BCS Basic

RMB
AVG
MMC Maximum material Condition
LMC Least Material Condition
MMB Maximum material boundary
RFS
REF
DRF Datum reference frame
VC Virtual Condition
UAME Unrelated Actual Mating Envelope
RAME Related Actual Mating Envelope
PLTZF Pattern Location tolerance zone framework
FRTZF Feature Related Tolerance zone framework
3.45 ASME Y14.5
Abbreviation symble Definition
AC across corners
AF across flats

AFF above finished floor

AISI American Iron and Steel Institute
Al or AL aluminium
ALY alloy
AMER American
AMS Aerospace Material Standards
AN-
Army-Navy

ANN anneal, annealed

ANSI American National Standards Institute
APPROX[2] approximately
AQL

acceptable quality level

AR
as required
AS
Aerospace Standards; Australian Standards
AS, APS, APV, AV, APSL,
AVL
approved product supplier, approved vendor,
approved-product-supplier list, approved-vendor list

ASA American Standards Association

ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASSY or ASY assembly
ASTM Formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials; now ASTM International
AVG average
AWG American Wire Gauge
BASIC

basic dimension
BC or B.C. bolt circle
BCD or B.C.D. bolt circle diameter
BHC bolt hole circle
BHCS button head cap screw
BHN Brinell hardness number
BoM or BOM bill of materials
BoP or BOP bought out part
BP, B/P blueprint
BRZ bronze
BSC basic dimension
CAD computer-aided design, computer-aided
drafting; cadmium [plating]
CAGE

Commercial and Government Entity [code]

C-C or C-TO-C centre-to-centre; on centres
CBN cubic boron nitride
CDA

current design activity

CERT or cert certification

CG centerless ground, centerless grinding
Center mark
CH or CHAM chamfer
CI cast iron
CL or ℄ centreline or centerline; class
CNC computer numerical control
CR

controlled radius

CRES corrosion-resistant [steel]

CRS cold rolled steel; on centres
C/T Correlation / Tracking
C'BORE or CBORE or  counterbore
CSK or CSINK or  countersink
CTN, ctn carton
depth, deep, down

⌀[2] diameter
D diameter; delta
DIA[2] diameter
DIP ductile iron pipe
DIM dimension, dimensioning
DO, do ditto
DOD, DoD [U.S.] Department of Defense
DPD digital product definition
DWG, dwg drawing
ED edge distance
EO, ECO, ECN engineering order
EQL, EQ equal, equally
ERC electrical rule check
EXIST. existing
f

finish

FAO

finish all over

FCF
feature control frame

FD or F/D
field of the drawing

FIM full indicator movement

FL
flag note, flagnote
FL Floor Level
FN or F/N
flag note, flagnote; find number

FoS

feature of size

FS

far side

FSCM Federal Stock/Supply Code for Manufacturers

FTG fitting
GCI gray cast iron
GD&T or GDT geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
GN or G/N general note(s)
HBW hardness, Brinell, tungsten tip
HDPE high-density polyethylene
HHCS hex head cap screw
HRA hardness, Rockwell, A scale
HRB hardness, Rockwell, B scale
HRC hardness, Rockwell, C scale
HRS hot rolled steel
HT TR heat treat, heat treatment
H&T or H/T or HT hardened and tempered

IAW in accordance with

ID
inner diameter; identity, identification number

IED Insufficient Edge Distance

ISO International Organization for Standardization
JIS Japan Industrial Standard
KEY
key
KPSI, kpsi kilopounds per square inch, that is, thousands of pounds per square inch
KSI, ksi

kilopounds per square inch, that is, thousands of pounds per square inch
LDD limited dimension drawing
LH left-hand
LM or L/M list of materials
LMC
least material condition

MACH machine; machined

MAJ major
MAX[2] maximum
MBD
model-based definition
MBP measurement between pins
MBW measurement between wires
MF or M/F
make from
MFD manufactured
MFG manufacturing
MFR manufacturer
MIL-
[U.S.] Military

MIN[2] minimum; minutes; minor

MMC
maximum material condition

MOD, MoD Ministry of Defence [U.K. and others]

