Limits and Fits

Introduction
• In engineering you are usually
concerned with a number of parts or
components fitting together to make
an:

assembly
• To assemble components together
engineers must control the sizes of
the components to make sure that
they fit together correctly.

• If they don’t fit together correctly

then the components will not function
properly.
What is a FIT in engineering
terms?
• There are three types of fit used in
engineering:

1. Clearance Fit
2. Transition Fit
3. Interference Fit
1. The Clearance Fit.
This is where the shaft slides
through the hole

GAP

Called the Clearance

2. The Transition Fit.
This is where the shaft slides
through the hole very tightly.

NO GAP

Called the Transition

3. The Interference Fit.
This is where the shaft slides through
the hole and shears the metal has it
goes in.

SHEARING

Called the Interference

 Other Names Used for
the Fits

• Sliding Fit allows one part to slide in

another whilst there is no force
being applied to the shaft

The Clearance Fit

• A Force Fit which needs a “big
Hammer” or preferable a power press
to assemble the shaft and hole.

The Interference Fit

• A Push Fit which means the hole and
the shaft can be push together or
perhaps tapped gentle with a soft
hammer.

The Transition Fit

 How do we decide which
fit to use?
• First consider what is required of the fit.

• Then decide how much clearance or

interference you are going to give your fit.

• Then determine what nominal size you are

going to fit together.
 What are Nominal
sizes?
• They are basically any size, it maybe any
whole number you like: -
• 16 12 40 60 1200 230,000
• Now you have the size, how much
interference or clearance do we use?
We need a system to help!
Advantages of having a system:
Interchangeable - parts made at different times or
places fit together.
Time saving - reference to a standard system speeds
up decisions on sizes to give particular fits.
Assurance of correct fit - actual fit will be as required
even if design size changes.
Spare Parts – manufacture of these is made easier as
they can be made to the same standard.
 British Standards
4500
• Uses the nominal size for both holes and
shafts.
• This size is determined by strength
considerations.
• Calculations of material properties and
strengths are used to obtain the nominal
size.
• Remember: The nominal size is the same
for both hole and shaft.
BS4500
• The British Standard System uses the letters of
the alphabet to describe how much bigger or
smaller a hole or a shaft will deviate from the
nominal size.

• This deviation is called the:-

Fundamental deviation.

• Holes are described by capital letters H, G etc.

• Shafts are described by lower case letters h, g
etc.
 The Holes
The Fundamental
Deviation

A B Zero line

Nominal Size H
K
M

The Fundamental
Deviation

The Fundamental Deviation

The Shafts

Fundamental Deviation

a Zero Line

b g
Nominal Size m e

Nominal Size Fundamental Deviation

Any combination of hole and shaft can be use

So be careful when a
A
choosing your fits they
don’t all work
e
M

M/a fit

A/e fit
British Standards
Tolerance zones
Tolerance Zone

BS4500 use numbered tolerance zones (01 to 16)

British Standards
Tolerance zones
• The most accurate tolerance zones are
numbered 01 02 and 03.
• Whereas for more general engineering
work we use 06, 07 and 08.

• Finally, rough work is done at 14,15 and 16.

In engineering we don’t use the zeros

Round up
• You now have a letter and a number.
• Put them together and you have the
type of fit and the tolerance that will
achieve it. Examples are:

»H7, K8 and M9.

»For holes.
• For shafts we use:
• g6, h7 and f7.
• Here then is the complete fit:

• The Hole The shaft

H9 f7
BS 4500
 Limits of size
• Look on the chart
• Maximum and minimum allowances are
shown in thousandths of a millimetre
• Minimum clearance and minimum
interference is minimum hole size
minus maximum shaft size
• Tolerance is max deviation minus min
deviation
Today's task Pulley
Housing Spacer
Shaft

Standard washer
Bush

Decide what fits are required between the shaft

and bush and the bush and pulley. Give reason for
your choices in not less than 600 words.
 Pulley Shaft must be
allowed to slide
Spacer creates
so pulley and
another type of fit
bush can rotate

Fit should be
Clearance Fit
Clearance fit: -
H7 hole (width of bush) Bush pressed in
and g6Choice
for theis:shaft
- using force. Fit
(length to H7 Hole
first in both
shoulder) is Interference
cases and for H7 Hole
the shaft either
g6 or h6 P6 Shaft
 When does Tolerances
become important

• Assemblies: Parts will often not fit

together if their
• dimensions do not fall with in a
certain range of values
 When do Tolerances
become important

• Interchangeability
• If a replacement part is used it must
be
• a duplicate of the original part within
certain limits of deviation.
 When do Tolerances
become important
• Tolerances do not affect the function here
 When do Tolerances
become important
• Tolerances are important here !
 When do Tolerances
become important
• What about the tolerance levels in this mechanism?
Straightness
Geometric tolerance
 Measuring and gauging
• Measuring is a direct reading process
in which the inspection instrument
consists of (or incorporates ) a
continuous series of linear
measurement units, commonly known
as a scale.
 Measuring and gauging
• Gauging is checking that a component
fits within tolerance limits
• Tolerances for Go gauges are placed
within working limits
• Tolerances for No Go gauges are
outside working limits
Plug gauge
Snap go/no go gauge for
the OD of a cylindrical
workpie
Replaceable thread and
plug gauges
 Plug Gauge operation

Hole Diameter (mm) Dia of Go End Dia of No Go end

a, 40 ± 0.02 39.98 40.02
b, 46 + 0.03 46.00 45.03
C, 30 - 0.2 29.80 30.00
Other gauges