Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness

Definitions of Terms:

There are some important terms needed to know in tolerance dimension according to [ANSI
Y14.5M-1982] such as:

 Nominal Size: The designation that is used for the purpose of general identification is usually
expressed in common fractions.
 Basic Size or Dimension: The theoretical size from which limits of size are derived by
application of allowances and tolerances, the basic size is the decimal equivalent to the nominal
size.
 Actual Size: The measured size of the finished part.
 Tolerance: The total amount by which a given dimension may vary, or the difference between
the maximum and the minimum.
 Limits: The maximum and minimum sizes indicated by a tolerance dimension.
 Allowance: The minimum clearance space (or maximum interference) intended between the
maximum material condition (MMC) of mating parts. Allowance represents the tightest
permissible fit and is simply the smallest hole minus the largest shaft. For clearance fits, this
difference will be positive, while for the interference fits it will be negative.

Fig-1 Limit dimensions.

Fits Between Mating Parts:

Fit is the general term used to signify the range of tightness or looseness that may result from the
application of a specific combination of allowances and tolerances in mating parts. [ANSI Y14.5M-1982]
There are four general types of fits between parts.

 Clearance Fit: In which an internal member fits in an external member (as a shaft in a hole), and
always leaves a space or clearance between the parts. This space is the allowance, and in a
clearance fit it is always positive.
 Interference Fit: In which the internal member is larger than the external member such that
there is always an actual interference of metal. This interference is the allowance, and in an
interference fit it is always negative.

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness
 Transition Fit: In which the fit might result in either a clearance or interference condition, the
smallest shaft will fit in the largest hole with positive space, but the largest shaft will have to be
forced in the smallest hole with an interference of metal (negative allowance).
 Line Fit: In which limits of size are so specified that a clearance or surface contact may result
when mating parts are assembled.

Fig-2 Fits between parts.

Basic Hole System:
Toleranced dimensions are commonly figured on the so-called basic hole system which the
minimum hole is taken as the basic size, an allowance is assigned, and tolerances are applied on both
sides of, and away from, this allowance.

The basic hole size can be changed to the basic shaft size by subtracting the allowance for a
clearance fit, or adding it for an interference fit. The result is the largest shaft size, which is now the
basic shaft.

Basic Shaft System:

This system should be used only when there is a reason for it, for example, it is advantageous when
several parts having different fits, but one nominal size are required on a single shaft. In this system,
the maximum shaft is taken as the basic size, an allowance for each mating part is assigned, and
tolerances are applied on both sides of, and away from, this allowance.

The basic shaft size may be changed to the basic hole size by adding the allowance for a clearance fit
or by adding the allowance for a clearance fit or subtracting it for an interference fit. The result is the
smallest hole size which is now the basic size.

Fig-3 Basic hole and basic shaft system.

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Specification of Tolerances:

Several methods of expressing tolerances in dimensions are approved by [ANSI Y14.5M-1982] as

follows:

1. Limit Dimensioning: the maximum and minimum limits of size and location are specified.
2. Plus and Minus Dimensioning: the basic size is followed by a plus and minus expression of
tolerance resulting in either a unilateral or bilateral tolerance.
 The unilateral system of tolerances: allows in only one direction from the basic size.
 The bilateral system of tolerances: allows variation in both directions from the basic size.
3. Single-Limit Dimensioning: it is not always necessary to specify both limits. MIN or MAX is
often placed after a number to indicate minimum or maximum dimensions desired where other
elements of design determine the other unspecified limit.
4. Angular Tolerances: are usually bilateral and in terms of degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Fig-4 Plus and minus dimensioning.

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Fig-5 Limit Dimensions.

American National Standard Limits and Fits:
It has issued the [ANSI B4.1-1967 (R1979)], “Preferred Limits and Fits for Cylindrical Parts”, defining
terms and recommending preferred standard sizes, allowances, tolerances, and fits in terms of the
decimal inch.

Specification of Fits:
Letter symbols to identify the five types of fits are:
RC Running or Sliding Clearance Fits
LC Locational Clearance Fits
LT Transition Clearance or Interference Fits
LN Locational Interference Fits
FN Force or Shrink Fits

 Running and Sliding Fits: are intended to provide a similar running performance, with suitable
lubrication allowance, throughout the range of sizes. The clearance for the first two classes,
used chiefly as slide fits, increase more slowly with diameter than the other classes, so that
accurate location is maintained even at the expense of free relative motion.
 Locational Fits: are fits intended to determine only the location of the mating parts; they may
provide rigid or accurate location, as with interference fits, or provide some freedom of
location, as with clearance fits. Accordingly they divided into three groups: clearance fits,
transition fits, and interference fits.

