Limits, fits and tolerances

 It is impossible manufacture any part precisely to

given dimension
 Even if the part is made exact, it is impossible to
measure it accurately to prove it.
 If attempts are made to achieve perfect size, the cost
of production increases.
 So some permissible variation in dimension has to be
allowed.
 Terminologies

 Basic size- the size determined solely from design

calculation is called as basic size.
 Actual size- it is the size obtained after
manufacturing.
 Limit- the two extreme permissible sizes between
which the actual size is contained are called limit.
The maximum size is called upper limit and
minimum size is called lower limit
Terminologies
 Terminologies

 Shaft- it refers to diameter of circular or any other

shaped shaft or external dimension of any
component
 Hole- it refers to diameter of hole but also refers to
internal dimension of any component.
 Zero line- the straight line drawn to represent basic
size.
 Terminologies

 Deviation- the algebraic difference between a

size(actual, maximum, minimum) and the
corresponding basic size
 Actual deviation- algebraic difference between the
actual size and the corresponding basic size.
 Terminologies

 Upper deviation- the algebraic difference between

maximum limit of size to corresponding basic size.
 Lower deviation- the algebraic difference between
minimum limit of size to corresponding basic size.
 Tolerance-the permissible deviation in size is called
tolerance.
 the difference between maximum limit and
minimum limit is tolerance zone
 Systems of writing tolerance

 Unilateral tolerance- when dimensions of part

are allowed to vary in only on one side of basic size.
 Bilateral tolerance- when dimension of part are
allowed to vary in two sides of basic size.
 Terminologies

 Fundamental deviation- it is one of the two

deviations (either upper deviation or lower
deviation) which is nearest to zero line for either hole
or shaft.
 For hole it is denoted by A,B,C…….,ZA,ZB,ZC
 For shaft it is denoted by a, b, c…….za, zb, zc
Terminologies
 Terminologies

 Tolerance grade- it is an indication of degree of

accuracy of manufacture.
 It is designated by ‘IT’(international tolerance
grade)
 If tolerance zone is narrow, it has more accuracy and
if the tolerance zone is wide , it has less accuracy.
 it starts from IT01,IT1,IT2……………,IT15,IT16.
 IT01 to IT4 are very fine grades, we do not use them
much.
 Terminologies

Grade Tolerance value

IT5 7i
IT6 10i
IT7 16i
IT8 25i
IT9 40i
IT10 64i
IT11 100i
IT12 160i
IT13 250i
IT14 400i
IT15 640i
IT16 1000i
 Terminologies

 i=standard tolerance unit( it is in microns)

 1 microns=0.001mm
 i=045*(D)1/3 +0.001D
 D=geometric mean of diameter step
 Diameter step is a group of diameter that has nearly
same value of i.
 Terminologies

 Fits- it is a degree of tightness and looseness

between two mating parts.
 Clearance fit-shaft size is always smaller than hole
size. It gives clearance between two mating parts.
 Interference fit- the minimum permissible
diameter of shaft is bigger than maximum allowable
diameter of hole.
 Terminologies
 Transition fit- it is amid way between clearance
and interference fit.
 Terminologies

 Minimum clearance-the difference between

minimum size of the hole and the maximum size of shaft
in clearance fit.
 Maximum clearance- the difference between
maximum size of hole and minimum size of shaft in
clearance fit.
 Minimum interference- the difference
(negative)between maximum size of hole and minimum
size of the shaft in an interference fit.
 Maximum interference- the difference between
minimum size of hole and maximum size of shaft in an
interference fit.
 Terminologies

 Allowance-it is the clearance or interference which gives

tightest possible fit.
 System for obtaining different types fits
 Hole basis system-in this system, the size of the shaft
is obtained by subtracting the allowance from the basic
size of the hole. This gives design size of shaft. In this
system, the lower deviation of hole is zero. It is denoted
by ‘H’.
 Shaft basis system- in this system, the size of the hole
is obtained by adding the allowance to the basic size of
the shaft. Here upper deviation of shaft is zero. It is
denoted by ‘h’.