MOP, MoP measurement over pins
MOW, MoW measurement over wires
MPa, MPA

megapascals
MRB material review board
MS-
[U.S.] Military Standard
NAS
National Aerospace Standards
NC National Coarse; numerical control
NCM nonconforming material(s)
NCR nonconformance report
NEC not elsewhere classified; National Electrical Code
NEF National Extra Fine
NF National Fine
NL or N/L notes list
NOM[2] nominal
NORM or NORMD normalized
NPS Naval Primary Standard[3]
NPT National Pipe Taper
NS
National Special; near side

NSCM
National Stock/Supply Code for Manufacturers
N&T or N/T or NT normalized and tempered
NTS not to scale
OAL overall length
OC on center(s)
OD outer diameter
ODA original design activity
OHL over high limit
OPP opposite
ORIG original
pc, pcs piece, pieces
PD pitch diameter
PDM, PDMS product data management, product data manager [ap
PH or P/H precipitation hardening, precipitation-
hardened; pilot hole
PHR BRZ phosphor bronze
PL or P/L
parts list
PLM product lifecycle management; plant lifecycle
management

PMI
Product and manufacturing information
PN or P/N part number
POI
point of intersection

P.F. press fit

PSI pounds per square inch
PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
PVC polyvinyl chloride
QMS
quality management system
QTY or qty quantity
R radius
RA, Ra roughness, average; Rockwell A scale
RB, Rb Rockwell B scale
RC, Rc Rockwell C scale

reference

REF or ( )[2]
REQD or REQ'D required
REV

revision

RFS
regardless of feature size
RH right-hand
RHR roughness height reading
RL Reduced Level or Relative Level
RMA return material authorization
RMS root mean square
RT or R/T
rough turn, rough turned; room temperature
RTP
release to production
RTV room-temperature vulcanizing; return to vendor
RZ, Rz roughness, mean depth
SAE Formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers; now SAE International
SC or S/C
sharp corners
SF or S/F spotface
slip fit
SFACE or S/FACE spotface
SHCS socket head cap screw
SHN shown
SHSS socket head set screw
SI Système international [d'unités] [International System
SN or S/N serial number
SOL ANN solution anneal, solution annealed
SPEC or spec specification
SPHER ANN spheroidize anneal
SPOTFACE Spot facing
SR spherical radius
SS or S/S
stainless steel; supersede
SST stainless steel
STD standard
STEP
Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data
STA solution treated and aged
STI screw thread insert
STL steel
STK stock
SW Schlüsselweite
TAP tapped hole
TB or T/B

title block

TCC time-current curve

TDP
technical data package
THD or thd thread
THRD threaded
THK or thk thickness
THRU through
THRU ALL Through all
TIR total indicator reading; total indicated run-out
TOS top of steel
TOL tolerance, tolerancing
TSC theoretical sharp corner(s)
TY type
TYP[2] Typical
UAI use as-is
ULL under low limit
UNC Unified National Coarse
UNEF Unified National Extra Fine
UNF Unified National Fine
UNJC Unified National "J" series Coarse
UNJF Unified National "J" series Fine
UNO unless noted otherwise
UNS
Unified National Special; unified numbering system
UON unless otherwise noted
UOS unless otherwise specified
USASI United States of America Standards Institute
USS
United States Standard; United States Steel
UTS
ultimate tensile strength; Unified Thread Standard
v
finish

WC tungsten carbide
WI wrought iron
W/I, w/i within
W/O, w/o without
_X_ used to indicate the word “by”

number of places—for example, 8X or (8)

X[2] or ( )
Y14.X
—
YS yield strength
Description
Commonly used when measuring the corners of a hex drive, such as a hex nut.
Commonly used when measuring the flat surfaces of a hex drive, such as a hex nut.

A dimension that establishes a distance away from the finished floor. Example would be the top of a coffee table to the shag o

The AISI acronym is commonly seen as a prefix to steel grades, for example, "AISI 4140". The SAE steel grade system was form

Referring to the United States

Standards in materials science and engineering maintained by SAE International and widely used in the aerospace manufactur
A prefix for standard hardware (catalog hardware) ID numbers. Came from the era of circa 1890s-1945, when the U.S.  Army a
product standardization for logistics improvement, yielding the United States Military Standards system. Today industry and IS
military to do less of it (as explained at United States Military Standard > Origins and evolution), although many MIL standards

And the many standards that it issues, for example, ANSI Z87.1.

