ISO1502

Ref. ISO 1502 ISO general-purpose metric screw threads

- Gauges and gauging

Introduction :
The purpose of this information is to explain possible causes of the problems which can arise when only
thread plug and ring gauges
are used for manufacturing and inspecting threads - especially if the finished product (thread) is close to
the max. or min. tolerance limits.
The ideal fit between a screw and a nut is probably best obtained with a combination of inspection (using a
GO solid gauge) and measurement,
as the ideal fit should neither be to loose or too tight. Thread pitch diameter tolerances are often much
larger than most realise.

N.B. It is recommended that ISO 1502 be read as it contains more details and tables.

EXTERNAL
THREAD
d = Major
diameter
Tolerance classes for metric
d2 = Pitch threads
diameter
d1 = Minor
diameter

INTERNAL
THREAD
D = Major
diameter
D2 = Pitch
diameter
D1 = Minor
diameter If not specified then the pitch diameter
tolerancen for a
P = Pitch standard metric nut is 6H and for a
a = Thread standard metric screw is 6g
angle 60O

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ISO1502

Td2 is the screw pitch

diameter tolerance
TD2 is the nut pitch diameter
tolerance
D2 / D2 is the nominal pitch
diameter
Max Max es is the distance from
d2 D2 nominal d2
El is the distance from
skrue møtrik
nominal D2
ZR is the distance from the
middle of the tolerance limit
area
TR and the thread's max
limit
ZPL is the distance from the
Min Min
d2 D2 middle of the tolerance limit
TPL and the thread's min
skrue møtrik
limit
TR is the manufacturing
tolerance for GO and NG ring
gauges
TPL is the manufacturing
tolerance for GO and NG plug
gauges

Permissable wear on the pitchdiameter of

Tolerances and values (mm)
plug gauges and rings (mm)
Td2 / TD2
Td2 / TD2 (mm) WGO WNG
(mm) TR TPL ZR ZPL
up GO NG NG
above above up to GO plug
to ring ring plug
- 50 8 6 -4 0 - 50 10 8 7 6
50 80 10 7 -2 2 50 80 12 9,5 9 7,5
80 125 14 9 2 6 80 125 16 12,5 12 9,5
125 200 18 11 8 12 125 200 21 17,5 15 11,5
200 315 23 14 12 16 200 315 25,5 21 19,5 15
315 500 30 18 20 24 315 500 33 27 25 19
500 670 38 22 28 32 500 670 41 33 31 23

pitch diameter tolerances for GO and NO-GO thread ring and plug
gauges

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 ISO1502

New GO ring d2 – es – ZR ± Used GO ring d2 – es – ZR

TR/2 + WGO
New NO-GO ring d2 – es – Used NO-GO ring d2 – es
Thread rings Td - T /2 ± T /2 – ZR + WNG
2 R R

Thread plug New GO plug D + El + Z used GO plug D2 – El –

2 PL
gauges
± TPL/2 ZPL + WGO
New NO-GO plug D2 + El + Used NO-GO plug D2 + El
TD2 + TPL ± TPL/2 – ZPL + WNG

The calculation examples are pitch diameter tolerance limits for a standard M36x4-6g screw and
M36x4-6H nut
plus a set of GO/NO-GO M36x4-6g thread rings for a screw and a set of GO/NO-GO M36x4-6H thread
plug gauges for a nut.

Nominal pitch diameter (d2 / D2) for a M36x4 thread is 36,000 – 2,598 = 33,402

M36x4-6g screw d2 tolerance = 33,342 – 33,118 =

d2 max = 33,402 – 0,060 =33,342
0,224 ( Td2 )
d2 min = 33,402 – 0,284 = 33,118

M36x4-6H nut
D2 max = 33,402 + 0,300 = 33,702
D2 tolerance = 33,702 – 33,402 =
D2 min = 33,402 – 0,000 = 33,402
0,300 ( TD2 )

Calculations for thread ring and plug gauge pitch

diameter tolerances
Max Min

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ISO1502

New GO ring d2 – es – ZR
± TR/2
Used GO ring d2 – es – ZR
+ WGO
33,402 – 0,060 – 0,012 ±
New NO-GO ring d2 – es – 0,0115
Td2 - TR/2 ± TR/2 33,402 – 0,060 – 0,012 ±
0,0255 33,3415 33,3185
Used NO-GO ring d2 – es – 33,402 – 0,060 – 0,224 – 33,3555 33,3185
ZR + WNG 0,0115 ± 0,0115 33,1180 33,0950
33,402 – 0,060 – 0,224 – 33,1255 33,0950
0,012 ± 0,0195
New GO dorn D2 + El + ZPL
33,4250 33,4110
± TPL/2 33,402 + 0 + 0,016 ± 0,007 33,4250 33,3970
Used GO dorn D2 – El – 33,402 + 0 + 0,016 ± 0,021 33,7160 33,7020
33,402 + 0 + 0,300 + 33,7160 33,6940
ZPL + WGO
0,007 ± 0,007
New NO-GO dorn D2 + El + 33,402 + 0 + 0,300 +
T + T ± T /2 0,007 – 0,015
D2 PL PL
Used NO-GO dorn D2 + El
– ZPL + W
NG

Tolerances on threaded components and thread gauges

M36x4-6g M36x4-6g M36x4-6H M36x4-6H
screw d2 thread ring d2 nut D2 thread plug D2
tolerances tolerances tolerances tolerances

GO max 33,3555 / min NO-GO max 33,7160 / min

max 33,342 33,3185 Max 33,702 33,6940
min 33,118 NO-GO max 33,1255 / Min 33,402 GO max 33,4250 / min
min 33,0950 33,3970
Tolerances on a GO thread ring is 33,3555 Tolerances on a GO thread plug gauge is 33,7160
– 33,3185 = 0,0370 – 33,6940 = 0,0220
Tolerances on a NO-GO thread ring is Tolerances on a NO-GO thread pluggauge is
33,3555 – 33,3185 = 0,0305 33,4250 – 33,0970 = 0,0328

Thread manufacturing close to either the max or min tolerance limit will, when two different sets of gauges for
manufacturing and inspection are used
(even if these two sets of gauges are within tolerance) as well as machine repeatability, probably give situations where the
components could be rejected as defect.
Many operators regard a "tight" fit between gauge and component as desirable.
This approach gives increased wear on the gauge and the need for frequent callibration.

By combining thread measurement (for example with FMS accessories and thread inserts for external and internal pitch
diameter measurement) with

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thread inspection (using GO thread plug and ring gauges) will the conditions for manufacturing a correct fit between screw
and nut be met.
For example a M36x4-6H/6g fit should have a miimumn pitch diameter fit of 33,402 – 33,342 = 0,060 and a maximum pitch
diameterfit of 33,702 – 33,118 = 0,584.
The ideal fit (slack) between the screw and nut is 0,584 – 0,060 / 2 = 0,262 mm

There are several possibilities for thread measurement

and inspection. The most advangeous
(and inexpensive) is probably the combination of a
"GO" thread plug or ring gauge for correct profile and
pitch and measurement of the thread pitch diameter for
correct positioning within tolerance limits.

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