This document discusses tolerances, allowances, and fits between parts. It defines tolerance as the permissible variation in a dimension, given as the difference between maximum and minimum limits. Tolerances are necessary due to variations in materials and machines. The document provides examples of shaft and hole tolerances of 0.001 inches each, resulting in a clearance of 0.004 inches maximum. Allowance is defined as the intentional difference between the lower hole limit and higher shaft limit, ensuring the proper fit. The key difference between tolerance and allowance is that tolerance refers to variation within a single part, while allowance refers to the relationship between mating parts.

1. Tolerances and Allowances

2. Tolerance Dimensioning
• Tolerance is the total amount that a specific dimension
is permitted to vary;
• It is the difference between the maximum and the
minimum limits for the dimension.
• For Example a dimension given as 1.625 ± .002 means
that the manufactured part may be 1.627” or 1.623”, or
anywhere between these limit dimensions.

3. Tolerances
The Tolerance is 0.001” for the Hole as well as for the Shaft

4. Examples
Shaft tolerance = 1.248 - 1.247 =0.001
Hole tolerance= 1.251-1.250= 0.001
Allowance=1.250-1.248= 0.02
Max clearances=1.251-1.247= 0.04
handout 10a 4

5. 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 workpiece
on the machine, some errors are likely to creep in.

6. Types of Tolerances
Unilateral Tolerance:
• When the two limit dimensions are only on one
side of the nominal size, (either above or below)
the tolerances are said to be unilateral.
For unilateral tolerances, a case may occur when
one of the limits coincide with the basic size.
Bilateral Tolerance:
• When the two limit dimensions are above and
below nominal size, (i.e. on either side of the
nominal size) the tolerances are said to be
bilateral.

7. Specifications of Tolerances
2. Plus-or-minus Dimensioning
• Unilateral Tolerance
• Bilateral Tolerance

8. Allowances:
 Allowance is the difference between the dimensions of
two mating part(hole and shaft) for any type of fit.
 It is intentional difference between the lower limit of the
hole and higher limit of the shaft.
 It is the minimum clearance (positive allowance) or
maximum interference (Negative allowance) between
parts.
1. Allowance = 1.250-1.248=0.002
• Hole Limit=1.250
• Shaft Limit=1.248
 Allowance is associated with two dimensions of two parts that
form a fit.

9. Interchangeable Fit

10. Difference b/w Tolerance and
Allowance
Tolerance Allowance
It is the permissible variation in dimension of
a part(hole or shaft).
It is the prescribed difference b/w the
dimensions of two mating parts(hole and
shaft).
It is the difference b/w lower and higher
limits of a dimension of a part.
It is intentional difference b/w the lower limit
of hole and higher limit of shaft.
Tolerance is to be provided on a dimension of
part as it is not possible to make a part of
exact specified dimension.
Allowance is to be provided on the dimension
of mating parts to obtain required type of fit.
It has an absolute value without sign. Allowance may be positive(clearance) or
negative(interference).