Abstract
This paper proposes a three-dimensional approach towards manufacturing tolerancing that uses a strategy to strictly consider the definition of a datum system imposed by ISO standards. This approach, called three-dimensional manufacturing tolerancing (TMT), is based on the small displacement torsor, which describes the possible deviations between machined surfaces and nominal surfaces of the part model. Every requirement of the definition drawing is treated separately with its own calculation model. The iterative ascending analysis allows one to establish the influence of the most recent phase and determine the influential parameters from previous phases. The nominal part model is defined on the datum systems of the requirement, and deviations are expressed with respect to both the machining process and the chosen machine adjustment method. The result takes the form of a formula that yields the variation in characteristics specified in the requirement based on quantifiable parameters identified on the machine.