Engineering tolerance is the acceptable amount of variation in a product for it to function properly. Engineers create specifications based on product use and conditions, and use technical drawings to indicate tolerance. Precision equipment is used to meet specifications and ensure quality. Safety-related recommendations have very precise tolerances.
Engineering tolerance is the amount of variation in a product that will still allow it to perform as intended. Some products have very high tolerances; a shovel, for example, will work very well with blades of different widths. Others lack this flexibility and must be manufactured with precision to ensure they function properly. This is a particular concern with the articulation of moving parts in components such as aircraft engines.
In the process of developing plans for a product, engineers create certain specifications, which include the amount of variation that will be acceptable. They consider how and where the product will be used and what types of conditions might be present. Their detailed discussions of what the product will do and how they also provide insight into how close tolerances should be. On technical drawings used in product development, it is possible to indicate the technical tolerance. This is important for developing manufacturing processes to meet product needs.
Examples of this principle can be seen in everyday life. Something like a refrigerator, for example, needs to be able to make an airtight seal to keep the items inside fresh. The rubber gasket used to create the seal leaves room for error, but significant deviations in the refrigerator door would make compensating for the gasket impossible. An engineering tolerance can include any measurable property of a device, including width, depth, and length.
During the development phase, engineers can discuss how to meet project specifications. This could include the use of precision equipment capable of cutting, welding and other tasks within a very narrow range. Engineering tolerance can also be used to develop quality specifications. Companies use them to determine which products pass the exam and can be released and which ones must be rejected. Quality control workers can measure and check products as they leave the line to confirm they meet the standard.
This is a special concern whenever an engineering tolerance relates to safety issues. Engineers generally want to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety recommendations. In developing safety-related recommendations, engineers can consider the worst-case scenario, an unlikely series of events that could lead to injury if a product is not designed correctly. Engineering tolerance for products such as heat-resistant tiles used in ignition and moving parts used in safety equipment are usually very precise.
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