SYSTEM OF LIMITS, FITS, TOLERANCE & GAUGES

Why study Limits & Fits?

Exact size is impossible to achieve.
Establish boundaries within which deviation from perfect form is
allowed but still the design intent is fulfilled.
Enable interchangeability of components during assembly
The maximum and minimum permissible sizes within which
the actual size of a component lies are called Limits.
It is impossible to make anything to an exact size, therefore it is
essential to allow a definite tolerance or permissible variation on
every specified dimension
Why Tolerances are specified?
Variations in properties of the material being machined introduce errors.
The production machines themselves may have some inherent inaccuracies.
It is impossible for an operator to make perfect settings. While setting up the
tools and work piece on the machine, some errors are likely to creep in.
STUFFING BOX





Importance of tolerance
Parts from the same machine can be different
Speed of operation
Temperature
Lubrication
Variation of incoming material
Other factors
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
CLEARANCE FIT
Maximum shaft dimension < Minimum hole dimension
The largest permitted shaft diameter is smaller than the diameter of the smallest
hole, so that the shaft can rotate or slide through with different degrees of
freedom according to the purpose of the mating members
INTERFERANCE FIT

The min. permitted diameter of the shat is larger than the max. allowable dia. Of the hole.
In this case the shaft and the hole members are intended to be attached permanently and used
as a solid component but according to the application of this combination, this type of fit can be
varied.
Maximum Hole size < Minimum Shaft size
TRANSITION FIT

The diameter of the largest allowable hole is greater than that of the smallest
shaft, but the smallest hole is smaller than the largest shaft, so hat small positive
or negative clearance between the shaft and hole members are employable.
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

HOLE BASED SYSTEM-
Size of hole is kept constant,
shaft size is varied
to get different fits.
To obtain different types of fits, it is general practice to
vary tolerance zone of one of the mating parts
SHAFT BASED SYSTEM-
Size of shaft is kept constant,
hole size is varied
to get different fits.
H : lower deviation of
hole is zero
h : upper deviation of
shaft is zero
E.S. upper deviation
E.I. lower deviation
Representation of
Tolerance
1) Letter Symbol
The selection of letter freezes
one limit of hole / shaft
(how much away from Basic
size)
45 E8/e7
Basic Size
One can have different
possible combinations; eg.
45H6g7, 45H8r6, 45E5p7
Representation of Tolerance
2) Number or Grade
IT01, IT0, IT1,.IT16
Tolerance Grade defines range of
dimensions (dimensional variation)
There are manufacturing
constraints on tolerance grade
chosen
RANGE IN A GIVEN TOLERANCE GRADE
H : lower deviation of
hole is zero
Representation of
Tolerance

The selection of
Tolerance grade number
freezes the other limit of
hole / shaft
Together (Letter & Grade)
on both mating
components decide quality
of fit
H7 : Tol Grade 7 mean 21 variation
(H means upper deviation zero)
Representation of Fit
0.021
0.022
0.013


30.000
30.021
30.022
30.035
p6 : Tol Grade 6 means 13 variation
(p means upper deviation is 22 )
INTERFERENCE
FIT
Tolerance on Components
Estimate kind of fit

3
0
H
7
s
6

3
0
H
8
e
6

3
0
F
8
r
6

3
0
G
7
r
6

FITS APPLICATIONS
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
Max Hole size Basic Size = Upper Deviation
Min Hole size Basic Size = Lower Deviation
HOLE
Max shaft size Basic Size = Upper Deviation
Min shaft size Basic Size = Lower Deviation
SHAFT