|
 Orienting Datum Planes
PDF of This Tip
 Where a primary or secondary datum axis is established, it is usually necessary to orient the mutually perpendicular datum planes that intersect at the datum axis. Although most folks understand that the datum planes need to be oriented, they often do not agree on how this should be accomplished.
On this drawing, datum feature A is primary and applies RFS. This establishes a datum axis which is the intersection of two mutually perpendicular datum planes. In order to orient these datum planes, datum feature B is added to the position tolerance feature control frame on the Ø8 hole. There are two approaches used to orient these datum planes using the simulator for datum feature B.
One way is to locate te center plane of parallel planes at the 14 basic location. These parallel planes expand to fill the slot. The second way is to first fill the slot with parallel planes and then rotate the center plane of these planes to orient the datum planes. This second method is popular with many CMM operators. Unfortunately it is incorrect. The datum simulator for datum feature B must be perfect in form, orientation and location. So, the first method is correct. |