The threshold of defectiveness that is allowable in a group of parts. It is trivial to say that no one wants any error, and that eve
The intelligence behind defining AQLs is in figuring out how much error is tolerable given the costs that would be incurred by a

An abbreviation used in parts lists (PLs, LMs, BoMs) in the quantity-per-assembly field when a discrete count is not applicable.
column will say "4" for the bolt PN, "4" for the nut PN, and "AR" for the liquid threadlocker that will be applied.
1. Aerospace Standards, technical standards maintained by SAE International and widely used in the aerospace manufacturing
catalog numbers. 2. Australian Standards, standards per Australian industry.

When only certain companies are approved by the CDA to manufacture the product (that is, to make what the drawing depict
product supplier", "approved vendor", or "approved product vendor". The list of such companies (which usually changes over
requires the CDA to audit (and possibly periodically re-audit) the companies, which incurs an overhead expense for the CDA. T
the cost of duplicating the effort.
Former name for ANSI (1920s-1960s).
And the many standards that it issues, for example, ASME Y14.5.
referring to an assembly of parts rather than just one (sub)part ("piece part", "detail part").
Maintains technical standards, especially regarding materials science and engineering and metrology.

A basic dimension is one that is the theoretical value without any tolerance range. It does not serve as an acceptance criterion
basic dimension does not carry a tolerance is that its actual value will fall (acceptably) wherever it is put by other features' act
common and simple example is hole location: If a hole's centerpoint location has a position tolerance, then the centerpoint's c
them. Thus they are instead given as basic dimensions. In modern practice basic dimensions have a rectangular box around th

Same definition as the bolt circle diameter

Like an SHCS but with a button head.
Also called a list of materials (LM or L/M). Overlaps a lot in concept with a parts list (PL or P/L). There is no consistently enforc
A part which is outsourced from an external supplier, or "bought out".
"per B/P" = "per drawing"

See basic dimension info above.

A CAGE code is a unique identifier to label an entity (that is, a specific government agency or corporation at a specific site) tha
have many CAGE codes, as can one government, because each division, department, and site (campus) can have its own CAGE
CAGE code that formerly referred to a certain Martin Marietta site will now refer to Lockheed Martin at that same site (althou
names).
Defines centre-to-centre distance of two features, such as two holes.
A material from which some cutter inserts are made.

The CDA is the entity (whether it be a corporation, a unit of a national military or ministry of defence, or another civilian gover
It may be the entity who first designed the part (that is, the ODA), but today it is also likely to be a designated successor entity
by CDA company); contract letting (e.g., an Army engineering department ODA turns over the design activity to the prime con
CDA); privatization (e.g., a government privatizes the design and manufacture of materiel, and a state arsenal [state armory] O
patent licensing (e.g., a patent-holding inventor [ODA] licenses one or several companies to manufacture products using his in
design authorities, although they may not be considered the official/nominal CDA).

For example, certification of metallurgical content and processes

Defines the center of a circle or partial circle.

No longer a commonly used abbreviation. Better to spell out for clarity.

1. Center line, the central axis of a feature. 2. Class, for example, "paint per spec XYZ revision C type 1 class 2" may be abbrevi

Radius of an arc or circle, with no flats or reversals. This strict version of radius definition is specified in demanding application
within the dimensional tolerance zone". It is poor engineering to specify a CR instead of an R simply on the theory of enforcing
near-perfect geometry. Like most such characteristics, its presence increases the price of the part, because it raises the costs o

Largely synonymous with stainless steel, unless specific grades, specs, and distinctions are made on the drawing. Some people
Defines centre-to-centre distance of two features, such as two holes.

Defines the depth of a feature.

Diameter of a circle. In a feature control frame (FCF), the ⌀ symbol tells you that the tolerance zone for the geometric toleranc

Abbreviations for "diameter" include ⌀, DIA, and D. For delta usage, see for example "delta notes".
Diameter of a circle. Abbreviations for "diameter" include ⌀, DIA, and D.

Seen occasionally in older drawings instead of repeating a given dimension.

See also MOD.
A synonym of MBD.
Referring to the engineering drawing
Drilled holes, and fasteners are commonly required to have a minimum edge distance (min ED).
An order from the engineering department (to be followed by the production department or vendor) overriding/superseding a
For example, "⌀10 4X EQL SPACED ON BC" means "drill four holes of 10mm diameter equally spaced around the  bolt circle."

