How do you interpret a callout that uses a profile tolerance and a separate positional tolerance?

How do you interpret a callout that uses a profile tolerance and a separate positional tolerance?

• A. Profile tolerance governs the form along the boundary and has no relation to position.
• B. Position tolerance controls the boundary shape.
• C. Profile tolerance controls only the form and not the location.
• D. Profile controls form along the boundary; the positional tolerance controls the feature's location relative to datums.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that different tolerances control different aspects of a feature. A profile tolerance sets the allowable deviation of the surface contour itself—the shape of the boundary must lie within the specified tolerance zone around the true profile. It governs how the boundary forms and deviates, but it does not by itself fix where the feature sits in space. When a separate positional tolerance is added, that tolerance handles where the feature is located relative to datums. It constrains the feature’s position (and often its orientation) independently of the contour. So, with both in play, the profile tolerance rules the form along the boundary, while the positional tolerance controls the feature’s location relative to datum references. This aligns with the idea that you’re constraining shape and location separately.

The main idea is that different tolerances control different aspects of a feature. A profile tolerance sets the allowable deviation of the surface contour itself—the shape of the boundary must lie within the specified tolerance zone around the true profile. It governs how the boundary forms and deviates, but it does not by itself fix where the feature sits in space.

When a separate positional tolerance is added, that tolerance handles where the feature is located relative to datums. It constrains the feature’s position (and often its orientation) independently of the contour.

So, with both in play, the profile tolerance rules the form along the boundary, while the positional tolerance controls the feature’s location relative to datum references. This aligns with the idea that you’re constraining shape and location separately.