GD&T and manufacturability.
[COLOR=#222222][FONT=Arial]Our company is in the beginning stages of utilizing GD&T in its designs. I work on the manufacturing side of things. My job is to interpret the drawings and create fixturing to these prints. I've heard more than a few times from[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial] those [/FONT][FONT=Arial]in Corporate Engineering the concept “I don’t care how you build it, just build it to print.” Is this really the way the manufacturing of the part(s) is viewed by those who advocate for the use of GD&T? All my training has been done in-house, so I’m hearing just from those within these walls. [/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000]My way of thinking is that GD&T is a valuable tool, but you still need to be able to know what the capabilities are of your manufacturing floor. For example, I’ve received welding prints where one of the 3 functioning datums is an imaginary plane going down the center of the part. Great in theory, but how do I locate off this? My job is to design fixturing for these types of parts, and I’m forced to design these fixtures with the parts at LMC condition, then have the guys on the floor center these parts using feeler gauges. This is more time consuming and more expensive. [/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000]I’d really like to hear how those outside of my company who are strong believers in GD&T view this topic. Is the manner in how parts made really of a secondary concern when designing with GD&T? [/COLOR][/FONT]