An italic f (Latin small letter f) written on a line representing a surface was an old way of indicating that the surface was to be m
"finish" in the sense of "machine finish" as opposed to raw stock/casting/forging. Later the ASA convened upon a letter V (spe
mark" sign with accompanying number that tells the reader a max roughness value (RMS, microinches or micrometres) for the

A note telling the manufacturer that all surfaces of the part are to be machined (as opposed to leaving any surfaces as-cast or
ago; not least because parts that once would have been spot-faced castings are now likelier to be contoured from billet with  C
reflecting design for manufacturability and avoidance of spurious cost drivers, is either to specify specific, quantifiable require
microinches or micrometres, plus any plating or painting needs), or to leave finish out of the part definition (and thus at the m
This same spirit is behind the shift in military standards from writing requirements about methods to writing them instead abo
the designer.

The rectangular box (with several cells) that conveys geometric tolerances in GD&T. It typically tells you what sort of geometri
(and maybe shape) the tolerance zone is, and finally which datums it relates to, the order of gaging against them, and what m
you that the zone for the geometric tolerance is cylindrical.

The [main] field of the drawing, as opposed to other areas of it, such as the parts list (P/L), general notes (G/N), flagnotes (F/N
list of materials (L/M). Rationales for drawing changes that are noted in the rev block often use these abbreviations for brevity
F/D; added alternate hardware IDs to P/L; added alternate alloy to L/M").
See also TIR.
A note that is called out in specific spots in the field of the drawing. It is numbered with a stylized flag symbol surrounding the

Floor Level of an existing or proposed building or concrete pad

1. Flagnote: A flagnote is a note that is called out in specific spots in the field of the drawing. It is numbered with a stylized flag
applies generally and is not called out with flags. 2. Find number: "FN" meaning "find number" refers to the ordinal number th
materials). Thus "fasten using FN7" refers to a fastener that is "find number" 7 in the list.

A type of physical feature on a part. An FoS is a feature that can have size associated with it, usually involving the opposition o
opposite walls of a slot or flange). Features of size (FoSs) in reality always have actual sizes and forms that differ from their the
difference is acceptable or not. Thus material condition (LMC, MMC, somewhere in between, or RFS) is important in GD&T. ) A
at LMC or at MMC.

The drawing notations "near side" and "far side" tell the reader which side of the part a feature is on, in occasional contexts w
usage are rather limited. One example is hole locations; "3X AND 3X FAR SIDE" defines symmetrical groups of 3 holes on both
coordinates on two separate views, one for each group. This is not only a convenience for the designer but also a method of e
that ideally should be kept unforked to prevent discrepancies. For example, the groups defined above cannot accidentally bec
both groups equally (because their definition is unified in only one place). Another example is part marking locations. An area
the top or bottom of the part simply with a "near side" or "far side" notation—which obviates adding any otherwise-unneeded

An older name for "CAGE code". Also NSCM (National Stock/Supply Code for Manufacturers).
A standardized language for defining and communicating dimensions and tolerances.
Most engineering drawings have a notes list, which includes both general notes and flag notes.
See Brinell scale. (The "W" comes from the element symbol for tungsten, W, which comes from the German Wolfram.)

See Rockwell scale.
See Rockwell scale.
See Rockwell scale.

A form of heat treatment in which the metal is first hardened and then tempered. Compare N&T.

A common need in engineering drawings is to instruct the user to do activity X in accordance with technical standard Y. For ex
in accordance with American Welding Society standard number XYZ.123" (the number is hypothetical in this example). The wo
metal per MIL-PRF-123456" or "[...] IAW MIL-PRF-123456". Part of the motivation behind the choice of words "in accordance w
standard XYZ.123 (which "per" could be interpreted as alleging, at least in connotation); rather, these words merely instruct th
this is a subtle connotative distinction, and "per" and "IAW" are denotatively equivalent.

Drilled holes commonly have a required minimum edge distance, if the inspection finds that the edge distance is below minim
And the many standards that it specifies, for example, ISO 10303
Reference to standards published by the Japanese Standards Association
Drawing callouts marked "KEY" define "key characteristics" that are considered especially important for fit, function, safety, or

See discussion at synonym KSI.

