A Structured Approach to Dimensioning and Tolerancing: Graphical Representation of the Problem

In this paper a methodology is presented which provides a structured way of solving Dimensioning and Tolerancing (D&T) problems on new product design. The methodology is interactive and suitable for use in a Concurrent Engineering (CE) environment. The proposed methodology helps to represent all relationships necessary for solving D&T problems in a matrix form known as Dimensional Requirements/Dimensions Matrix. This graphical representation assists the CE team to visualize the overall picture of the D&T problem and to foresee the ramifications of their decisions in regard to the selection of dimensions and tolerances; this will help the CE team in determining the dimensions and tolerances of a product in a systematic way.