⌓ □ Profile throughout the piece

Profile all over · Perfil · 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

167 símbolos
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Example in plan

0,3|A|B|C|

How to interpret it

En el plano, «⌓ 0,3 □ |A|B|C|» expresa un requisito de perfil en toda la pieza con una tolerancia de 0,3 mm, medido respecto a los datums A, B, C en ese orden de prioridad.

What controls

In ASME Y14.5-2018, the square on the corner of the tolerance frame ("all over") extends the profile requirement to the COMPLETE surface of the solid on all its faces, not just the contour visible in a specific view (that would be "all around"). It's the broadest-reaching symbol of the whole profile system: any face of the part not explicitly excluded by a note is subject to the same requirement.

How to verify

It requires scanning or probing the part's entire external surface, not just the machined faces of interest: a full-body 3D scanner compared against the CAD model is the most practical method. Pay attention to faces that aren't measured in the normal process (back side, hidden casting areas), because "all over" includes them just the same unless the drawing excludes them with a note.

tolerance zone

The profile envelope applies to the entire surface of the solid, not just the view or outline shown.

Workshop guideline values

General
0.2–0.5 mm on cast or generally machined parts.
Accuracy
0.05–0.15 mm in pieces with aesthetic or functional requirements on their entire surface.
High precision
0.02–0.05 mm on aerospace or high-end parts with controlled finish throughout the solid.

As a guideline: the value of the plane always rules.

Common mistakes when interpreting it

  • Forget that "all over" includes faces that are not normally measured (back, hidden casting areas): the requirement applies unless the drawing explicitly excludes them with a note.
  • Confuse it with a surface profile without further ado: the "all over" square is a specific scope (the entire solid), not a generic synonym for a 3D profile.

How to get it in the workshop / if it comes out of tolerance

Relatively new symbol in ASME. If the shot is pure ISO it may not appear; review general notes of the plan.

When applying to the ENTIRE part, not just the machined view, verify that no face is left out of the CAM program (“faces “forgotten” in the CAM or left in the casting rough are the most common cause of failure here).

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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