KSI (or ksi), also abbreviated KPSI or kpsi, is a common non-SI measurement scale for ultimate tensile strength, that is, the num
area before breaking. In the SI system, the unit is the pascal (Pa) (or a multiple thereof, often megapascals (MPa), using the m

An implementation of model-based definition that still uses a 2D drawing, but only containing critical information. All informa
Referring to handedness, such as the helix handedness of screw threads or the mirror-image handedness of a symmetrical pai
Also called a bill of materials (BoM, BOM). Overlaps a lot in concept with a parts list (PL or P/L). There is no consistently enforc
A material condition in GD&T. Means that a feature of size (FoS) is at the limit of its size tolerance in the direction that leaves t
biggest diameter, or an external feature of size (e.g., a flange) at its smallest thickness. The GD&T symbol for LMC is a circled L
to a certain FoS datum being at LMC or at MMC.

As in major diameter, or major characteristic (for sampling level)

Definition of the part via a 3D CAD model rather than via a 2D engineering drawing. Drawings may be printed (plotted) from th

threads, splines, gears (internal, female) (synonymous with MBW) (see also MOP, MOW)

threads, splines, gears (internal, female) (see also MBP, MOP, MOW)

When one part number is made from another, it means to take part A and machine some additional features into it, creating p

May be the same entity as the CDA or ODA, or may not be.

A prefix for the names of various United States Military Standards and Specifications, for example, MIL-STD-*, MIL-SPEC-*, MI

A material condition in GD&T. Means that a feature of size (FoS) is at the limit of its size tolerance in the direction that leaves t
smallest diameter, or an external feature of size (e.g., a flange) at its biggest thickness. The GD&T symbol for MMC is a circled
to a certain FoS datum being at LMC or at MMC.
See also DOD.
threads, splines, gears (external, male) (synonymous with MOW, measurement over wires)
threads, splines, gears (external, male) (see also MBW, MBP, MOP)

The common SI measurement scale for ultimate tensile strength (UTS), that is, the number of units of tensile force that a mate
correct casing for the symbol, cap-M-cap-P-small-a, which, like any SI unit of measurement symbol, properly should be preser
employed tradition in engineering drawing). But it is not uncommon to see "MPA" through carelessness. Users are not confuse

A committee that reviews some nonconforming materials which are submitted as potentially still usable/saleable (if the nonco
Standards established by the U.S. military and widely used in the aerospace manufacturing (military and civil) and other defen
numbers. (See also AN- and NAS.)
Standards maintained by SAE International and widely used in the aerospace manufacturing industries. The "National" former
globally. Standard hardware for aerospace work sometimes uses the NAS- prefix in the catalog numbers. (See also AN- and M
The [U.S.] National Coarse series of pre-1949 corresponds today to the Unified National Coarse (UNC) of the Unified Thread St
This abbreviation is used in a machine shop when recording nonconformances (out of tolerance, etc.). For example, "An NCM
A report listing nonconformances (out of tolerance, etc.). Helps to analyze system weaknesses (such as worn-out equipment, o
In the sense of "not elsewhere classified", the abbreviation is well known within certain fields, but not others; to avoid confusi
The [U.S.] National Extra Fine series of pre-1949 corresponds today to the Unified National Extra Fine (UNEF) of the  Unified Th
The [U.S.] National Fine series of pre-1949 corresponds today to the Unified National Fine (UNF) of the Unified Thread Standa
A list of notes that appears somewhere on the drawing, often in the upper left corner.

referring to normalization, a stress-relieving heat treatment. See also HT TR.

(Not to be confused with annotating strait pipe as "NPS", which should instead be annotated NPSM, NPSL, or NPSH[4])
A subset series of the Unified Thread Standard.

1. National Special, a screw thread series; see Unified Thread Standard. An extensible series, covering various special threads.
side of the part a feature is on, in occasional contexts where that fact is not communicated using the rules of  projection alone

An older name for "CAGE code". Also FSCM (Federal Stock/Supply Code for Manufacturers).
A form of heat treatment in which the metal is first normalized (stress-relieved) and then tempered. Compare H&T.
See also Engineering drawing > Scale.

That is, centre-to-centre; defines centre-to-centre distance of two features, such as two holes.