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness
 Force Fits: Force or shrink fits constitute a special type of interference fit, normally
characterized by maintenance of constant bore pressures throughout the range of sizes. The
interference therefore varies almost directly with diameter, and the difference between its
minimum and maximum value is small, to maintain the resulting pressures within reasonable
limits.

Metric System of Tolerances and Fits:

A system of preferred metric limits and fits by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) is in the [ANSI B4.2-1978] standard.

Fig-6 Terms related to Metric Limits and Fits [ANSI B4.2-1978].

The following terms for metric fits are illustrated in the following:

 Basic Size: The size from which limits or deviations are assigned. Basic sizes, usually diameters.
 Deviation: The difference between the basic size and the hole or shaft size. (This is equivalent
to the tolerance in the decimal-inch system).
 Upper Deviation: The difference between the basic size and the permitted maximum size of
the part. (This compares with the maximum tolerance in the decimal-inch system).
 Lower Deviation: The difference between the basic size and the minimum permitted size of the
part. (This compares with the minimum tolerance in the decimal-inch system).
 Fundamental Deviation: The deviation closest to the basic size. (This compares with the min-
imum allowance in the decimal-inch system).
 Tolerance: The difference between the permitted minimum and maximum size of a part.

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 International Tolerance Grade (IT): A set of tolerances that varies according to the basic size
and provides a uniform level of accuracy within the grade. For example, in the dimension 50 H8
for a close-running fit, the IT grade is indicated by the numeral 8. (The letter H indicates the tol-
erance is on the hole for the 50 mm dimension.) In all there are 18 IT grades—IT01, IT0, and IT1
through IT16.

Fig-7 Practical use of IT.

 Tolerance Zone: The tolerance and its position in relation to basic size.
 Hole-Basis System of Preferred Fits: fits A system based upon the basic diameter as the
minimum size. For the generally preferred hole-basis system, the fundamental deviation is
specified by the uppercase letter H
 Shaft-Basis System of Preferred Fits: A system based upon the basic diameter as the maximum
size of the shaft. The fundamental deviation is given by the lowercase letter h.
 Interference Fit: A fit that results in interference fit between two mating parts under all
tolerance conditions.
 Transition Fit: A fit that results in either a clearance or an interference condition between two
assembled parts.
 Tolerance Symbols: Symbols used to specify the tolerances and fits for mating parts.

Fig-8 Application of definitions of symbols to holes and shafts [ANSI B4.2-1978].

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness

Fig-9 International tolerance grades related to machining processes [ANSI B4.2-1978].

Fig-10 Acceptable methods of giving tolerance symbols [ANSI B4.2-1978].

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness
Preferred Fits:

ISO Symbol
Description
Hole Basic Shaft Basic
H11/c11 C11/h11 Loose running fit for wide commercial tolerances or
allowances on external members.
H9/d9 D9/h9 Free running fit not for use where accuracy is essential,
Clearance Fits

but good for large temperature variations, high running

speeds, or heavy journal pressures.
H8/f7 F8/h7 Close running fit for running on accurate machines and
for accurate location at moderate speeds and journal
pressures.
H7/g6 G7/h6 Sliding fit not intended to run freely, but to move and
turn freely and locate accurately.
H7/h6 H7/h6 Locational clearance fit provides snug fit for locating
stationary parts; but can be freely assembled and
Transition Fits

disassembled.
H7/K6 K7/h6 Locational transition fit for accurate location, a
compromise between clearance and interference.
H7/n6 N7/h6 Locational transition fit for more accurate location
where greater interference is permissible.
H7/p6 P7/h6 Locational interference fit for parts requiring rigidity and
alignment with prime accuracy of location but without
Interference Fits

special bore pressure requirements.

H7/S6 S7/h6 Medium drive fit for ordinary steel parts or shrink fits on
light sections, the tightest fit usable with cast iron.
H7/u6 U7/h6 Force fit suitable for parts which can be highly stressed
or for shrink fits where the heavy pressing forces
required are impractical.
a
The transition and interference shaft basis fits shown do not convert to exactly the same hole basis fit conditions for basic
sizes in range from Q through 3 mm. Interference fit P7/h6 converts to a transition fit H7/p6 in the above size range.

Fig-10 Methods of specifying tolerances with symbols for mating parts.

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness
Geometric Tolerances:

a
Arrowhead(s) may be filled in.
(a) (b)
Fig-11 (a) Geometric characteristics and (b) modifying symbols, [ANSI Y14.5M-1982].

