What is GD&T?

GD&T stands for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing. It is a symbolic language used by engineers and designers to communicate manufacturing constraints and tolerances clearly.  The language of GD&T consists of dimensions, tolerances, symbols, definitions, conventions and rules that can be used to precisely communicate the functional requirements for the form, location, orientation, and size of each feature of the design model. Therefore GD&T training enables designers to get their message across using an exact language with regard to their design models. Production can then use the language to understand the design intent, and inspection departments look to the language to determine set up requirements.

A design model is an idealized representation of a part design. However, the design model by itself does not fully define the design. Due to imperfections in manufacturing and inspection processes, physical parts never match the design model exactly. An important aspect of a design is to specify the amount the part features may deviate from their theoretically exact geometry (as defined in the design model).

Why GD&T?

GD&T defines the precise relationships between the geometrical features of a component by the application of tolerances to the following characteristics: flatness, straightness, circularity, cylindricity, angularity, perpendicularity, parallelism, position, symmetry, concentricity, profile and run out. Once understood, drawings utilizing GD&T can simplify determining the required manufacturing steps and inspection requirements.

While many applications benefit from GD&T, there are certain situations in which the process provides fundamental assistance, including scenarios in which tolerance analysis needs simplification, critical or interchangeable parts fit into a larger assembly, or the project requires functional gauging techniques.

GD&T replaces complex description notes with a single symbol or set of symbols, allowing for effortless reference and fast, precise communication. The process provides additional clarity when clients are working without a standard interpretation or tolerance, making even the most in-depth and complicated projects easier to complete.

Who Are Tec-Ease?

Tec-Ease provides high quality training and products in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), Tolerance Stack-Ups and Print Reading. It is a company mostly known for their expertise on GD&T, and they have helped hundreds of companies accept ASME standards and GD&T concepts.

It was founded by Don Day, who had a great passion for teaching GD&T, but also keeping some humour to keep subjects interesting and students engaged. This teaching style can be seen throughout the training course on the Tec-Ease website and is a strong undercurrent for their teaching methods as a whole.

They have multiple expert coaches that provide GD&T training worldwide, all of the trainers have real-word experience and have a working understanding of GD&T. Their training has been referred to as “INVALUABLE” by one customer, and they also noted that they frequently return to Tec-Ease’s site when encountering particularly challenging problems in their business.

Benefits of GD&T Training

In today’s world, engineering and manufacturing departments have to communicate seamlessly, in order for products to be created successfully and efficiently. GD&T should be considered by businesses looking to have accurate lines of communication between design, engineering, quality and manufacturing, as it offers a number of major advantages:

• Assisting Digital Design Methods: Clear, concise GD&T data is readily adaptable to digital design programs, including nearly universally used 2D and 3D CAD files.
• Offering Uniformity and Convenience: As a single, consistent language, GD&T reduces guesswork and interpretation while ensuring consistent geometries across design and manufacturing
• Ensuring Dimensional and Tolerance Requirements: By explicitly stating all design requirements, a thorough GD&T process guarantees accurate fulfillment of all dimensional and tolerance specifications
• Providing Accurate Communication: Today’s intricate designs demand the most accurate and reliable communication. GD&T enables designers, manufacturers, and inspectors to communicate clearly with one other, saving time and making the process more efficient
• Saving Money: GD&T enhances design accuracy by allowing for appropriate tolerances that maximize production. For many projects, the process provides extra or bonus tolerances, further increasing cost effectiveness

GD&T Training at Tec-Ease

At Tec-Ease, there are several different methods of training available, to cater for everyone’s unique learning process and abilities. Companies, individuals and schools teach in their own way to suit their specific needs, and Tec-Ease has an option to suit all of these different scenarios:

Computer Based Training (CBT) can be downloaded onto your computer or taken online, this allows students to take the test whenever they can. This type of training is perfect for participants who only have an hour or two a day to dedicate to training. CBT also works well as a refresher for GD&T concepts.

Corporate Webinars are provided via the Internet with a live instructor. Watch the instructor’s PowerPoint, listen to the lecture and ask questions. Polling ability allows interaction for participants during the training.

DIY Training is for those who have an instructor but are looking for training materials. Tec-Ease sells textbooks, workbooks, instructor kits and GD&T models.

International Training is possible when you have coaches all over the globe. Tec-Ease have trainers in the United States, Canada, China, the United Kingdom and Brazil.

On-Site Training is provided at a facility with a trainer that has real-world industry experience, is senior level certified, and has a working understanding of GD&T.

Public Seminars are provided in a public location with participants from several companies. This type of training offers the ability to have a live instructor while providing a more economically feasible choice for companies with less than 10 people to train.

Public Webinars, similar to the Corporate Webinars, are provided via the Internet with a live instructor. Watch the instructor’s PowerPoint, listen to the lecture and ask questions. Polling ability allows interaction for participants during the training.

The features of each training method can also be seen in the table below:

A helpful table on who should take which training class can also be found on their website:

It is clear that Tec-Ease is a leader in the GD&T training field and delivers a high-quality training product ensuring customer satisfaction.

Have you taken a Tec-Ease training course before? Do you plan on taking one in the future? Let me know what you think of their training options with a comment below, and sign up to our newsletter for more of the same content!