Note: in this context, IT does not mean Information Technology, but it is an Engineering term.

An IT grade is an internationally accepted code system for tolerances on linear dimensions. Such code systems may be used to produce interchangeable parts. In engineering, the word tolerance refers to a range of allowable dimensions or values. Standard tolerance grades are a group of tolerances for linear sizes characterized by a common identifier. For SI measurements, a system of tolerance grades defined in ISO 286 is frequently used and identified by the letters IT followed by a number specifying how precise the requirements are, relative to the nominal size of a part.

For example, IT14 refers to a group of tolerances used in manufacturing. For a part dimensioned at 10 mm, IT14 allows for up to 0.36 mm of variation in size. As the IT grade number increases, the tolerances increase; similarly, for larger nominal sizes, the standard tolerances increase. For a part dimensioned at 100 mm, IT14 allows for up to 0.87 mm of variation in size.

Definition

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The ISO 286 defines the international tolerances grades for nominal sizes up to 3.15 meters as follows:[1]

ISO 286 - Table 1
Nominal size International tolerance grade
> IT01 IT0 IT1 IT2 IT3 IT4 IT5 IT6 IT7 IT8 IT9 IT10 IT11 IT12 IT13 IT14 IT15 IT16 IT17 IT18
mm tolerance in μm tolerance in mm
0 3 0
.3 0
.5 0
.8 1
.2 2
.0 3 4 6 10 14 25 40 60 0
.10 0
.14 0
.25 0
.40 0
.60 1
.00 1
.40
3 6 0
.4 0
.6 1
.0 1
.5 2
.5 4 5 8 12 18 30 48 75 0
.12 0
.18 0
.30 0
.48 0
.75 1
.20 1
.80
6 10 0
.4 0
.6 1
.0 1
.5 2
.5 4 6 9 15 22 36 58 90 0
.15 0
.22 0
.36 0
.58 0
.90 1
.50 2
.20
10 18 0
.5 0
.8 1
.2 2
.0 3 5 8 11 18 27 43 70 110 0
.18 0
.27 0
.43 0
.70 1
.10 1
.80 2
.70
18 30 0
.6 1
.0 1
.5 2
.5 4 6 9 13 21 33 52 84 130 0
.21 0
.33 0
.52 0
.84 1
.30 2
.10 3
.30
30 50 0
.6 1
.0 1
.5 2
.5 4 7 11 16 25 39 62 100 160 0
.25 0
.39 0
.62 1
.00 1
.60 2
.50 3
.90
50 80 0
.8 1
.2 2
.0 3 5 8 13 19 30 46 74 120 190 0
.30 0
.46 0
.74 1
.20 1
.90 3
.00 4
.60
80 120 1
.0 1
.5 2
.5 4 6 10 15 22 35 54 87 140 220 0
.35 0
.54 0
.87 1
.40 2
.20 3
.50 5
.40
120 180 1
.2 2 3
.5 5 8 12 18 25 40 63 100 160 250 0
.40 0
.63 1
.00 1
.60 2
.50 4
.00 6
.30
180 250 2
.0 3 4
.5 7 10 14 20 29 46 72 115 185 290 0
.46 0
.72 1
.15 1
.85 2
.90 4
.60 7
.20
250 315 2
.5 4 6 8 12 16 23 32 52 81 130 210 320 0
.52 0
.81 1
.30 2
.10 3
.20 5
.20 8
.10
315 400 3 5 7 9 13 18 25 36 57 89 140 230 360 0
.57 0
.89 1
.40 2
.30 3
.60 5
.70 8
.90
400 500 4 6 8 10 15 20 27 40 63 97 155 250 400 0
.63 0
.97 1
.55 2
.50 4
.00 6
.30 9
.70
500 630 9 11 16 22 32 44 70 110 175 280 440 0
.70 1
.10 1
.75 2
.80 4
.40 7
.00 11
.00
630 800 10 13 18 25 36 50 80 125 200 320 500 0
.80 1
.25 2
.00 3
.20 5
.00 8
.00 12
.50
800 1,000 11 15 21 28 40 56 90 140 230 360 560 0
.90 1
.40 2
.30 3
.60 5
.60 9
.00 14
.00
1,000 1,250 13 18 24 33 47 66 105 165 260 420 660 1
.05 1
.65 2
.60 4
.20 6
.60 10
.50 16
.50
1,250 1,600 15 21 29 39 55 78 125 195 310 500 780 1
.25 1
.95 3
.10 5
.00 7
.80 12
.50 19
.50
1,600 2,000 18 25 35 46 65 92 150 230 370 600 920 1
.50 2
.30 3
.70 6
.00 9
.20 15
.00 23
.00
2,000 2,500 22 30 41 55 78 110 175 280 440 700 1,100 1
.75 2
.80 4
.40 7
.00 11
.00 17
.50 28
.00
2,500 3,150 26 36 50 68 96 135 210 330 540 860 1,350 2
.10 3
.30 5
.40 8
.60 13
.50 21
.00 33
.00

