⌒ ○ Profile all around
Profile all around · Perfil · ISO 1101 + ASME Y14.5
Search any geometric tolerance symbol by name, category or drawing example.
It covers form, orientation, location, runout and profile tolerances; datums and basic dimensions; MMC/LMC modifiers, projected zone, free state; dimensional indicators; roughness; welding; ISO 10135 casting; heat treatments; and inspection and testing (100%, sampling, FAI, NDT). Each entry explains what it controls, how to read it on the shop floor and how to verify it.
Reference guidance based on ISO 1101 and ASME Y14.5. For critical parts, always check the standard and the general note quoted on the customer's drawing.
Symbol finder
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Example in plan
How to interpret it
The indicated line profile is applied to the entire contour of the part in the view plane (circle symbol in the tail of the frame): the tolerance band surrounds the entire perimeter.
What controls
Extends the scope of a profile tolerance (of a line or a surface) so it automatically applies to the WHOLE closed contour shown in that view, without dimensioning each segment separately. It's indicated with a small circle on the corner of the tolerance frame ("all around"). It differs from applying profile only to a segment marked with a thick line: without the circle, the profile only controls the explicitly indicated segment.
How to verify
Sweep the complete contour with the chosen method (projector, scanner or CMM), without skipping any segment, including the transitions between straight and curved surfaces — that's precisely where failures usually appear, so it's worth measuring with a higher point density in those direction-change zones.
tolerance zone
The profile band applies to the whole closed contour of the view, without dimensioning each segment separately.
Workshop guideline values
- General
- 0.1–0.3 mm in closed contours of general machining.
- Accuracy
- 0,03–0,08 mm en contornos funcionales ajustados.
- High precision
- 0.01–0.03 mm in precision profiles with demanding closure.
As a guideline: the value of the plane always rules.
Common mistakes when interpreting it
- Measure only the main straight and curved sections, skipping the transitions between them: that is precisely where the CAM usually leaves the defect (path entry/exit junction).
- Confuse the circle "all around" with the square "all over": the first is the entire contour of THAT 2D view, the second is the entire surface of the 3D solid — very different scopes.
How to get it in the workshop / if it comes out of tolerance
The circle in the tolerance frame means “all around.” Not to be confused with "all over" (square symbol in ASME) which applies to the entire 3D surface.
The typical failure isn't process but programming: check that the CAM path literally covers the whole closed contour without leaving any segment without a finishing pass (very common at the entry/exit junction of the toolpath). If a specific segment always fails, suspect that linking zone of the program before the cut itself.
Alternative symbol:⌓ ○
Related symbols
What is GD&T and what is it for in the workshop?
GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing), o tolerancias geométricas según ISO 1101, define cómo deben controlarse forma, orientación, ubicación y oscilación de features respecto a datums. Complementa las tolerancias dimensionales lineales y angulares: una pieza puede cumplir H7 y aun así fallar posición o perpendicularidad. En planos europeos suele citarse ISO 1101; en EE. UU., ASME Y14.5 comparte símbolos pero con matices en modificadores y reglas por defecto.
Main Categories of GD&T Symbols
Forma (⏥, ⌭, ⌒, ○)
Straightness, flatness, roundness and cylindricity control the feature's intrinsic geometry without reference to another element. They are the basis before demanding orientation or position relative to datums.
Orientation (⟂, ∥, ∠)
Perpendicularity, parallelism and angularity limit the tilt relative to a datum. Very common in assemblies with seating faces and fixing holes.
Location (⌖, ⊕, ⌯)
Position, concentricity and symmetry locate the feature in space relative to the datum system. Position with MMC and tolerance bonus is key in assemblies with pins and threads.
Oscillation and profile (↗, ⌰, ⌓)
Circular and total runout, plus line or surface profile tolerances. Runout is measured with the part between centers; 3D profile usually requires a CMM or scanning depending on complexity.
Datums y modificadores (A, Ⓜ, Ⓟ)
Datums build the reference system; the MMC, LMC or projected-zone modifiers change how conformity and tolerance bonus are computed in production and inspection.
Surface, welding and inspection
Roughness, ISO 2553 welding symbols, casting indications and NDT annotations complete the drawing's language. Each sheet states shop criteria and usual verification methods.
Frequently asked questions about GD&T
What is the difference between size tolerance and geometric tolerance?
Size tolerance (H7, ±0.1) limits the size of the feature. Geometric tolerance (⌖, ⟂, ⏥…) controls form, orientation, location or runout relative to datums. The two coexist: a hole can be within size and still fail position.
What is the tolerance bonus with MMC?
With Ⓜ in position, if a hole is larger than its MMC (minimum material), you gain extra geometric tolerance. On an axis, if it is thinner than its MMC, too. It is key for functional gauges and assembly.
Are ISO 1101 and ASME Y14.5 the same?
They share most of the base symbols, but differ in modifiers, default rules and some practices (concentricity/symmetry, all over, simultaneous requirement). Always look at the standard cited on the plan.
Do I need CMM to inspect GD&T?
It depends on the symbol: runout and some shapes are measured with comparator and centers; 3D position and profile usually require CMM or coordinate system. The tab for each symbol indicates common methods.
What is a datum and why does the A-B-C order matter?
A datum is a physical reference on the drawing (face, axis, centre) from which the tolerance is measured. The A-B-C order defines how the coordinate system is built: first the base is fixed, then the direction and finally the lateral position. Changing the order changes the interpretation.
What does the circle with M, L or P next to the tolerance mean?
They are tolerance-zone modifiers: MMC (Ⓜ) allows bonus tolerance, LMC (Ⓛ) is used for least-material conditions on the feature, and the projected tolerance zone (Ⓟ) extends the control in depth (typical for threads or dowel pins).
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