Hi All,
Interesting discussion. Very interesting.
I agree that examples such as this expose the limitations in Y14.5's current datum reference frame theory. The plane/line/point datum concept makes things certain things easier to understand for very simple cases, but breaks down very quickly for more complex cases.
Y14.5-2009 provides a table in Figure 4-3 showing simulators, datums, and DOF constraint for various types of datum feature geometry. But these only apply to primary datum features. There is no explanation of how datums work for lower precedence datum features, where certain DOF's have already been constrained. Hence the confusion over Figures 4-29 and 4-30, in which a secondary datum axis or datum plane constrains only one rotational degree of freedom. How does this work exactly? We're left to wonder how an axis that is capable of constraining 4 DOF's only constrains one.
I think that pmarc is on the right track by questioning things, and exploring what the datum would be (if any) if the surface was irregular. I would say that if an irregular surface was referenced as a secondary datum feature, the datum would be a plane/line/point combination as defined in Figure 4-3. But exactly how that datum constrains only certain degrees of freedom, I'm not sure. The only way I've been able to make sense of it is to forget about the datums, and focus solely on the datum feature simulators. I agree with pmarc that when proposing this type of idea, one should prepare for attack ;^). It clashes with the core Y14.5 principle that a datum reference frame is a three-plane coordinate system derived from datums.
The way I like to look at it is that the reference frame is the "space" that the datum feature simulators are defined in. The coordinate system can be placed anywhere in this reference frame - it is arbitrary. The datums are arbitrary as well - they are only a conceptual convenience. This is why there are so many examples in Y14.5 in which the datums are difficult to figure out, or seem arbitrary. Figure 4-26 with the datum axis derived from a hole pattern is one of the worst. Don't get me started on that one!
Evan Janeshewski
Axymetrix Quality Engineering Inc.