pmarc,
The "back-door location" effect relies on the fact that the simulator for B is directly in line with the simulator for A. In other words, simulator B is basically located to simulator A. If this were not so, then the simulator could shift to accommodate the location/orientation error of the slot. The end result would be that datum centerplane B would pass through datum axis A but be parallel to the unrelated AME of the slot. Using this DRF, the mislocated/tilted slot would meet the print.
I am not sure where ISO stands on this, but basic location of simulators has only been required in Y14.5 since 2009. See Section 4.5.2 on page 53:
Datum feature simulators shall have the following requirements:
a) perfect form.
b) basic orientation relative to one another for all of the datum references in a feature control frame.
c) basic location relative to one another for all of the datum references in a feature control frame, unless a translation modifier or movable datum target symbol is specified
d) movable location when the translation modifier or the movable datum target symbol is specified
But it wasn't this way in '94. From what I remember, Y14.5M-1994 didn't make any explicit statements but certain figures indicated that the simulators were not basically located. But Y14.5.1M-1994 spelled it out clearly, that lower-precedence datums were basically oriented but not basically located. See Section 4.3.2 c) and Fig. 4-2 in Y14.5.1M-1994. The geometry Figure 4-2 is very similar to the situation we are discussing in this thread, except that the slot is a tertiary datum feature. But the method of clocking the DRF to the slot is clearly shown, and orienting the slot sides to this DRF would not give back-door location.
So Frank and his inspector are correct, but maybe they've only been correct since 2009. ;^) Again, the rule might be different in ISO and may have thrown you off. Do you know how ISO handles this issue, pmarc?
Evan Janeshewski
Axymetrix Quality Engineering Inc.