We’re in the final stages of developing Alex’s new ISO geometrical tolerancing reference guide. At a little over 350 pages, this will be one of the most complete references for geometrical tolerancing on the market.

We’ll be taking pre-orders soon, and we’ll also be offering the guide in e-book format. Check back in the next couple of weeks for our pre-order 25% off sale.

More about Alex Krulikowski’s ISO Geometrical Tolerancing Reference Guide:

• Hidden spiral-binding allows it to lay flat
• It contains comprehensive reference charts inside the fold-out covers
• Index tabs are provided for easy access to any topic
• It can be used as an on-the-job reference or as a teaching aid
• One entire section is devoted to a quick comparison of ASME and ISO standards.

Topics include:

• ISO drawing conventions
• GPS basics
• Size and boundary conditions
• Limits and fits
• The datum-system
• Form tolerances
• Orientation tolerances
• Location tolerances
• Run-out tolerances
• Profile tolerances
• General tolerances
• Workpiece edges
• Surface texture
• ISO/ASME comparison
• A full glossary of ISO geometrical tolerancing terms
• Non-rigid parts
• Restraint specifications
• A topical index

We are happy to announce that the amount of pre-orders for ETI’s new ASME Y14.5-2009 Ultimate GD&T Pocket Guide has been overwhelming.

The pocket guide is currently at the printer and should be delivered to our building by early next week. If all goes as scheduled, we will be shipping them to our early customers by the UPS Christmas cutoff date (December 24th), so look for your order to be delivered before the end of the year.

Don’t miss our buy two/get one free special! We are extending the sale until January 31, 2010. The Ultimate GD&T Pocket Guide costs $10.00 and can be ordered at our website.

To read more details about the contents of Ultimate GD&T Pocket Guide (ASME Y14.5-2009), click here.

The 2009 GD&T pocket guide has 50% more content than the 1994 pocket guide. Its larger format allows room for more charts and graphics, but it still fits in a shirt pocket. We’ve also added several new features, like index tabs on page edges, a glossary, references to the standard, which provide quick access to terms, charts, and drawings.  It’s now spiral bound, so it lays flat. Click the graphic to see a larger view.

The Ultimate GD&T Pocket Guide is a handy reference tool in one convenient pocket-sized package. Carry it with you on the job and have a resource to all your GD&T questions at your fingertips.

ETI’s Ultimate GD&T Pocket Guide Special:
Until January 31, 2010, buy two pocket guides and receive one free. Sorry, no other discounts apply. Order today and save. Expected ship date for new orders: first week of January, 2010. Your payment will not be processed until the pocket guide is ready to ship.

Order now.

A few years ago, I decided to put together some type of graphic that would organize and illustrate the many levels of workshops that ETI offers. It needed to include the prerequisites for each course and some way to easily visualize the entire  GD&T training hierarchy. The GD&T Training Pyramid was the result. (Click on the graphic above to access a larger view.)

The pyramid allows you to see all the training levels, as well as the basic courses – or the foundation – upon which your GD&T education should build. We often find that students attempt to master a higher level course without fully understanding the basics. For example, if you don’t completely understand the requirements of engineering drawings, you won’t be ready to learn GD&T fundamentals.

The pyramid also incorporates the valuable concept of mentoring employees. Once a workshop is over, mentoring allows employees to utilize their newly attained GD&T knowledge to its full potential on the job. The gray areas in the pyramid signify those areas where I advise that the mentoring be implemented.

In these tough economic times, companies often cut training budgets first, but allowing ETI to assist them in incorporating a mentoring program into the workplace can often mean valuable dollars are saved through the best use of manpower and materials.

In future blogs, I’ll go into more detail about each of the pyramid’s levels. If you’d like your own copy of the GD&T Training Pyramid, click here.

Due to popular demand, the 3-hour ASME update seminar is now available in  live web format:

“A Quick Look at the ASME Y14.5-2009 Standard”
Monday, September 14, 2009 (CLASS IS FULL)
1 pm – 4 pm EST
Instructor: Michael Adcock

The 3-hour lecture introduces the major changes to the ASME Y14.5-2009 Standard. Alex  was one of the participants in creating the new standard. His update session  provides insights as to why the changes were made and provides a short introduction to many of the changes and new features. It also includes a discussion about when it makes sense to implement the new standard.

The regular price of this seminar is $50. Purchase Alex’s white paper/comparison chart package for $30 (plus shipping) and attend the live web session for free.

Each seminar participant receives:

• Session notes, by Alex Krulikowski
• Discount coupon for the one-day ASME Y14.5 1994-2009 Update Workshop

Session notes will be shipped with comparison chart package.

Last month, I blogged about my new geometric tolerancing book that explains the use of ISO standards on technical drawings:

It’s a comprehensive book that can be used to learn the topic, and it’s also a great reference guide. The book is based on ISO 1101-2004 and companion standards.

ETI is offering a course this fall that utilizes the new book. The ISO Geometrical Tolerancing 3-day workshop will be held September 29th – October 1st, here in the Detroit area. The three-day ISO workshop will help you to understand engineering drawings that use the International Standards Organization (ISO) standards.

The course was written with three goals in mind:
1. To help you recognize what is required on a good (standard-compliant) drawing
2. To help you understand geometrical tolerances based on the ISO standards
3. To combine and explain information from dozens of ISO standards into a logical understandable topic

You’ll learn about …

• ISO drawing conventions
• GPS basics
• Limits and fits
• The datum system
• Form controls
• Orientation controls
• Location controls
• Run-out and profile controls
• General tolerances
• Workpiece edges
• Surface texture
• How ISO compares to ASME

If your company is interested in global sourcing and learning how to read drawings created in other countries, this workshop is vital to your success. It will teach you the ins and outs of utilizing the ISO standards and will give you a fundamental knowledge of ISO 1101:2004, related standards, and their application on drawings.