From IT6 to IT18, the standard tolerances are multiplied by the factor 10 at each fifth step. This rule applies to all standard tolerances and may be used to extrapolate values for IT grades not given in Table 1. For example, the nominal size range 120 mm up to and including 180 mm, the value of IT20 is:

   IT20 = IT15 × 10 = 1.6 mm × 10 = 16 mm [2]

IT grades may be used with alternate prefixes which identify how the tolerance limits are distributed around a nominal value. When used with the IT prefix, IT grades do not specify how the tolerance limits are placed around the nominal value, alternate prefixes are used for this purpose. For example, if the tolerance limits are distributed symmetrically above and below the nominal value, the prefix "js" may be used. For example a part dimensioned (in millimeters) as 4 js7 is equivalent to 4 ± 0.006 (where 4 IT7 is 0.012.)

Other standardized prefixes include the letters A, B, C, CD, D, E, EF, F, G, H, J, K, M, N, P, R, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z, ZA, ZB, ZC (for holes), and the lower-case equivalents (for shafts.) Prefix letters I, L, O, Q and W are not used to avoid confusion. Of these, the letter prefixes H and h are easiest to explain as the tolerance lies entirely on one side of the nominal size. A hole dimensioned at 4 H7 may range from 4.00 - 4.012 mm, and a shaft at 4 h7 may range from 3.988 - 4.00 mm.

Preferred tolerance classes and fits

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ISO 286 identifies a set of preferred tolerance classes for holes which include G7, H7, JS7, K7, N7, P7, R7, S7, F8, H8, E9, H9, D10, A11, B11, C11, and H11. The set of preferred tolerance classes for shafts includes g6, h6, js6, k6, n6, p6, r6, s6, f7, h7, e8, d9, h9, a11, b11, c11 and h11.

To completely specify the fit between a hole and corresponding shaft, it is common to specify a pair of the above tolerance classes, for example H7/g6. As with all IT grades, the smaller numbers correspond to tighter tolerances. Under normal circumstances, only a small number of the possible fits are practically required, and ISO 286 identifies preferred fit combinations including these as most preferred:[3]

  • Hole-basis system of fits
    Basic
    hole
    Tolerance classes for shafts
    Clearance fits Transition fits Interference fits
    H7/ g6 h6 js6 k6 m6 n6 p6 r6 s6
    H8/ f7 h7
    e8
    H9/ e8
    H11/ b11 c11
  • Shaft-basis system of fits
    Basic
    shaft
    Tolerance classes for holes
    Clearance fits Transition fits Interference fits
    h6 G7 H7 JS7 K7 N7 P7 R7 S7
    h7 F8 H8
    h9 F8 H8
    E9 H9
    D10
    B11

Other uses

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An industrial process may have an IT grade associated with it, indicating how precise it is. When designing a part, an engineer will typically determine a critical dimension (D) and some tolerance (T) on that dimension. Using this formula, the engineer can determine what IT Grade is necessary to produce the part with those specifications. Thus, if injection molding is capable of IT13 and a part requires IT5, one cannot use injection molding to produce that part to those specifications. It is useful in determining the processes capable of producing parts to a specification.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ International Organization for Standardization. ISO 286-1:2010 Geometrical product specifications (GPS) - ISO code system for tolerances on linear sizes, Part 1. p. 20.
  2. ^ Ibid. p. 12
  3. ^ Ibid. p. 28
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