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’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.

I recently co-authored an article with my colleague James R. Roll about the importance of using GD&T for detecting bad design before production. The article, “Avoiding Design Problems With Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing,” was published a few weeks ago in Machine Design magazine.

Here’s a short excerpt:

Datum selection is the best place to start when managing variation during the PDP. A robust datum scheme uses datums that best prevent the parts from moving out of position, minimizes the number of items in a tolerance stack, is well controlled within the part (location tolerances and rigid features) and is shared by as many manufacturing processes as possible.

The datum scheme is largely driven by the product-build strategy and system requirements, thus it is important to consider the effect of datum selection early in a PDP (requirements and system design phases). The design-and-build strategy defined at this stage will have the largest effect on product quality with the least cost. Mistakes made at this stage will be expensive to fix at later stages, if they can be corrected at all.

Please read the full article at the magazine’s website here and let me know what you think. I look forward to your feedback.

“The economic success of manufacturing firms depends on their ability to identify the needs of customers and to quickly create products that meet these needs and can be produced at low cost.”

- Karl T. Ulrich and Stephen D. Eppinger,
Product Design and Development, 2004

A great book! Should be required reading for all product engineers.

My thought is that functional dimensioning supports Karl’s quote because it protects the customer needs and provides the largest possible tolerance for manufacturing.

Where did the year go? It’s already time to start thinking about next year’s GD&T training plan.

To make it easier, we’ve already posted the whole year’s public workshop schedule online.

In 2009, we’ll be offering the following workshops at our Detroit area headquarters in Westland, Michigan:

- Fundamentals of GD&T 2-Day (ASME Y14.5M-1994)
- Advanced Concepts of GD&T 2-Day (ASME Y14.5M-1994)
- Tolerance Stacks 2-Day (Concept Driven)
- Intro to Statistical Tolerance Stacks 1-Day (Concept Driven)

All workshops include:
- Course materials/handouts
- An official certificate of completion
- Continental breakfast and snacks

There are also bonus materials given out with each workshop.

If you have 5 or more employees who need training, ETI can bring the training to your site, but our public workshops are perfect for companies who have fewer employees to train and for individuals who need training.

Come visit us next year. We’ll get the snacks ready!

Hopefully by now, some of you have taken a look at the draft of the new ASME Y14 Standard and have developed some comments. The October 21st deadline to submit them is just around the corner. The comments we receive from the public are an important part of the review process.

I have compiled a list of about 150 comments that I would be happy to share. You can take a look at some of the issues that I found and consider them while you develop your own comments.

Remember, if you can’t attend the upcoming ASME Y14 Committee meeting, you can still comment. Here’s more info from the ASME site.

The public review proposal is available in hard copy for $85 from:

Mayra Santiago, Secretary A
E-mail: ansibox@asme.org
ASME Codes & Standards
Three Park Avenue, MS/23E2
New York, NY 10016

In a previous post, I told you about the upcoming ASME Y14 Committee meeting and invited you to attend. Here’s a little more information about the standard review process.

There is a draft of the new standard out for public review. The public can comment on it until the October 21st deadline. Your input is valuable.

If you can’t attend the meeting, you can still comment. Here’s a quote from the ASME site:

Public comments may be submitted on proposed draft new ASME Standards, and on proposals to revise, reaffirm or withdraw approval of existing ASME Standards.

Comments should be addressed to [gomezc@asme.org] with a copy to the Board of Standards Review, American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. Fax: 212-840-2298; e-mail: psa@ansi.org

The public review proposal is available in hard copy for $85 from:

Mayra Santiago, Secretary A
E-mail: ansibox@asme.org,
ASME Codes & Standards
Three Park Avenue, MS/23E2
New York, NY 10016

As most of you know, I’m a member of the Y14 Standard Committee, and we’re in the process of updating the standard. Many of you may not realize that the general public is invited to attend and comment on the standard. You can buy a copy from the ASME site for $85. (More info)

Please think about attending the next meeting and telling us what you think.

Y14 Committee Meetings on Engineering Drawing and Related Documentation Practices
Sunday – Friday, October 5 – 10, 2008 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Venue and location information:
Crowne Plaza Memphis Hotel
http://www.ichotelsgroup/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/memss
300 North Second Street
Memphis Tennessee , United States

Here’s a link to more info about the hotel and discount available:
http://calendar.asme.org/EventDetail.cfm?EventID=6008