Geometric Dimensioning an Tolerancing

Material Condition Modifiers

Dr. Mahmoud Abusrea

Spring 2023
 Introduction

 One of the major advantages of using GD&T is the ability

to specify how the tolerance applies to particular size

feature.

 If a size feature has a geometric tolerance then the

tolerance applies at one of these material conditions:

 Regardless of feature size

 Maximum material condition

 Least material condition

 Maximum Material Condition, Least Material Condition,
and Regardless of Feature Size

 An important concept in GD&T is the ability

to specify a geometric tolerance at various

material conditions for a feature of size.

 A geometric tolerance can be specified to

apply at the largest size, smallest size, or

actual size of a feature of size.

 Maximum Material Condition

 Maximum material condition (MMC) is the

condition in which a feature of size contains the

maximum amount of material within the stated

limits of size.

 The MMC for an external feature of size (e.g., shaft)

is its largest permissible diameter. The maximum

material condition for an internal feature of size

(e.g., hole) is its smallest permissible diameter.

 Maximum Material Condition

 The Figure shows some examples of

Identifying Maximum Material Condition

(MMC) on a Drawing for the part below.

 Maximum Material Condition

 As the size of the feature departs from MMC toward LMC, a bonus

tolerance is gained in the exact amount of such departure. Bonus

tolerance is the difference between the actual feature size and the

MMC of the feature. The bonus tolerance is added to the geometric

tolerance specified in the feature control frame.

 The MMC is the most common of the material conditions. It is often

used to tolerance parts that fit together in a static assembly, for

example, an assembly that is bolted together

 Least Material Condition

 Least material condition (LMC) is the condition in which a feature of

size contains the least amount of material within the stated limits of

size.

 The least material condition for an external feature of size (i.e., shaft

diameter) is the smallest value. The least material condition for an

internal feature of size (i.e., hole diameter) is the largest value.

 Least Material Condition

 The Figure shows some examples of

Identifying Least Material Condition

(LMC) on a Drawing for the part below.

 Least Material Condition

 The specified tolerance applies at the LMC size of a feature. The LMC size of a feature is the

smallest shaft and the largest hole. The LMC modifier Ⓛ is not to be confused with the LMC

size of a feature.

 As the size of the feature departs from LMC toward MMC, a bonus tolerance is gained in the

exact amount of such departure. Bonus tolerance is the difference between the actual feature

size and the LMC of the feature. The bonus tolerance is added to the geometric tolerance

specified in the feature control frame.

 LMC is used to maintain a minimum distance between features. The LMC is seldom used.

Functional gages cannot be used to inspect features specified at LMC.

 Regardless of Feature Size

 Regardless of feature size (RFS) indicates that a geometric

tolerance applies at any increment of size of the actual mating

envelope of the feature of size. Another way to visualize RFS is

that the geometric tolerance applies at whatever size the

toleranced feature of size is produced. There is no symbol for

RFS, it is the default condition for all geometric tolerances.

 An example of RFS is shown. In this example, the center plane

of the part must be flat within 0.4, regardless of the feature

size (the 10.3 ∓0.4 dimension).

 Regardless of Feature Size (RFS)

 If no material condition symbol is specified for the

tolerance, the feature automatically applies at RFS,

which means that the tolerance is the same, no matter

what size the feature has been produced within its

limits of size.

 Geometric tolerances specified at RFS are often used

when tolerancing high speed, rotating parts, or when

symmetrical relationships are required.

 Determining Maximum and Least Material Condition

 Every feature of size has a maximum and least

material condition. Limit dimensions directly

specify the maximum and least material condition

of a feature of size.

 Where a drawing contains plus-minus tolerances,

the maximum or least material conditions is

calculated from the tolerances. The Figure in the

next slide shows examples of identifying maximum

and least material conditions.

 Determining Maximum Material Condition

 The maximum material condition of an external

feature of size (e.g., shaft) is its largest size limit.

The maximum material condition of an internal

feature of size (e.g., hole) is its smallest size limit.

