As an instructor, one of the most frequently asked questions I’ve heard after a “GD&T Fundamentals” class is:
- How do I keep learning GD&T more?
- How do we implement, deploy, or integrate GD&T usage in our department?
The answer to the first question often depends on the answer to the second. Consequently, both answers will shape my response to each student’s unique GD&T training journey.
My Initial Advice
My initial advice is to use what you’ve just learned and
share it as soon as possible! To begin with, I recommend students use
their workbooks and notes to evaluate GD&T on their company drawings. First
and foremost, a great starting activity is to study the GD&T applied to
each part in a recent production assembly or subassembly. This way, it
helps trace the functional features and fits from the highest-level drawing
down to the piece parts. Moreover, it’s very instructive to see how the
main datum reference frame (primary, secondary, and tertiary datums)
establishes how the part fits into its assembly and how other functional
features within that part relate to the main datum reference frame and to other
features on nearby parts.
Further Learning and Focus Areas
As students learn more about how their job assignments impact
product quality in their department, and how their drawing dimensions define or
imply local manufacturing and/or inspection processes, they will better
understand where to focus their future GD&T studies. For instance, should
they focus on:
- Tolerance analysis/stacking?
- Metrology applications (CMM programming)?
- GD&T Advanced Concepts (followed by Measurement systems Analysis, PPAP or similar tools)?
Personal and Departmental Growth
Students should consider what would benefit their department
more and what would be the best direction for their personal career growth.
Ultimately, whatever path they choose, mentoring others will help them retain
GD&T concepts and advance their GD&T Training Journey!
Dan Meyers, QCTS Instructor & ASME Senior GDTP
“The Road Goes Ever On and On.”
– The Hobbit
