A04 · Reference edition 2026.11
Locators and supports — Recording and revision
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
A reference record should allow another reader to reconstruct the intended description. Keep the identifier, context and revision together. When information changes, explain the change and retain enough of the earlier description to understand what was superseded.
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 |
|---|---|
| A04 | 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
Check the identifier; describe the observation and its source; date the revision; link affected figures; distinguish confirmed facts from open questions.