Limits, Fits and Tolerance

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

KNUST, KUMASI

ME 160
Engineering Drawing

UNIT 4: Limits, Fits and Tolerances

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 SYSTEM OF FITS AND TOLERANCES
▪ The standard reference temperature for industrial length
measurements is 20 oC (ISO 1:1975), and, consequently, for
dimensions defined by the system
▪ Limits: The 2 extreme permissible sizes of a part between which
the actual size is contained
▪ Tolerance is the difference between the maximum and minimum
limits of size
▪ Fit: the relationship existing between two parts which are to be
assembled with respect to the difference on their sizes before
assembly
▪ Fits are generally described as “shaft and hole”
▪ ISO is the internationally accepted standard for defining fits but
ANSI is often still used in America

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 Limits & Tolerance
Example 1
• Limits: maximum and minimum dimensions
for a given size
Example, 20 ± 0.1.
• The upper and lower limits of size are 20.1 mm
and 19.9 mm respectively.
• Tolerance: algebraic difference between the
upper and lower limit of size
• In this case, Tolerance = 20.1 – 19.9
= 0.2 mm
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Limits & Tolerance
Example 2

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 Fits
Example 3

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Fits and limits: Points
to note
• In practice, no
component can be
manufactured to an
exact size
• To ensure that an
assembly will
function correctly,
its component parts
must fit together in a
predictable manner. 7
 TOLERANCE
Classes of Tolerance
There are 3 main classes:
1. Tolerance for size (dimensional tolerance)
2. Tolerance for position (location tolerance)
3. Tolerance for form (geometric tolerance)

▪ Form tolerance defines shape related parameters such as flatness,

straightness, parallelism, squareness or angularity, etc.

Dimensional Tolerance:
▪ Manufacturing costs increases considerably as tolerance zones decrease.
▪ Hence, general tolerances are often adopted, which allow reasonable limits for
every day applications
▪ Hence, maximum possible tolerances must be recommended wherever possible

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 Dimensional (size) Tolerance, Limits and fits

▪ Manufacturing limits are specified relative to the basic size and expressed unilaterally
or bilaterally according to the system of limits adopted.

(i)Nominal size: the dimension to which a part is to be made if it were possible to

manufacture to exact size., i.e., say ɸ35 or ɸ60
(ii)Basic size: the nominal size to which deviations that determine the fit are applied,
written as 35.000 (i.e. when the nominal size is converted to decimals)

(iii)For mating parts, the basic size is equal.

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 Dimension (size) Tolerance, Limits and fits
iv) Deviation: the amount by which a size is greater (+) or less (-) than the basic size

Upper deviation: the difference between the maximum limit of size and the
corresponding basic size

Designation ES for HOLE and es for SHAFT

Lower deviation: the difference between the minimum limit of size and the
corresponding basic size

Designation EI for HOLE and ei for SHAFT

Limit of size: the minimum (lower) and maximum (upper) sizes for a dimension that is permitted
 25.010 max . size 
  Tolerance field 10
 24.000 min . size 
 Bilateral Tolerance:
allows variations in both directions from the basic size, e.g. 25±0.010

Unilateral Tolerance: Allows variations in only one direction from the basic size. These
tolerance lie wholly above the basic size for a HOLE dimensioning and below the basic
size for SHAFT dimensioning
90 + 0.02 
  for Holes
90 + 0.00 

90 − 0.020 
  for Shaft
90 − 0.150 
Free Dimensions:
▪ Free dimensions are dimensions that are not involved in mating of parts
▪ They are applied to machine parts that are produced by means of either metallic removal or
forming
▪ They may involve lengths, curvature (radius, diameter) and angles
▪ They are divided into four classes
𝑓 − 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 • The deviations are functions of the nominal size range of the length,
𝑚 − 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 curvature or angle
𝑐 − 𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 • Is normally expressed as General Tolerance and it is written
𝑣𝑐 − 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑐𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒆 within Title Block

• Eg.: ALL METRIC DIMENSIONS TO BE HELD TO ±0.05 11

This implies dimension 65 will have upper limit 65.05 and lower limit 64.95
 Free Dimensions
DIN7168 is a general tolerance standard for linear and angular dimensions.