The entity that originally designed a part. Compare to CDA, the entity that currently has design authority over the part design
This abbreviation is used in a machine shop when recording nonconformances. For example, "part scrapped because  ID is OHL
See Part number > Symmetrical parts for explanation.
A database(s) and related application(s) that facilitate all aspects of managing data files—e.g., TDPs, TDP versions, drawings, m

A list, usually tabular and often on the drawing (if not accompanying the drawing on a separate sheet), listing the parts needed
consistently enforced distinction between an L/M, a BoM, or a P/L.

See also PDM.
Product and manufacturing information conveys non-geometric attributes in 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and Collaborati
components and assemblies.

A point that makes easier the layout, toolpath programming, or inspection of the part. It is the intersection point of lines that
the theoretical sharp corner (TSC) that edge-breaking and deburring will remove. See also SC, TSC, and AC.
A fastening or mating between two parts which is achieved by friction after the parts are pushed together.
A unit of measurement for pressure. See also KSI.
Also well known by the brand name Teflon.

A system in place to ensure that quality of manufacture is produced and maintained; a system to prevent defective parts from

Radius of an arc or circle. Flats and reversals (falling within the dimensional tolerance zone) are tolerated unless "CR" (controll
See surface roughness; see Rockwell scale.
See Rockwell scale.
See Rockwell scale.
The dimension or note is given only for reference and thus is not to be used as a part acceptance criterion (although it may be
surrounded by parentheses to signify a reference dimension. When a dimension is defined in one view but also mentioned ag
prevents the mistake of defining it in two different ways accidentally; the "main" (non-reference) mention is the only one that
also basic dimensions, which are similar in some respects.
For example, "4 REQD" written next to a fastener means that four of those fasteners are required for the assembly.

Engineering drawings and material or process specifications are often revised; the usual revision control convention is to label
drawing (typically in the upper right corner) that lists the revision letters, a brief description of the changes and reasons, and a
doubling, e.g., AA, AB, AC, AD, and so on. In the days of manual drafting, redrawing was expensive, so engineering orders (EOs
thus accompany the drawing as part of the TDP. With the dissemination of software usage (CAD, CAM, PDMSs), revision contr
the revision control of engineering drawings has even been standardized by ASME, in their standard Y14.35M. [5]

A material condition (or more precisely, freedom from such) in GD&T. Means that a given geometric tolerance is true in relatio

Referring to handedness, such as the helix handedness of screw threads or the mirror-image handedness of a symmetrical pai
See surface roughness.
Surface Level
See also RTV.
RMS in general is a statistical technique to define a representative value for a group of data points. With regard to surface rou
Rough-turned means turned on a lathe but not finished to a final machined dimension and surface roughness. Can apply to ba
within tables of specs for finishing operations (plating, painting, etc.).
The issuance of a drawing from the engineering/design activity to the production activity. In other words, the event when a dr
"ISSUED" documents that RTP has occurred.
1. RTV sealants, a way to seal joints. 2. Return to vendor, send parts back to a vendor for rework or refund because they are n
See surface roughness.
And the many standards that it issues, for example, the SAE AMS and SAE AS standards series.
Dimensions may be given as "across sharp corners" although the corners get radiused. In other words, distances may be given
This is usually implied by default, so "S/C" often need not be explicitly added. But in some cases it clarifies the definition. See a

A cap screw with a socket head (usually implying a hex socket, driven with a hex key.
See Part number > Symmetrical parts for explanation.
A set screw with a socket head (usually implying a hex socket, driven with a hex key.
The metric system in its current form (latest standards).

Radius of a sphere or spherical segment.

1. Stainless steel, see also CRES. 2. Supersede/supersedes/superseded, refers to when one document (specification, standard,

As per Y14.38–2007

A standard format defined by ISO 10303 for MBD data generation, storage, and exchange.

A nominal dimension for the stock material, such as bar stock

Translates as Key or Wrench Width. Width across flats, often found on drawings of German origin.
Usually implies drilling a hole if the hole does not already exist.