 In other words, the maximum material condition

adds material to the part, increasing its mass or

volume.
 Determining Least Material Condition

 The least material condition of an external

feature of size (e.g., shaft) is its smallest

size limit. The least material condition of

an internal feature of size (e.g., hole) is its

largest size limit.

 In other words, the least material

condition subtracts material from the

part, decreasing its mass or volume.

Determining Maximum and Least Material Condition
 Maximum Material Condition Symbol Ⓜ

 Maximum material condition symbol Ⓜ is a

feature of size symbol that describes a

dimensional or size condition where the

maximum amount of material (volume/size)

exists within its dimensional tolerance.

 For a hole or an internal feature: LMC is the

smallest hole size (least material in part). For a

pin or an external feature: LMC is the largest size

of the pin
 Maximum Material Condition Ⓜ

 Where the Maximum Material Condition Modifier Ⓜ is

specified to modify a size feature in a feature control

frame, the specified tolerance applies at the Maximum

Material Condition (MMC) size of a feature.

 The MMC size of a feature is the largest pin and the

smallest hole. The MMC modifier Ⓜ is not to be

confused with the MMC size of a feature as shown in the

Figure.
 Bonus Tolerance Calculation  Φ 0.0 Ⓜ A B C

Lower limit: 9 (MMC) Φ 11 ± 2

Upper limit: 13 (LMC)

12
Position Position Position tolerance on the
tolerance on the tolerance on the holes is 4
holes is zero holes is 2

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐌𝐂𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐌𝐂 + 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
 Bonus Tolerance

 As the size of the feature departs from MMC

toward LMC, a bonus tolerance is gained in the

exact amount of such departure.

 Bonus tolerance is the difference between the

actual feature size and the MMC of the feature.

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐧𝐧 𝐌𝐌𝐂𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐌𝐂 + 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
 Bonus Tolerance

 The bonus tolerance is added to the geometric tolerance

specified in the feature control frame. The MMC is the

most common of the material conditions.

 It is often used to tolerance parts that fit together in a

static assembly, for example, an assembly that is bolted

together.

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐧𝐧 𝐌𝐌𝐂𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐌𝐂 + 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
 Bonus Tolerance

 The part shown has an external feature, the pin, and an

internal feature, the hole. The position tolerance at

MMC for both of these features is 0.005.

 The MMC and LMC sizes for these features is as

follows:

For the pin:

MMC: .510, LMC: .505

For the hole:

MMC: .505, LMC: .510

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐧𝐧 𝐌𝐌𝐂𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐌𝐂 + 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
 Maximum Material Condition Ⓜ

 The table shows how the bonus tolerance and the total

positional tolerance increase for the features in the previous

slide as the size of the features departs from MMC to LMC.

Position tolerance at MMC is 0.005

For the pin:

MMC: .510, LMC: .505

For the hole:

MMC: .505, LMC: .510

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐧𝐧 𝐌𝐌𝐂𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐌𝐂 + 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Maximum Material Condition Ⓜ
 Maximum Material Condition Ⓜ

 As the size of the feature departs from MMC toward LMC, a

bonus tolerance is gained in the exact amount of such

departure. Bonus tolerance is the difference between the

actual feature size and the MMC of the feature.

 The bonus tolerance is added to the geometric tolerance

specified in the feature control frame. The MMC is the most

common of the material conditions. It is often used to

tolerance parts that fit together in a static assembly, for

example, an assembly that is bolted together.

 Example

 For the feature control frame shown, determine the following:

 What does the feature control frame specify

 What is the shape of the tolerance zone and what’s its

size if the hole is produced at its MMC size

 What is the location of the tolerance zone w.r.t the

datums

 What is the diameter of the tolerance zone if the hole is

produced at produced at Ø3.010, Ø3.020 and Ø3.030

 Example Answers

 What does the feature control frame specify

Answer:

The feature control frame specifies the tolerance

value on the position of the axis of the hole. This is

so because The Position tolerance symbol  is used

in the geometric characteristic symbol of the FCF

 Example Answers

 What is the shape of the tolerance zone and what is its

size at the MMC size of the hole

Answer:

The tolerance zone is cylindrical since the Ø symbol

precedes the tolerance value. The size of the cylindrical

tolerance zone is 0.014

The axis of the hole must be positioned within a

cylindrical tolerance zone of .014 in diameter at MMC

 Example Answers
Possible positions of axis

 What is the location of the tolerance zone w.r.t the

datums

Answer:

The axis of the cylindrical tolerance zone is

perpendicular to datum A, located up from datum B

and over from datum C.

