Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis

Use Tolerance Analysis Techniques to Avoid Design, Quality, and Manufacturing Problems Before They Happen

Often overlooked and misunderstood, tolerance analysis is a critical part of improving products and their design processes. Because all manufactured products are subject to variation, it is crucial that designers predict and understand how these changes can affect form, fit, and function of parts and assemblies―and then communicate their findings effectively.

Written by one of the developers of ASME Y14.5 and other geometric dimension and tolerancing (GD&T) standards, Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis, Second Edition offers an overview of techniques used to assess and convey the cumulative effects of variation on the geometric relationship between part and assembly features. The book focuses on some key components: it explains often misunderstood sources of variation and how they contribute to this deviation in assembled products, as well as how to model that variation in a useful manner.

New to the Second Edition:

• Explores ISO and ASME GD&T standards―including their similarities and differences
• Covers new concepts and content found in ASME Y14.5-2009 standard
• Introduces six-sigma quality and tolerance analysis concepts
• Revamps figures throughout

The book includes step-by-step procedures for solving tolerance analysis problems on products defined with traditional plus/minus tolerancing and GD&T. This helps readers understand potential variations, set up the problem, achieve the desired solution, and clearly communicate the results.

With added application examples and features, this comprehensive volume will help design engineers enhance product development and safety, ensuring that parts and assemblies carry out their intended functions. It will also help manufacturing, inspection, assembly, and service personnel troubleshoot designs, verify that in-process steps meet objectives, and find ways to improve performance and reduce costs.

Bryan R. Fischer is owner of Advanced Dimensional Management LLC, which provides consulting and training in GD&T, tolerance analysis, dimensional management, 3D model-based engineering, and related fields, including 3D MBD and MBE, product documentation quality, and engineering standards. Mr. Fischer is recognized as a leading expert with more than 25 years of industrial experience in these areas. Having worked as a GD&T expert, tolerance analyst, dimensional management engineer, and design lead, he has also been a designer, checker, design drafter, and CAD systems programmer, as well as a trainer and consultant in the areas of GD&T, drawing quality, dimensional management and tolerance analysis. He trains and consults in many industries, both commercial and government, with companies ranging from very small to the largest multi-national corporations. He has consulted with inspection and CAD software developers to help them improve their implementations of GD&T, 3D PMI, and model-based product definition practices. He also works with companies around the world helping them to understand and implement 3D model-based product definition and model-based enterprise methods. Bryan has been active in the area of corporate, national, and international standards development and standards management throughout his career, and a longtime member of several standards development committees. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Society for Quality, and SAE International. He is also an ASME Certified Senior Level GD&T Professional.