Abstract
Defining and measuring non-rigid or flexible parts has been controversial in industry for many years. There are two primary areas of controversy. The first is agreeing on what exactly a non-rigid part is. The second is agreeing on how to define and measure a non-rigid part. The subject of non-rigid parts is further complicated by the brief coverage it receives in the national and international standards. This leaves each company to improvise or create its own rules for non-rigid parts. There are some who believe that Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) should not be used on non-rigid parts. This is not true. The ASME Y14.5M standard applies to rigid parts as a default condition. However, there is no definition given for a rigid part. The term rigid part has been used in industry for so long that it has gained a definition by its general use. When most people in industry say rigid part, they are referring to a part doesn't move (deform or flex) when a force (including gravity) is applied. How much force is relative based on the part characteristics. In reality, all parts will deform (or flex) if enough force is applied. Using this logic, all parts would be considered non-rigid. However, we all know that this is not how parts are treated in industry. Although GD&T defaults to rigid parts, it should also be used on non-rigid parts with a few special techniques. Actually 50~60% of all products designed contain parts or features on parts that are non-rigid. Therefore, we try to suggest the definitions of rigid and non-rigid parts and method to measure non-rigid parts.