Those who attend the workshop will receive:

• Alex Krulikowski’s ISO Geometrical Tolerancing Reference Guide
• An ISO Geometrical Tolerancing Workbook
• Class handouts
• An official certificate of completion

Read more about the course and specific topics here. I hope to see you in the Detroit area for this exciting new workshop.

The new ASME standard contains numerous changes that affect the specification and interpretation of tolerancing. Companies deciding whether or not to update to the new standard need to understand what has changed and how these changes will impact their product.

As one of the people involved in creating this new version of ASME Y14.5, I have developed a one-day “ASME Y14.5-2009 Update Workshop” that will teach you about the pertinent changes to the standard. This workshop covers over sixty significant revisions, additions, and deletions to the standard. I’ll explain new features and compare them to the 1994 Standard. As part of the course, you’ll receive a set of comprehensive, illustrated charts that highlight itemized changes in the standard.

This drawing shows a small percentage of the changes in the ASME Y14.5 Standard. Click to see the entire drawing.

I’ll explain the major changes to the standard, including:

• Over thirty new or revised terms
• Sixteen new or revised symbols
• Revisions and additions to the fundamental rules
• Revisions and additions to the concept of feature of size
• Revisions and new symbols for datum specifications
• Revisions to composite position tolerances
• Surface boundaries and axis methods of interpretation
• Revisions and new additions to profile tolerances

The ASME Y14.5 1994-2009 Update Course will help you to:

• Understand changes in the standard
• Learn about new symbols and how to apply them to drawings
• Determine the impact of the new standard

ETI can provide this training at your site, and it is also being offered as a public workshop in Michigan on Monday, September 28, 2009. The regular price of this workshop is $375; the first 10 registrants pay only $175.

Attendees must have a basic understanding of Y14.5-1994 Dimensioning and Tolerancing practices.

The new ASME standard contains numerous changes that affect the specification and interpretation of tolerancing. As one of the participants in the creation of the new standard, I will provide insights as to why the changes were made at a lecture on August 13th, from 9 am-12 noon, here in Michigan.

“A Quick Look at the ASME Y14.5-2009 Standard” is a short, 3-hour session about the new ASME Y14.5-2009 Standard. This update session will get you started in understanding the depth of the changes and new features, and it includes a discussion about when it makes sense to implement the new standard. Topics covered include:

• The ASME standards development process
• Introduction to new and revised terms
• Introduction to new and revised symbols
• Synopsis of major changes and why they were made
• Discussion on implementing the new standard
• Questions/answer session

The introductory price of this workshop is $50, but the first 20 people to purchase my white paper/comparison chart package for $30 can attend for free.

A few months ago, I created a survey asking whether companies plan to adopt the new Y14.5-2009 standard, stay with the 1994 standard, or change to ISO standards. Using statistics elicited from the survey responses, I have developed a white paper addressing these issues.

“Deliberations on Dimensioning and Tolerancing Standards” is a 12-page paper that will help organizations decide what path may be the best for them. It includes a summary of the major changes to the ASME Y14.5 standard and insight into what other companies are planning. It also includes my deliberations and recommendations on changing dimensioning standards.

It’s available for $25 on our website.

I am working on a new geometric tolerancing book that explains the use of ISO standards on technical drawings. This comprehensive book can be used for multiple purposes: the topics are organized in a format conducive to learning the topic, plus it contains many features that make it a great reference guide. The book is based on ISO 1101-2004 and companion standards.

This is an exciting project, and I’m anxious to complete the final draft. The book is very close to the expert review stage. The process of having a team of technical experts proofread a new book is an important part of writing a technically sound book. I have learned from previous projects that it always results in a better product.

I have most of the proofreading team in place, but I would like to have three or four additional technical experts who are experienced in ISO GPS. Proofreading requires a commitment of your time. I am estimating the draft will be ready for review by mid to late June, and the technical review must be completed by about 30 days after that.

There is no pay for proofreading, but there are rewards. First, you will enjoy reading and dissecting each section of the book. You may even find some new information on some aspect of the ISO standards. Also, your name will be listed in the credits, and you will receive a free copy of the book when it is published.

If you are experienced in ISO GPS standards and would like to be part of the proofreading team, send me an email describing your expertise level, and I’ll add your name to the list of prospective technical experts for proofreading.

Sincere thanks,

Alex

I’ve had many clients ask me what’s new in the ASME Y14.5-2009 Standard. As you can imagine, a standard that has been 15 years in the making contains numerous changes. There are over 20 new or revised symbols and over 40 new or revised terms. In fact, almost every paragraph of the standard has some revision.

In order to provide a quick reference illustrating many of the standard changes and additions, I’ve created a set of charts comparing the features of ASME Y14.5M-1994 and ASME Y14.5-2009.

The New Features Comparison Chart Set is a comprehensive set of two, 2-sided, 11×17 charts that itemize changes in the standard. It highlights additions, revisions, and modifications to symbols, terms, and modifiers, including changes to the MMC modifier, feature of size and “irregular” feature of size, the new datum translation modifier, and numerous other new features.

Because it provides the 2009 standard references, you can quickly look up additional information as you need to on the job. The charts fits neatly in a 3-ring binder.

The two-chart set is only $12.