How to Add Profile of a Surface Unilateral Solidworks

Profile of a Surface Unilateral Solidworks
Profile of a Surface Unilateral Solidworks

An outline of a component feature in a certain plane is called a profile. A profile control is a geometric tolerance that establishes a consistent boundary along the true profile within which the surface’s constituent parts must fall.

Every time a profile control is used, a true profile is connected to it (a surface defined with basic dimensions). In relation to the datums mentioned in the profile control, the true profile may be identified using basic or toleranced dimensions.

A uniform border defines the tolerance zone when a surface control’s profile is defined. It covers the entire surface in terms of length, breadth, and depth. Two uniform lines make up the tolerance zone when a profile of a line control is given. It is applicable along the whole length of the surface.

Where a profile control is linked to a feature, unless otherwise stated, the tolerance zone is a bilateral tolerance zone with equal distribution. This is the tolerance zone that is most frequently used with profiles. However, the other distribution that is allowed when utilizing profile controls is the unilateral tolerance zone.

Tolerance that is solely extended in one way is typically referred to be unilateral. You can have either an all-plus-tolerance or an all-minus-tolerance.

The figure below depicts a Unilateral tolerance zone.

Sketch depicts a unilateral tolerance zone

There are often no restrictions on the surface’s defining dimensions when a surface profile is required, and GD & T callout can be used to indicate the range that is acceptable. As seen in the above illustration, a closed semi-circle serves as the sign for surface profile tolerance and can be placed anywhere.

The left compartment of the feature control frame contains this symbol, which is used to indicate how close an object should be to a true surface. The unilateral sign is a circled U that is located to the right of the semi-circle following the total tolerance number.

The amount to the right of the U is the portion of the overall tolerance that is added to the component. The overall tolerance for the profile of a surface applied to the radius in the preceding example is 2.

The tolerance of 2 to the right of the U symbol denotes that an additional 2 must be added to the radius to provide the best possible material condition. The surface profile in this example is offset to the outside to give the maximum radius permitted.

In the event of a minimum radius, 2 must be deducted to obtain the permissible minimum tolerance. The direction in which the tolerance zone is offset is shown by the use of phantom lines according to the Phantom Line approach.

With the whole tolerance shown, the feature control frame is the same as that for a bilateral tolerance zone. The phantom line technique continues to be a valid alternative to employing the U symbol.

It is simple to comprehend, so if you are working with someone who is unfamiliar with GD&T, it could be preferable to indicate a unilateral tolerance zone in this manner. The ASME standard from 2009 specifies that using the U symbol is the preferable approach.

How to Add Profile of a Surface Unilateral Solidworks

In Solidworks, open your file under drawings. Search for the part to which you wish to apply these tolerances. Add the view and be sure to define all of the required dimensions.

Drawings apply tolerance with required dimensions

After you’ve added the dimensions, click on any dimension to which you wish to apply your unilateral tolerance. To the left, a dimension feature tree displays. Then, under Tolerance/Precision, select the cascading menu.

Tolerance precision cascading menu

Select Bilateral. Depending on whether you want to put material inside or outside, you then enter your values.

Tolerance precision bilateral menu

In our instances, you input where there is a plus sign if you wish to offset by 2 outside.

Plus sign for offset by 2 outside

Enter the number 2 where there is a negative sign if you want to remove the material.