The phrase describes the act of acquiring a digital copy, in Portable Document Format (PDF), of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Y14.100 standard at no cost. This standard pertains to engineering drawing practices. For example, an engineer might search the internet hoping to locate an accessible version of this document to consult its guidelines.
Access to standards documents such as ASME Y14.100 is often essential for ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance within engineering design and manufacturing processes. The standard outlines specific conventions and requirements for creating and interpreting engineering drawings. Historically, the dissemination of such standards involved purchasing official copies from standards organizations. The emergence of digital documents and the internet have led to increased interest in, and attempts to locate, freely available versions.