ISO 10303-47-1997 PDF

Full title and description

Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and exchange — Part 47: Integrated generic resource: Shape variation tolerances. This part of ISO 10303 (STEP) defines data constructs and an integrated generic resource for representing shape‑variation tolerances within product model data to support interchange of geometric tolerancing information between CAD/CAM/PLM systems.

Abstract

ISO 10303-47:1997 specifies EXPRESS schema elements and implementation guidance that describe shape variation tolerances (geometric tolerancing information) as an integrated generic resource of the STEP family. The standard enables representation of tolerances related to form, orientation and location variation so that tolerant‑aware product data can be exchanged and interpreted by downstream applications and verification tools.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (original 1997 edition withdrawn; later revisions exist).
• Publication date: 17 December 1997 (Edition 1, 1997).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 25.040.40 (Industrial process measurement and control / product data representation and exchange).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1997).
• Number of pages: 81 pages.

Key bibliographic and status details as recorded by ISO and standards catalogues.

Scope

ISO 10303-47:1997 defines an integrated generic resource within the STEP family for expressing shape variation tolerances. The scope covers the conceptual schema elements and data structures required to model geometric tolerancing information (including form, orientation and positional variation), their attributes and relations to geometry, and usage guidance for implementing these constructs in STEP data exchange files. It does not replace domain‑specific application protocols but provides reusable resources to be referenced by them.

Key topics and requirements

• Expressing shape‑variation tolerances as an integrated generic resource (EXPRESS schema constructs).
• Definitions for form, orientation and position variation and their attributes.
• Linking tolerance declarations to geometric features and datums in product models.
• Implementation notes for embedding tolerance data in STEP exchanges (clear‑text encodings such as STEP‑file/Part 21).
• Conformance considerations and examples for interoperability between CAD/CAM/PLM tools.

These topics reflect the standard's focus on harmonizing tolerancing semantics for data exchange and were subjects of cross‑comparison with national tolerancing standards during development.

Typical use and users

Typical users include CAD/CAM/CAE vendors, PLM integrators, systems engineers, technical data managers, and standards committees implementing STEP exchange for manufacturing and quality assurance workflows. Use cases include transferring geometric tolerancing information between design and manufacturing systems, archiving tolerant‑aware product models, and enabling automated tolerance analysis or inspection planning.

Related standards

ISO 10303-47 is one part of the ISO 10303 (STEP) family. Related parts and complementary standards frequently referenced alongside Part 47 include ISO 10303-1 (overview and principles), Parts that define description languages and encodings (for example Part 11 EXPRESS and Part 21 STEP-file), and other application or resource parts that reference generic resources for geometry, datums and tolerancing. Traditional geometric tolerancing standards (for interpretation and harmonization) such as ISO geometric product specification standards (e.g., ISO 1101) were also considered in development and comparison activities. The 1997 edition of Part 47 has been revised in later years.

Keywords

ISO 10303, STEP, shape variation tolerances, geometric tolerancing, EXPRESS schema, product data exchange, CAD interoperability, PLM, datums, tolerance representation.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 10303-47:1997 is the 1997 edition of Part 47 of the ISO 10303 family (STEP), titled "Integrated generic resource: Shape variation tolerances." It provides data definitions for representing geometric tolerance information in product model exchanges.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers EXPRESS schema elements and implementation guidance to represent shape‑variation tolerances (form, orientation, position) and how those tolerances relate to geometry and datums within STEP product data.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: CAD/CAM/PLM software vendors, data exchange implementers, manufacturing engineers, inspection/planning tools, and standards practitioners who need a machine‑readable representation of geometric tolerancing for interoperability.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 1997 edition is recorded as withdrawn by ISO. Part 47 has been revised in later editions; implementers should consult the most recent edition of ISO 10303-47 for current normative requirements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 10303-47 is one part of the ISO 10303 (STEP) series, which is a multi‑part standard covering product data representation, description languages (EXPRESS), encodings (STEP-file, XML), resources and application protocols for different product domains.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Shape variation tolerances, geometric tolerancing, STEP, ISO 10303, EXPRESS schema, datums, tolerance semantics, CAD/CAM interoperability.