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Free Dimensions

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Free Dimensions

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 MATING DIMENSIONS:
Basic hole and shaft systems
Systems of Fits:
i) Basic Hole System: Minimum hole size is taken as the basic size
and the variations are permitted on the shaft to obtain the desired fit
(normal use in Engineering Works)

i) Basic Shaft System: The maximum shaft size is taken as the basic
size and the hole sizes are varied to obtain the desired fit (special for
industries)

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 Fits
Allowance: is the minimum clearance space (or maximum interference)
intended between mating parts

Description of FITS: three main types of fits:

1) Clearance fit: when the shaft is SMALLER than the hole size
2) Interference fit: when the shaft is BIGGER than the hole size
3) Transitional fit: when both shaft and hole sizes are about equal.
This occurs between Clearance and Interference fits 16
CLEARANCE FIT : A type of fit in which one part fits
easily into another with a resulting clearance. Example,

A clearance fit. The shaft is always smaller than the hole

minimum clearance : 0.600 - 0.595 = 0.005 inch

maximum clearance : 0.602 - 0.593= 0.009 inch
The 0.005 clearance is for the tightest possible fit.

INTERFERENCE FIT : A type of fit in which one part

must be forcibly fitted into another. Example:

when the shaft is always larger in diameter than the hole, parts
must be assembled by pressure or heat expansion.

minimum clearance : 0.500 - 0.503= -0.003 in (the tightest fit

0.003 in interference)
maximum clearance : 0.501 - 0.502 = -0.001 in (the loosest fit
0.001 in interference)
Maximum clearance=Minimum interference
Minimum clearance=Maximum interference
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TRANSITION FIT : A type of fit in which the loosest case
provides a clearance fit and the tightest case gives an
interference fit. Example:
A transition fit exist when the maximum clearance is positive
and the minimum clearance is negative
Tolerance on shaft : 0.005
Tolerance on hole : 0.005
minimum clearance : 0.500 - 0.507 = -0.007 inch
The tightest fit is 0.007 in interference.
maximum clearance : 0.505 - 0.502 = 0.003 inch 18
The loosest fit is 0.003 in clearance
 MATING DIMENSIONS:

Specification of FITS:
▪ In the standards, letters (positions) and numbers (size of the tolerance field)
are used to describe combination of some particular deviation and tolerance

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 SPECIFYING TOLERANCE (Mating Parts)

▪ 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)

Shaft base system:

▪ Hole: h (lowercase)
▪ Shaft: (C, D, F, G, H), (K, N), (P, S, U) (uppercase)
▪ Each letter has a meaning according to the class of fit.

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 MATING DIMENSIONS:

CLASSES OF FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

Clearance fits:

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MATING DIMENSIONS:

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MATING DIMENSIONS:

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MATING DIMENSIONS:

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CLASSES OF FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

Interference fits:
• Location interference: H7/p6
• Slight interference (press fit). Parts to be assembled/disassembled with
accuracy without bore pressure. Ex: couplings, brass collars…Medium
drive: H7/s6
• Ordinary steel parts, shrink fit on light sections, tightest fit for cast iron.
• Force fit: H7/u6: parts to be joined with high stresses, shrink fit on
medium sections.

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.
• Location transition: H7/k6
• Location transition: H7/n6 (more accurate location) 25
CLASSES OF FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

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CLASSES OF FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

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CLASSES OF FITS (ISO SYMBOLS)

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 TRANSITION FITS AND INTERFERENCE FITS

Combination of
Quality of Fit Typical uses
Hole and Shaft
H6 j5 fine
Clearance Very small clearance is obtained - used for fits where a
H7 j6 normal transition slight interference is permissible - coupling spigots and
recesses, gear rings clamped to steel hubs.
H8 j7 coarse

H6 k5 fine
True Fits averaging no clearance where slight interference can
H7 k6 normal transition be tolerated , with the object of eliminating vibration - ball
bearings races of light duty.
H8 k7 coarse

H6 m5 fine
Interference
Fits averaging slight interference - used for ball bearing
H7 m6 normal transition
races of medium duty.
H8 m7 coarse

H6 p5 fine Light press fit for nonferrous parts which can be dismantled
Press fit
when required-bearing bushes-press fit for steel, cast iron
H7 p6 normal or brass to steel assemblies- bush in a gear.
H6 r5 fine
Drive fit Medium drive fit for ferrous parts and light drive fit for
H7 r6 normal non-ferrous parts that can be dismantled.
Permanent or semi permanent assemblies of steel and cast
H6 s5 fine
Drive fit iron with considerable gripping force- collars pressed on to
H7 s6 normal shafts, valve seatings etc. For light alloys this gives a press
fit.
H6 u5 fine
Force or High interference fit a thorough investigation into the
H7 u6 normal shrink fit degree of grip and the stresses in the part must be made. 29
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Thank you

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