Fig-12 Use of symbols for tolerance of position and form, [ANSI Y14.5M-1982].

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness

Fig-13 Geometric tolerance.

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness

Fig-14 Application of symbols to position and form tolerance dimensions [ANSI Y14.5M-1982].

Surface Roughness, Waviness, and Lay [ANSI Y14.36-1978]:

Symbols Meaning
(a) Basic Surface Texture Symbol. Surface may be produced by any method
except when the bar or circle, (b) or (d), is specified.

(b) Material Removal By Machining Is Required. The horizontal bar indicates

that material removal by machining is required to produce the surface and
that material must be provided for that purpose.
(c) Material Removal Allowance. The number indicates the amount of stock to
be removed by machining in millimeters (or inches). Tolerances may be
added to the basic value shown or in a general note.
(d) Material Removal Prohibited. The circle in the vee indicates that the
surface must be produced by processes such as casting, forging, hot
finishing, cold finishing, die casting, powder metallurgy or injection molding
without subsequent removal of material.
(e) Surface Texture Symbol. To be used when any surface characteristics are
specified above the horizontal line or to the right of the symbol. Surface
may be produced by any method except when the bar or circle, (b) or (d), is
specified.

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness
(f)

Fig-15 Application of surface texture symbols and surface characteristics [ANSI Y14.36-1978].

Fig-16 Lay symbols [ANSI Y14.36-1978].

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness

Fig-17 Application of surface texture values to symbol [ANSI Y14.36-1978].

Preferred Series Roughness Average Values (Ra) [ANSI Y14.36-1978].

Micrometers (µm). Mictroinches (µin). Micrometers (µm). Mictroinches (µin).

0.012 0.5 1.25 50
0.025 1 1.60 63
0.050 2 2.0 80
0.075 3 2.5 100
0.10 4 3.2 125
0.125 5 4.0 180
0.15 6 5.0 200
0.20 8 6.3 250
0.25 10 8.0 320
0.32 13 10.0 400
0.40 16 12.5 500
0.50 20 15 600
0.63 25 20 800
0.80 32 25 1000
1.00 40
Preferred Series Maximum Waviness Height Values [ANSI Y14.36-1978].

Millimeters Inches (in). Millimeters Inches (in).

(mm). (mm).
0.0005 0.00002 0.025 0.001
0.0008 0.00003 0.05 0.002
0.0012 0.00005 0.08 0.003
0.0020 0.00008 0.12 0.005
0.0025 0.0001 0.20 0.008
0.005 0.0002 0.25 0.010
0.008 0.0003 0.38 0.015
0.012 0.0005 0.50 0.020

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness
0.020 0.0008 0.80 0.030

Fig-18 Surface roughness produced by common production methods [ANSI Y14.5M-1982]. The ranges shown
are typical of the processes listed. Higher or lower values may be obtained under special conditions.

Classification of Machine Drawings:

 Assembly Drawings: shows the complete drawing of a given machine, indicating the relative
positions of various components assembled together.
 Part Drawings or Working Drawings: illustrate the number of views of a single part of a
machine required to facilitate it manufacturing. It should furnish all dimensions, limits and
special finishing processes such as heat treatment, honing, lapping, surface finish.

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Fits, Tolerance and surface roughness
 Shop Drawings: may be defined as the complete drawing of an object comprising the number
of drawings required to facilitate the fabrication of all parts of the object and their subsequent
assembly into a complete product. A shop drawing will usually include both the assembly
drawing and the part drawings.
 Drawings for Catalogues: only the outlines of assembly drawings are displayed for illustration
purposes.
 Drawings for Instruction Manuals: consist of assembly drawings which are to be used when a
machine. Shipped away in assembled condition, is nocked down in order to check all the
components before being re-assembled and installed elsewhere.
 Schematic Representation: high level mechanization and automation which are the
characteristics of modern technology have resulted in complicated machinery, utilizing
different combinations of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic transmission
systems.
 Patent Drawings: come into existence when designs are being invented.

Drawing Sheet Sizes:

Designation Size (mm) Designation Size (mm)

A0 841 x 1189 A3 297 x 420
A1 594 x 841 A4 210 x 297
A2 420 x 594 A5 148 x 210

References
[1] Robert L. Mott, RE, MACHINE ELEMENTS IN MECHANICAL DESIGN,
Fourth Edition, ISBN 0-13-061885-3.
[2] Budynas−Nisbett, Shigley’s Mechanical Engineering Design, Eighth Edition,
ISBN 0−390−76487−6.

With my best wishes

Eng / M.shehata

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