Material and Manufacturing Tolerances
At Protocase, we manufacture your custom parts as accurately as possible by using high-quality machinery, tooling and processes. However, a certain amount of dimensional variance is inherent in our processes.
Tolerances for Dimensional Variance
Our 'tolerances' are the maximum limits for dimensional variation that we can tolerate before a part is considered out of specification.
By using this resource and creating designs that are tolerant to dimensional variations of all parts, including parts you receive from Protocase, the manufacturing process of your design will run smoothly – an ideal situation for any designer.
Keep in mind that these are our standard tolerances. We can often achieve tighter tolerances, but this typically involves an additional cost. If your project requires tighter tolerances, please let us know. We will work with you to find the most cost-effective options.
Things to keep in mind
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Bilateral Tolerancing
We use bilateral tolerancing (equal plus and minus deviations from the nominal dimension) unless otherwise noted.
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Design for Variance
All mechanical designs must accommodate for dimensional variance. Considering our tolerances during the design phase will lead to a better outcome than assuming all parts will be the nominal size.
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Standard Unless Agreed Otherwise
We supply parts according to the dimensional tolerances in this resource, unless other tolerances were agreed upon during the quoting process.
Browse by Category
Select a category to see its specifications.
All Specifications
All 23 manufacturing tolerance specifications.
- Sheet Metal
- Aluminum
- Cold Rolled Steel
- Galvanneal
- Stainless Steel
- Copper
- Perforated Sheet Metal
- Bar Stock (CNC Machining)
- Aluminum Bar Stock
- Cold Rolled Steel Bar Stock
- Stainless Steel Bar Stock
- Extrusions & Structural
- Aluminum Extrusion
- Aluminum Angle
- Plastics
- Acrylic
- Acetal
- Process Tolerances
- Profile Cutting
- CNC Machining
- Bending Tolerances
- 3D Printing
- Welding
- Fasteners
- Self-Clinching Fasteners
- Countersinking
- Finishes & Graphics
- Finishes
- Part Marking
- Graphics
Need Tighter Tolerances?
Our engineering team can review your design and advise on the best manufacturing approach to achieve your required tolerances. We'll find cost-effective options tailored to your project.
