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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · Tolerances and Measurement

Tolerance

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

/ˈtɑːlərəns/nounCore term

In mechanical engineering, tolerance means: The allowed amount of variation in a dimension or property, for example ±0.05 mm. A part is acceptable if its measured value falls inside this range.

In Turkish: tolerans, ölçü toleransı

How it is used

One of the most used words on the shop floor and in quality meetings. Parts are within or out of tolerance; a tolerance can be tight or loose. Engineers specify and hold tolerances, and tighter tolerances usually mean higher cost.

Example sentences

  1. The bore diameter is 30 mm with a tolerance of plus 0.02, minus zero.

  2. Three of the ten samples were out of tolerance on the hole position.

  3. Can your shop hold a tolerance of ±0.01 mm on this length?

Common collocations

  • tight tolerance
  • within tolerance
  • out of tolerance
  • hold a tolerance
  • tolerance band
  • dimensionA measurement of size or position on a part, such as a length, width, diameter or the distance between two holes, shown as a number on a drawing.
  • fitThe relationship between the sizes of two parts that go together, such as a shaft and a hole, which decides whether they slide freely or are pressed tightly together.
  • GD&TShort for geometric dimensioning and tolerancing: a system of drawing symbols that controls the form, orientation, location and runout of features relative to datums.
  • tolerance stack-upA calculation of how the tolerances of several parts add up in an assembly, to check that a gap, fit or position stays within its limits in the worst case or the typical case.
  • inspectionChecking a part, product or machine against a drawing, specification or standard by looking at it, measuring it or testing it.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Tolerances and Measurement

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