MECHANICAL DRAWING CH10: TOLERANCES AND FITS

MECHANICAL DRAWING

Chapter 10:
TOLERANCES AND FITS

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Chapter Objectives

1. Describe the nominal size, tolerance, limits allowance …

2. Identify a clearance fit, interference fit, and transition fit.

3. Describe the basic hole and basic shaft systems.

4. Describe the classes of fit.

5. Draw geometric tolerancing symbols.

6. Specify geometric tolerances.

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INTRODUCTION

Objectives of specifying tolerances:

 Makes it possible that any two mating parts will fit together.
 Increased precession makes the part more expensive to manufacture.
 The degree of accuracy is according to functional requirements.

Tolerance:
 Is the difference between the maximum and minimum permitted size of a
part.
 Is the total amount a specific dimension is permitted to vary.

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TOLERANCES

Example:

Maximum size
Maximum Limit Shaft
Hole Minimum size
Minimum Limit

Tolerance = 31.70 – 31.67 = 0.03

Tolerance = total amount of variation
31.78 – 31.75 = 0.03
Dimension could be 31.78 or 31.75
or any value between them

It is a decision of the designer to choose a suitable dimension with lower cost.

Note that the previous parts are interchangeable (mating parts).

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TOLERANCES

Example:

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DEFINITIONS

 Nominal size: the dimension to which a part to be made if it were possible to

manufacture to exact size.
 Tolerances: the total amount by which a given dimension may vary or the difference
between limits.
 Limits: the max. and min. sizes indicated by a tolerance dimensions.
For the previous ex.: limits for the hole = 1.251 and 1.250
limits for the shaft = 1.247 and 1.248
 Allowance: minimum clearance space.
clearance fit = (+ve) allowance interference fit = (-ve) allowance

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DEFINITIONS

 Manufacturing costs increases considerably as tolerances zones decrease.

Hence, general tolerances are often adopted, which allow reasonable limits
for every day applications. They may vary depending on the type of product
and degree of precision required.
 General tolerances:
Manufacturing process General tolerances (mm)
Drilling + 0.125
Turning – diameters ± 0.15
Grinding – surfaces ± 0.025

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Relating limits to fits

 Manufacturing limits are specified relative to the basic size and expressed
unilaterally or bilaterally according to the system of limits adopted.
 Basic size/limits: the nominal size to which tolerances must be added or
subtracted, and is equal for both mating parts.
 Unilateral limits: limits whose difference are from one side only of the
basic size.
 Bilateral limits: limits whose difference result in a tolerance zone on both
sides of the basic size. Max. limit Max. limit
Min. limit Min. limit
Unilateral

Bilateral
Hole Hole

Basic size (could be any one) Basic size

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Basic hole and shaft systems

Basic hole system: the minimum hole is taken as the basic size. (Normally
standard drilling machines are used to generate the hole and the shaft is
easier to be machined to the desired diameter).
Basic shaft system: the maximum shaft is taken as the basic size (shaft cannot
be machined to size easily).

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Basic hole and shaft systems

Example:
Given basic size of 15mm, allowance of 0.02mm, hole machining has a precision
of ±0.01mm and shaft machining of ± 0.02mm. Determine the hole and shaft
limits for a basic hole fit.
Solution:
Basic hole fit  min. hole size = 15mm

Hole tolerance 0.02

Allowance = 0.02

Shaft tolerance 0.04

Max hole Min
Max
Dia. = 15.02 hole 15mm Min shaft
shaft 14.98
Dia. Dia. = 14.94
Dia.

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FITS

Fits: relation between mating pairs before assembly:

Pairs: shaft/hole.
Fits purpose: assemble/disassemble of parts.

Clearance
sliding a part relative to the other.

Types of fit:
 Clearance fit: always there is a

Interference
clearance between the max. limit of the
shaft and the min. limit of the hole.
 Interference fit: min. limit of the shaft is
always greater than the max. limit of the
hole.

Transition
 Transition fit: the fit could be either
clearance or interference. (small
interference and clearance)

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METRIC SYSTEM OF TOLERANCES AND FITS (ISO)

International tolerance grade: IT, uniform degree of accuracy provided to the basic size

Fine tolerance, Coarse tolerance

Precise work

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SPECIFYING TOLERANCES

 General Tolerances Notes

"ALL TOLERANCES ±1 MM
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
ANGLES ±1 DEGREE."

 Limit Tolerances/Dimensions

The high limit is placed above

the low limit.

In single-line note form, the low limit

precedes the high limit separated by a
dash

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SPECIFYING TOLERANCES (General)

 Plus-or-Minus Tolerances
Unilateral tolerances

Bilateral Tolerances

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SPECIFYING TOLERANCES (Mating Parts)

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METRIC SYSTEM OF TOLERANCES AND FITS

Terms Related to Metric Limits and Fits

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METRIC SYSTEM OF TOLERANCES AND FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

 Hole base system:

Hole: H (uppercase)
Shaft: (c, d, f, g, h), (k, n), (p, s, u) (lowercase)
Each letter has a meaning in
 Shaft base system: accordance with the class of fit.
Hole: h (lowercase) As will be explained in the next
slides/tables
Shaft: (C, D, F, G, H), (K, N), (P, S, U) (uppercase)

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CLASSES OF FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

I) Clearance fits:
1) Loose running fit: H11/c11
Wide commercial tolerances. Precision is not important.
2) Free running: H9/d9
Accuracy is not important, or large temp. variation, or both conditions.
3) Close running: H8/f7
Running on accurate machines, accurate locations at moderate speeds
and journal pressure. Accurate location and minimum play are desired.
4) Sliding fit: H7/g6
For easy move and turn (no free motion), and accurate location.
5) Locational fit (precision clearance fit): H7/h6
Location of stationary parts (static applications).
I) Transition fits:
II) Interference fits:

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CLASSES OF FITS (Clearance fits)

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CLASSES OF FITS (Clearance fits)

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CLASSES OF FITS (Clearance fits)

Example:
For free running clearance fit, find hole and shaft limits for a base size of 12mm.
Also provide the fit symbol in the preferred form.

Solution:
From the previous table for free running fit,
Hole limits: 12.000-12.043
Shaft limits: 11.907-11.950
Fit symbol: 12H9/d9

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CLASSES OF FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

I) Clearance fits:
II) Transition fits:
Compromise between clearance and interference fits. For application
where accuracy of location is important (small clearance or interference
is permissible). Ex., gears and keys on shafts.
1) Location transition: H7/k6
2) Location transition: H7/n6 (more accurate location)
III) Interference fits:
1) Location interference: H7/p6
Slight interference (press fit). Parts to be assembled/disassembled with
accuracy without bore pressure. Ex: couplings, brass collars…
2) Medium drive: H7/s6
Ordinary steel parts, shrink fit on light sections, tightest fit for cast
iron.
3) Force fit: H7/u6
Parts to be joined with high stresses, shrink fit on medium sections.

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CLASSES OF FITS (Transition & Interference Fits)

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CLASSES OF FITS (Transition & Interference Fits)

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CLASSES OF FITS (Transition & Interference Fits)

Example:
For a basic hole diameter of 40mm, H7p6, determine the class of the fit, the
limits for the hole and the shaft.

Solution:
From the previous table for free running fit, 40H7/p6

Type of fit: locational interference

Hole limits: 40.000 – 40.025
Shaft limits: 40.026 - 40.042

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CLASSES OF FITS (Summary)

Transition
fit

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