Tight Tolerance CNC Machining Vs. GD&T Control: Which Features Need The Most Attention? October 06, 2026
Tight tolerance CNC machining and GD&T control serve different but closely connected purposes in precision manufacturing. Tight tolerances control the size of individual features, while GD&T controls the geometry and relationship between critical features. The features that require the most attention are usually mating holes, dowel holes, fastener patterns, datum surfaces, mounting faces, bearing bores, shaft journals, sealing surfaces, thin walls, deep pockets, and long slender components. The best design approach is to apply tight tolerances only where feature size matters and use GD&T where position, orientation, flatness, profile, or runout affects assembly and product performance. This reduces unnecessary cost while supporting consistent quality across prototypes and production parts.
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