Limits, Fits and Tolerances

K. S. R. Varun Teja
Department of Mechanical Engineering
NIT Trichy
Hole and Shaft System

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT

Trichy
 Basic Definitions
Basic size This is the size in relation to which all limits of size are derived.
Basic or nominal size is defined as the size based on which the dimensional
deviations are given. This is, in general, the same for both components.
Limits of Size These are maximum and minimum permissible sizes acceptable
for a specific dimension.
Tolerance This is the total permissible variation in the size of a dimension.
Allowance It is the intentional difference between the LLH and HLS. An
allowance may be either positive or negative.
Allowance = LLH − HLS
K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT
Trichy
Fundamental deviation It is the minimum difference between the size of a
component and its basic size.
Grade This is an indication of the tolerance magnitude; the lower the grade,
the finer the tolerance.
Deviation It is the algebraic difference between size and its corresponding
basic size. It may be positive, negative, or zero.
Upper deviation It is the algebraic difference between the maximum limit of
size and its corresponding basic size. This is designated as ‘ES’ for a hole and
as ‘es’ for a shaft.
Lower deviation It is the algebraic difference between the minimum limit
of size and its corresponding basic size. This is designated as ‘EI’ for a
hole and as ‘ei’ for a shaft.
K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT
Trichy
 Types of Fits

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT

Trichy
 Minimum/Least and Maximum Metal Limit

LML – Least Metal Limit MML – Maximum Metal Limit

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT
Trichy
Example Problem:

The following limits are specified in a limit system, to give a clearance fit
between a hole and a shaft:

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT

Trichy
 System of Limits and Fits (IS919-1993)
20 fundamental tolerance grades – IT01, IT0, IT1, IT2 to IT18

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT

Trichy
IS919 recommends 25 types of fundamental deviations. They are (with the
exception of i, l, o, q, and w).

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT

Trichy
 Tolerance Grades and Fundamental Deviation
The fundamental tolerance unit is denoted as i (in microns), used to express IT grades from IT5 to IT18.
3
𝑖 = 0 ⋅ 45 𝐷 + 0.001𝐷
The diameter D (in mm) is the geometric mean of the diameter steps.
D = 𝑑1 ∗ 𝑑2
For diameters upto and including 500 mm:
Grades IT5 IT6 IT7 IT8 IT9 IT10 IT11 IT12 IT13 IT14 IT15 IT16 IT17 IT18

Values 7i 10i 16i 25i 40i 64i 100i 160i 250i 400i 640i 1000i 1600i 2500i

For diameters above 500 mm upto 3150 mm:

Grades IT1 IT2 IT3 IT4 IT5 IT6 IT7 IT8 IT9 IT10 IT11 IT12 IT13 IT14 IT15 IT16 IT17 IT18

Values 2I 2.7I 3.7I 5I 7I 10I 16I 25I 40I 64I 100I 160I 250I 400I 640I 1000I 1600I 2500I

Here I = 0.004D + 2.1

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT
Trichy
 Diameter Steps
1-3 3-6 6-10 10-18
in mm

18-30 30-50 50-80 80-120 120-180 180-250

250-315 315-400 400-500 500-630 630-800 800-1000

1000-1250 1250-1600 1600-2000 2000-2500 2500-3150

Grades IT01 IT0 IT1

Values 0.3+0.008D 0.5+0.012D 0.8+0.020D

The values between IT2 and IT4 are scaled approximately geometrically between the values IT1 and IT5
K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT
Trichy
K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT
Trichy
 Thank You

K. S. R. Varun Teja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT

Trichy