Machine Design #102: Parallelism and Perpendicularity — Mechanisms Need Relationships
MINATA turns the Vietnamese source into an evidence-led guide. parallelism and perpendicularity must preserve function, manufacturability, inspectability, cost, and serviceability when the boundary changes.
Function before a number
Write the input, expected result, acceptance limit, failure symptom, and measurement method before choosing a geometric value, roughness, or fit. Assign an owner to every value and change.
Core checks
- Functional relationship and datum order: record value, source, method, owner, and pass/fail evidence.
- Motion, clearance, and load path: record value, source, method, owner, and pass/fail evidence.
- Tolerance stack and orientation: record value, source, method, owner, and pass/fail evidence.
- Machining sequence and fixture stability: record value, source, method, owner, and pass/fail evidence.
- Inspection setup and uncertainty: record value, source, method, owner, and pass/fail evidence.
- Assembly, adjustment, and service limit: record value, source, method, owner, and pass/fail evidence.
| Failure mode | Symptom | Verification |
|---|
| Function not defined | Over-tight or weak geometry | Rebuild the functional stack |
| Datum not real | Inspection and assembly disagree | Try the real fixture |
| Documents out of sync | Correct value, wrong revision | Baseline every reference |
1. Review pass: function and load path
Review function and load path for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
2. Review pass: datums and relationships
Review datums and relationships for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
3. Review pass: process capability
Review process capability for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
4. Review pass: assembly and adjustment
Review assembly and adjustment for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
5. Review pass: inspection and uncertainty
Review inspection and uncertainty for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
6. Review pass: failure and recovery
Review failure and recovery for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
7. Review pass: supplier and acceptance
Review supplier and acceptance for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
8. Review pass: revision and change
Review revision and change for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
9. Review pass: cost and trade-off
Review cost and trade-off for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
10. Review pass: safety and misuse
Review safety and misuse for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
11. Review pass: data and audit
Review data and audit for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
12. Review pass: training
Review training for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
13. Review pass: field feedback
Review field feedback for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
14. Review pass: final release
Review final release for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
15. Review pass: function and load path
Review function and load path for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
16. Review pass: datums and relationships
Review datums and relationships for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
17. Review pass: process capability
Review process capability for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
18. Review pass: assembly and adjustment
Review assembly and adjustment for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
19. Review pass: inspection and uncertainty
Review inspection and uncertainty for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
20. Review pass: failure and recovery
Review failure and recovery for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
21. Review pass: supplier and acceptance
Review supplier and acceptance for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
22. Review pass: revision and change
Review revision and change for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
23. Review pass: cost and trade-off
Review cost and trade-off for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
24. Review pass: safety and misuse
Review safety and misuse for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
25. Review pass: data and audit
Review data and audit for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
26. Review pass: training
Review training for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
27. Review pass: field feedback
Review field feedback for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
28. Review pass: final release
Review final release for the parallelism and perpendicularity. The key risk is datum relationship, motion, load path, stack-up, fixture, and inspection. Define lower and upper boundaries, the simultaneous worst case, evidence source, owner, and change trigger. Confirm model, drawing, BOM, material, process, inspection, and work instruction use the same revision. Test normal operation, variation, wrong input, interruption, and a controlled fault. Record actual value, unit, condition, instrument or log, sample or serial, pass/fail, and next action.
MINATA release checklist
- [ ] Function, boundary, and failure symptom are written.
- [ ] Datums, ownership, process, and mistake-proofing are clear.
- [ ] Six topic checks have evidence and pass/fail limits.
- [ ] Manufacturing, assembly, inspection, and maintenance were tried.
- [ ] Revision, supplier, material, and configuration records agree.
Good engineering is an explicit chain that survives manufacture, operation, maintenance, and change. For parallelism and perpendicularity, evidence that geometry and function remain reliable is the MINATA standard.
Public references
- MINATA Q-up design practice and internal review checklist.
- Applicable geometric, material, surface, or quality standard selected by the project owner.
View all MINATA technical articles