A01 · Reference edition 2026.11
Locators and supports — Definition and boundaries
A locator establishes a reference; a support resists movement under a load. One component can perform both roles, but its role must be recorded.
Scope and purpose
Start by separating the named concept from adjacent concepts. Use the observation below to identify the question the record is intended to answer. Read the caution before applying the example. A definition is useful only when another reader can tell what falls outside it.
Working notes
This reference collection concerns light, offline dimensional-inspection layouts. It brings locating concepts, component descriptions and revision records together without substituting for an engineered fixture design. The drawings are original explanatory diagrams. Reference IDs identify documents, not commercially tested products. Read the scope and limitations alongside each example, and keep the actual part drawing and inspection requirements available when reviewing a proposed layout.
Practical example
Show the contact normal and the intended direction of restraint separately in the layout.
| Reference record | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| A01 | Locators and supports |
| Scope and purpose | A locator establishes a reference; a support resists movement under a load. One component can perform both roles, but its role must be recorded. |
| Limits and interpretation | Do not infer the number of restrained degrees of freedom from the number of components. |
Review checklist
Write a one-sentence scope statement; identify a neighbouring concept; record what the example does not establish.