Unit II

System of Limits and Fits

Limit Gauges
System of Limits and Fits : Introduction, Normal size, tolerance limits, deviations, allowance,
fits and their types Unilateral and bilateral tolerance system, Hole and shaft basis systems
interchangeability and selective assembly. Indian standard institution system British standard
system, International standard system for plain and screwed work.
Limit Gauges: Taylors Principle Design of go and No go gauges, plug, ring, snap, gap, taper,
profile and Position gauges.

Introduction
Generally in engineering, any component
manufactured is required to fit or match with some
other component.
The correct and prolonged functioning of the two
components in match depends upon the correct size
relationships between the two, i.e., the parts must fit with
each other in a desired way.

The standard reference temperature is 200 C for industrial measurements and, consequently, for
dimensions defined by the system.
Due to the inevitable inaccuracy of manufacturing methods, a part cannot be made precisely to a
given dimension, the difference between maximum and minimum limits of size is the tolerance.
When two parts are to be assembled, the relation resulting from the difference between their sizes
before assembly is called a fit.

Terminology:
NOMINAL (NORMAL) SIZE: It is the size of a part specified in
the drawing.
BASIC SIZE: It is the size of a part to which all limits of variation
are determined.
ACTUAL SIZE: It is the actual measured dimension of a part.
Nominal and basic size are often the same.
Zero Line: It is the straight line
corresponding to the basic size.
The deviations are measured from this line.

Tolerance Limits
There are two extreme possible
sizes of a component.
The largest permissible size for a
component is called upper limit and
smallest size is called lower limit.

DEVIATION
Lower & Upper
It is the algebraic
difference between any
given size and actual
size.
ACTUAL DEVIATION: It is
the algebraic difference
between the actual size
and the basic size.

HOLE

SHAFT

Max Hole size Basic Size = Upper Deviation

Max shaft size Basic Size = Upper Deviation

Min Hole size Basic Size = Lower Deviation

Min shaft size Basic Size = Lower Deviation

Tolerance
How to decide tolerance?
Functional requirements of mating parts
Cost of production
Available manufacturing process
Choose as coarse tolerance as possible without compromising
functional requirements
Proper balance between cost and quality of parts

POSITIONAL TOLERANCES
Two types of positional tolerances are used:
1.Unilateral tolerances
2.Bilateral tolerances
.When tolerance is on one side of basic size,
it is called unilateral and if it is both in plus
and minus then it is known as bilateral
tolerance.

FITS
the relation resulting from the difference between the
sizes/dimensions of mating components before assembly is
called a fit.

TYPES OF FITS
CLEARANCE FIT: There is a clearance
or looseness in this type of fits. These fits
maybe slide fit, easy sliding fit, running fit
etc.

Maximum shaft dimension < Minimum hole dimension

TYPES OF FITS
INTERFERENCE FIT: There is an interference or
tightness in these type of fits. E.g. shrink fit, heavy
drive fit etc.

Maximum Hole size < Minimum Shaft size

Figure Source: Technical Drawing, By David L. Goetsch

 TRANSITION FIT: In this type of fit, the

limits for the mating parts are so
selected that either a clearance or
interference may occur depending
upon the actual size of the mating parts.

Obtained by overlapping of tolerance zones of shaft and hole

Does not guarantee neither clearance nor interference fit

BASIS OF LIMIT SYSTEM

SHAFT BASIS SYSTEM: In this system, the
shaft is kept as constant member and
different fits are obtained by varying the hole
size.

HOLE BASIS SYSTEM: In this system, the

hole is kept as a constant member and
different fits are obtained by varying the
shaft size.

To obtain different types of fits, it is general practice to vary tolerance zone of one
of the mating parts

A fit is indicated by the basic size common to both components, followed by symbol corresponding to
each component, the hole being quoted first.
E.g.

45 H8/g7

DIFFERENT LIMIT SYSTEMS

1. The Newall system
2. British Standard system
3. International Federation of National Standardization
Association (ISA) system
4. ISO system
5. Bureau of Indian Standard (IS:1234 - yyyy) system

The Newall system

Source: Comprehensive Workshop Practice, R. K.

Rajput

ISO System of Limits and Fits

IS 919 Indian Equivalent Standard for

representing system of limits and fits

The selection of letter freezes one

limit of hole / shaft
(how much away from Basic size)

Representation of Fit /
Assembly Letter Symbol

Basic Size

45 E8/e7

One can have different possible

combinations; eg. 45H6g7, 45H8r6,
45E5p7
E.S. upper deviation
E.I. lower deviation
H : lower deviation of hole is zero
h : upper deviation of shaft is zero

FITS AND TOLERANCES

The components of the toleranced dimension shall be indicated
in the following order:
a) the basic size, and
b) the tolerance symbol.
If, in addition to the symbols it is necessary to express the values of the
deviations or the limits of size, the additional information shall be shown
in brackets.

Permissible deviation

If a dimension needs to be limited in one

direction only, this should be indicated by adding
min or max to the dimension.

The upper deviation or the upper limit of size

shall be written in the upper position and the lower
deviation or the lower limit of size in the lower
position, irrespective of whether a hole or a shaft is
toleranced.
The tolerance symbol for the
hole shall be placed before that
for the shaft or above it, the
symbols being preceded by the
basic size indicated once only.

Indication of Tolerances on Angular Dimensions

FITS APPLICATIONS

30G7r6

30F8r6

30H8e6

30H7s6

Estimate kind of fit

STUFFING BOX