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Ask Adam to build a calculation from your drawings, dimensions, and assembly intent. Start with the functional question: a clearance, alignment, engagement, or interference that must remain within a specified range. Adam can help organize the chain and calculate its variation. Completeness of the chain and interpretation of geometric tolerances still require engineering review.

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Define the chain

Provide the relevant parts and revisions, dimension sources, tolerance limits, datum references, and operating conditions. Explain which surfaces contact or locate each other.
Calculate an axial clearance

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A simple worked example

Suppose a housing length is 42.00 ± 0.08 mm and two captured components are 17.00 ± 0.03 mm and 24.50 ± 0.04 mm. For the stated one-dimensional chain:
  • Nominal clearance: 42.00 − 17.00 − 24.50 = 0.50 mm.
  • Minimum: 41.92 − 17.03 − 24.54 = 0.35 mm.
  • Maximum: 42.08 − 16.97 − 24.46 = 0.65 mm.
This illustrative calculation covers those three contributors only. It does not include unmodeled contact effects, thermal growth, geometric variation, or other parts.

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Choose the analysis method

Use worst-case bounds when you need the extremes allowed by the specified dimension limits. Statistical analysis needs justified distributions, centering, and dependence assumptions. Tolerance half-widths are not automatically standard deviations.
Review whether a statistical estimate is appropriate

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Review and deliver

Ask for a table of contributors, the equation, calculation method, range, dominant contributors, and assumptions. For GD&T, ensure the chosen interpretation matches the supplied standard, datum scheme, and material conditions. Use drawing review to check the source annotations, and modeling when a design change is needed.
Last modified on October 14, 2026