by presenting a simple assembly of mating parts and applying geometric controls to each part in the assembly. Discussed are: the effects of Maximum Material Condition (MMC), Least Material Condition (LMC), Regardless of Feature Size (RFS implied), Maximum Material Boundary (MMB), Least Material Boundary (LMB) and Regardless of Material Boundary (RMB implied) concepts, Inner and Outer Boundaries, Virtual Condition and Resultant Condition of features of size, and gage design for position controls.

2) Geometric Characteristics and Their Inspection All geometric characteristic symbols will be explained in a food chain of symbology to show how each symbol relates to the others for control of size, form, orientation, profile, runout and location. Geometric Characteristic symbols covered include; flatness, straightness, circularity, cylindricity, perpendicularity, angularity, parallelism, profile of a line, profile of a surface, circular runout, total runout, concentricity (removed in Y14.5-2018), symmetry and position (removed in Y14.5-2018). This will give each participant a perspective of how to choose exactly the right characteristic for every step of the part definition. Inspection of all characteristics will be discussed and several options shown for each.

3) Datum selection, choosing the perfect geometric characteristic for parts and assemblies. Fixed fastener assembly mating part tolerance formulas and the effects of modifiers (MMB after datum features) are also emphasized A more complex assembly will be used to explain the proper selection of datum features and a linear progression of geometric controls. The fixed fastener formulas will be thoroughly explained and used to calculate and distribute geometric tolerances for maximum manufacturability and functionality. Process capability, producibility and functional product requirements are considered and shown to work in tandem to create the best tolerancing scheme possible. Threaded holes, positional tolerancing, projected tolerance zones and inspection techniques are discussed.

4) Producibility and Measurement Considerations How manufacturing processing can influence datum selection without adversely affecting part functionality. How to correctly distribute tolerances in an assembly to reduce difficulties in part manufacture. How to imply a manufacturing and a measurement plan in sequencing geometric controls.

5) Holding Direct vs. Indirect Functional Relationships in an Assembly A floating fastener assembly will be used to explain how important functional relationships can be held using different datum structures. How to increase tolerances by proper datum selection is discussed.

6) Application of Common Tolerancing Methods and Datum Structures A series of application problems are used to build participants' knowledge and confidence in applying common datum approaches and tolerancing methods. Circular surfaces, planar surfaces, free form surfaces, datum targets, free state variation, the BOUNDARY concept for elongated holes and other oddly configured features.

7) Commonalities in Tolerancing Approaches on Dissimilar Part Geometries Profile of a Surface all-around, Two Single Segment Position, Perpendicularity of Centerplanes, Simultaneous Gaging vs. Separate Gaging Requirements, Analyzing Geometric Tolerances, Angular Orientation Datums, Analyzing Tolerances for Minimum and Maximum Axial Separation, Wall Thickness and Housing Requirements.

8) Design, Dimensioning and Tolerancing of Functional Gages and Fixtures. Quality Assurance Strategies and Measurement Planning

9) Converting from Plus and Minus Tolerancing to Positional Tolerance

10) Composite Position vs. Two Single Segment Positional Tolerancing

11) Composite Profile vs. Two Single Segment Profile Tolerancing

12) Applying Position Tolerances to a Complex Assembly with Multiple Datum Structures for Floating and Fixed Fastener Assembly Conditions

13) New concepts in Y14.5-2018 are explained and discussed, such as: Dynamic Profile, Vector Symbols, the return of True Geometric Counterparts and much more.


The text and workbook used for the GD&T Level 1 course are the same text and workbook used for any of the Advanced GD&T courses offered; therefore, if you schedule any advanced GD&T course, there would be no additional course materials costs if the same attendees of Level 1 take the advanced Level 2 GD&T courses.

CUSTOMIZED COURSE OUTLINE: The use of a sample packet of your product drawings is a key element of this course as a guide to the tailoring of information covered. To optimize time spent in this course, a sample drawing package is requested prior to the workshop for the instructor to study/incorporate into his lesson plan. Then, in the class, students will correctly apply the GD&T language to their company’s product drawings.

Additionally, we will work with you to include in the above generic course outline any specific topics you wish covered in the workshop...and all at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.

If you have any questions about GD&T training, books, workbooks, tests or DVDs, please reach out to James D. Meadows & Associates, Inc., at (615) 924-3600, or manually email at jim@geotolmeadows.com