An area of the drawing, almost always at the bottom right, that contains the title of the drawing and other key information. Ty
drawing number (usually the part number); names and/or ID numbers relating to who designed and/or manufactures the part
a given part number often change over the years due to mergers and acquisitions, contract letting, privatization, and the buyin
previous comment); initials/signatures of the original draftsman (as wells as the original checker and tracer in the days of man
production information); cross-references to other documents; default tolerancing values for dimensions, geometry, and surfa
and access control information (information about who is authorized to possess, view, or share copies of the information enco
notices, patent numbers). Drawing revision (versioning) information is not always included in the title block because it often a

The complete package of information that defines a part, of which the drawing itself is often only a subset. It also includes eng
memoranda, and any special conditions called out by the purchase order or the companies' terms-and-conditions documents.
Optionally applied to a hole dimension to signify that the hole extends through the workpiece. For example, THRU may be sta
Similar to THRU. Sometimes used on hole dimensions for clarity to denote that the hole extends through multiple open space
For measurements of eccentricity and other deviations from nominal geometry

See discussion at SC and POI.

For an explanation of "type" abbreviated as "TY", see the example given at "CL" meaning "class".
Other features share the same characteristic. For example, if the drawing shows 8 holes on a bolt circle, and just one is dimen
One of the possible MRB dispositions. Others include scrap and rework.
This abbreviation is used in a machine shop when recording nonconformances. For example, "part scrapped because  OD is UL
A subset series of the Unified Thread Standard.
A subset series of the Unified Thread Standard.
A subset series of the Unified Thread Standard.
A subset series of the Unified Thread Standard, with controlled root radius and increased minor diameter. For applications req
A subset series of the Unified Thread Standard, with controlled root radius and increased minor diameter. For applications req
A fairly well-known abbreviation, but to avoid confusion, spell out.
Unified National Special is a subset series of the Unified Thread Standard. It is an extensible series, covering various special thr
naming alloys by principal element percentages.
A little-used (thus not well recognized) abbreviation. To avoid confusion, spell out.
A fairly well-known abbreviation, but to avoid confusion, spell out.
Former name for ANSI (1966–1969).
U.S. Standard threads became the National series (e.g., NC, NF, NEF), which became the Unified National series (e.g., UNC, UN
steel company on earth, often an approved supplier, and not infrequently a sole source; hence its mention on drawings.

A letter v (Latin small letter v) written on a line representing a surface is a way to indicate that the surface is to be machined ra
small script (italic) f (see herein f). Later the ASA convened upon a letter V (specifically a sans-serif V) touching the surface. Soo
reader a max roughness value (RMS, microinches or micrometres) for the machined finish, to be measured with a profilomete
The "W" comes from the element symbol for tungsten, W, which comes from the German Wolfram.
Both the material and the abbreviation are obsolete, or nearly so. Spell out the words if this material is to be mentioned at all
A little-used abbreviation. Better to spell out for clarity.
Better to spell out for clarity.
When the letter X is preceded by a space, this means "by". For example, a chamfer may be called out as 12 X 45°

When a dimension is used in multiple places either of these prefixes can be added to the dimension to define how many times
whitespace between the numeral and the letter X. (Note on character encoding: Although in typography (including Unicode) t
differing glyphs, it is a longstanding tradition in engineering drawing that the letter X is interchangeable with the multi sign, un

Calls out the drawing standard that this drawing is following. For example, ASME Y14.5 and Y14.100 are commonly used stand
per spec XYZ-C-1-2". (The latter practice is not uncommon but is  cryptic for workers with minimal training and experience. The first two o
Also called by various other names, such as engineering change order (ECO), engineering change notice (ECN), drawing change notice (DC
or assembly.
Qs, quotes, POs, e-mails, faxes, photos, word processor documents, spreadsheets. See also  PLM.

valleys shall be averaged together via RMS to yield a measurement of roughness. See also herein  f as a finish mark.
ical representation of the workpiece.[6]

that hole is typical of all 8 holes; in other words, it means that the other 7 holes are that size also. The latest revisions of Y14.5  deprecate
and experience. The first two options are better practice.)
N), drawing change notice (DCN), and so on. See also  REV.
t revisions of Y14.5  deprecate "TYP" by itself in favor of the specifying of a number of times, such as "2X" or "8X". This helps avoid any am
"8X". This helps avoid any ambiguity or uncertainty. TYP or Typical was described in Mil-Std-8, the directing body prior to adoption of the
body prior to adoption of the dimension tolerance interpretation Y14.5 series. Its last revision was C in 1963, but can still be found in man
, but can still be found in many older aircraft drawings.