Ø 0.014 at MMC

Cylindrical tolerance zone

 Example Answers

 What is the diameter of the tolerance zone if the hole is

produced at produced at Ø3.000, Ø3.010, Ø3.020 and

Actual Bonus Tolerance
Ø3.030
Hole Size Tolerance Zone
Answer: Diameter

MMC Size: 3.000 3.000 0.000 0.014

Tolerance at MMC: 0.014 3.010 0.010 0.024
For Ø3.000, (MMC) the diameter of the tolerance zone is 3.020 0.020 0.034
0.014
3.030 0.030 0.044

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐧𝐧 𝐌𝐌𝐂𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐌𝐂 + 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

 Maximum Material Condition Ⓜ

Bonus Tolerance Hole

Pin at MMC

Tolerance at MMC

Tolerance at new

size

Pin at new size

 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 Least material condition is a feature of size symbol

that describes a dimensional or size condition where

the least amount of material (volume/size) exists

within its dimensional tolerance.

 For a hole or an internal feature: LMC is the largest

hole size (least material in part). For a pin or an

external feature: LMC is the smallest size of the pin

 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 Least Material Condition is one side of the

dimensional limits on a part. The other side of the

tolerance range would be the Maximum Material

Condition.

 If you want to ensure that a hole and a pin always

have contact or a press fit, Least Material condition

can be called out. It is most often the control of

parts that are pressed together to ensure that they

always have a snug fit and no clearance.

 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 If you made sure that the LMC of the shaft was always

larger than the LMC of the hole, you ensure that there

will always be a tight fit between the parts.

 This creates a condition where you can use a functional

gauge to ensure that the external feature is not too small

or that the internal feature is too loose.

 Least Material Condition is fairly rare in geometric

dimensioning and tolerancing. There are only a few

reasons why a LMC should be called as shown in the

following slides
 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 The most common reason for calling LMC 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 as shown,

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 Ⓛ

 Least material condition concept comes in

handy when a functional gauge is needed to

control a part.

 If you want to limit the size of your feature

to insure a proper fit, you can specify the

least material condition callout and control

it with a specific type of gauge called a No-

Go Gauge.

A No-Go gauge for a hole would use a pin gauge = Hole’s Max Ø

A No-Go gauge for a pin would use a ring gauge = Pins Min Ø
 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 The weakness of using LMC is that it can’t be

combined with gauging tools. In maximum

material condition you are defining that the size

cannot go past the max material size + the

geometric callout. This works fine because you are

using two tolerances that are positive.

 However with least material condition you cannot

create a functional gauge that controls both.

 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 For example if you have a perpendicularity callout and

want to also control LMC on a hole, you can check the

hole for size with a no-go gauge to ensure it is small

enough for a press fit.

 However if you specify a gauge that allows for a bonus

tolerance on the least material condition, you cannot

make a no-go gauge also check the perpendicularity,

because a No-Go gauge is designed not to fit!

 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 For these reasons least material condition is seldom

used as a control for geometry and size. While gauging

is always possible for least material condition size in a

production environment, you cannot gauge for both

GD&T and dimension at once.

 Least material condition as a concept of size is

important. The only time you will truly see it is

combined with true position on thin walled parts like

in the Thin Wall Hole Example above.

 Least Material Condition Ⓛ

 Least material condition should only be

used when absolutely needed, due to not

being able to accurately gauge for size and

geometry at once.

 Least Material Condition is really only

used to ensure there is enough thickness

between the edge and the inside of the

hole