Design rules / Tolerances
Tolerances
Which dimensional deviation is permitted? This applies to our parts.
What applies without an agreement
Unless you agree otherwise with us, the general tolerances from our terms and conditions (section 5) apply:
- Thermally cut edges (laser): DIN EN ISO 9013 Klasse 2.
- Laser parts: Dimensions ± 0.1 mm; Bent parts: Angle ± 0.5°. Tighter values on request.
- Linear dimensions and angles: DIN ISO 2768-mK.
- Semi-finished products (tubes, bars, profiles, starting sheets): additionally the dimensional and weight tolerances of the respective product standard.
- Manufacturing limits of our machines (smallest hole diameter, flange, inside radius, distance from hole to bend edge): are set out in the Design guidelines and are part of the agreed specification.
Values marked „to standard, unless agreed otherwise“ come from the standard. Values without this note are limits and commitments from our own production. Different terms agreed in the order confirmation take precedence.
Lengths and angles: DIN ISO 2768-m
For linear dimensions without a stated tolerance, tolerance class “m” (medium) applies, to standard, unless agreed otherwise:
| Nominal size | Permissible deviation |
|---|---|
| 0.5 to 3 mm | ± 0.1 mm |
| over 3 to 6 mm | ± 0.1 mm |
| over 6 to 30 mm | ± 0.2 mm |
| over 30 to 120 mm | ± 0.3 mm |
| over 120 to 400 mm | ± 0.5 mm |
| over 400 to 1,000 mm | ± 0.8 mm |
| over 1,000 to 2,000 mm | ± 1.2 mm |
| over 2,000 to 4,000 mm | ± 2.0 mm |
The same class applies to angular dimensions; the length of the shorter leg is decisive, to standard, unless agreed otherwise:
| Shorter leg | Permissible deviation |
|---|---|
| up to 10 mm | ± 1° |
| over 10 to 50 mm | ± 0° 30′ |
| over 50 to 120 mm | ± 0° 20′ |
| over 120 to 400 mm | ± 0° 10′ |
| over 400 mm | ± 0° 5′ |
Laser cutting
| Cut edge | DIN EN ISO 9013 Klasse 2, unless agreed otherwise. The standard defines permissible deviations, perpendicularity of the cut edge and surface roughness, graded by sheet thickness and nominal size, in two tolerance classes (to standard, unless agreed otherwise). If you need class 1, please say so before ordering. |
|---|---|
| Dimensional tolerance | ± 0.1 mm on the laser part. Tighter values on request. |
| Small holes | A hole whose diameter is smaller than the sheet thickness becomes slightly conical and may have burrs. From 0.5 × sheet thickness (at least 1 mm) the instant price applies; we are happy to price smaller holes by hand. |
| Inside corners | The laser beam has a kerf of a few tenths of a millimetre. A sharply designed inside corner therefore gets a small radius. |
| Largest part | 2,980 × 1,490 mm (flat pattern, in any rotation). |
| Deburring | By machine up to 250 mm part width (shorter side of the flat pattern), above that by hand. More under Deburring. |
Bending: angles and flanges
We bend on a CNC press brake by air bending. Lengths and angles on the bent part are toleranced by the general tolerance DIN ISO 2768-m (tables above). DIN 6935 preferably dimensions 90° bends by the outside dimension; in the configurator you choose outside or inside dimension. We take the radius into account in the flat pattern.
| Angle | ± 0.5°. The press measures the angle while bending (ACB), typically ± 0.3°. If you need tighter values, please note this in the remarks before ordering. |
|---|---|
| Flange length | Tolerance to DIN ISO 2768-m (to standard, unless agreed otherwise). Smallest flange: measured on our press brake for each die, at least 8 mm. |
| Inside radius | Results from die, material and sheet thickness; we have measured it on our press brake for each die. With thin sheet it is usually larger than the sheet thickness(between 2 and 3.8 mm for 1 to 2.5 mm sheet). The check shows the expected actual radius; values per sheet thickness in the bend radius calculator. |
| Holes near the edge | Minimum distance from the hole edge to the bend line according to the Design guidelines (per sheet thickness), otherwise the hole distorts. |
| Perforated sheet | Perforated sheets: wider angle and dimensional tolerances, as the perforation affects the bend. |
| Bend length | Up to 3,000 mm part length; less depending on sheet thickness (see Design guidelines). |
Guillotine shear
We cut rectangular blanks and pure bent parts up to 3,000 × 1,500 mm on the guillotine shear. The cut edge is sheared, not thermally cut; DIN EN ISO 9013 does not apply here. DIN ISO 2768-m applies to length and width (to standard, unless agreed otherwise). A slight rollover and a burr on the cut edge are normal in production.
Saw and semi-finished cutting
| Length | DIN ISO 2768-m (to standard, unless agreed otherwise). |
|---|---|
| Kerf | 3.2 mm saw blade; included in the offcut calculation, not in your dimension. |
| Cross-section and weight | According to the product standard of the item (to standard, unless agreed otherwise). The standard is shown on every item page under Semi-finished products, for example EN 755 (aluminium extrusions), EN 10058 and EN 10060 (flat and round steel bars), EN 10056 (angles), EN 10278 (bright steel), EN 10216-5 and EN 10217-7 (stainless steel tubes), EN 10219 (hollow sections), EN 12164 and EN 12167 (copper alloys). |
| Mitre | Measuring reference and angle convention in the magazine article Mitre cut. |
Threads and countersinks
| Thread | Metric ISO coarse thread M3 to M16 (stainless steel up to M12), tolerance class 6H (to standard, unless agreed otherwise). We only tap through holes; the thread length is the sheet thickness. |
|---|---|
| Sheet thickness | Recommended 0.5 to 1.5 × nominal diameter (M6: 3 to 9 mm); distance from hole edge to part edge at least 1 × nominal diameter. |
| Position | Threads and countersinks are made after laser cutting and before bending. The position of the hole follows the tolerance of the laser cut. |
| Countersink | 90° for countersunk screws M3 to M8; sheet at least head height + 0.5 mm. |
Tap drill, clearance hole and countersink diameter per size: tap drill hole and drill table.
Flatness and sheet thickness
Thickness and flatness of the starting sheet follow its product standard (to standard, unless agreed otherwise), for example EN 10051 for hot-rolled steel sheet, EN 485 for aluminium sheet and EN 10088-2 with the dimensional standards named there for stainless steel. Cutting and bending release stresses in the sheet: thin sheets, long narrow parts and parts with many cut-outs may then distort slightly. We only commit to a tighter flatness than that of the starting sheet by agreement.
Tighter tolerances
If you need tighter values than above, please clarify this before ordering: send the part with “Have it priced manually” and state the tolerance in the remarks, or write to us via Contact. Without an agreement, the values on this page apply. Different terms agreed in the order confirmation take precedence.
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