Kit to test how tolerances feel 1

[Sunafegon]

Hi All,

In my line of work I am designing custom machines and components all the time. I do all the fab drawings to make the parts, complete with tolerances and GD&T. I often find myself guessing how tolerances will feel based on past experience and anecdotal explanations of tolerance feel found on the internet. It would be very beneficial to have a kit that had a verified range of tolerances. I'm thinking of a plate with a bunch of holes and a pin to place in the holes that have tolerances from 0.001" to 0.01", as an example. This would allow me to understand how easily components will fit together and how they will feel if the tolerances come in high versus low.

I've thought about having something like this machined, but that in itself would have tolerances that will need to be tightly controlled by the machinist to produce the proper result. It's likely to be a costly job.

Does anyone know of a kit that I can purchase that will help me with my needs? Alternatively, does anyone have suggestions to achieve a physical means of feeling tolerances? Any information is appreciated.


Thank you

 

[aniiben]

Machinery's handbook is one option, but I am sure you already know about it.

Otherwise: experience is the toughest professor....first give you the test, then teach you the lesson......

 

[3DDave]

Those aren't tolerances. Those are variations. You cannot feel tolerances. You can feel clearances and you can create variations in those clearances.

You can buy sets of ring/plug and pin gages. This will allow a fair feeling of clearances.

 

[BUGGAR]

I once burned a valve in my Volkswagen and thereafter used to reset valve lash every couple of months. You can and will develop a feel for this and I support your idea. For now, don't worry about tolerances on top of tolerances. Get a couple of good gages and measure what the tolerances may be for yourself.