Aluminum
Sheet Metal tolerances and specifications
Fabrication Tolerances for Dimensional Variance in Sheet Metal and Machined Parts
Standard Tolerances For Aluminum
What is material thickness tolerance?
A material thickness tolerance is the allowable variation between a material's nominal thickness and its actual measured thickness. Because we work to nominal thicknesses, the material you receive will vary slightly from the figure on the spec sheet.
Why it matters at the design stage
Choosing material thickness is usually one of the first steps a designer takes when starting a project. Proper tolerances ensure that parts fit together seamlessly, which is especially important for assemblies.
Don't forget finish tolerances
Adding a finish such as powder coat increases the overall thickness, and this should be factored into your design from the beginning.
5052 Aluminum - H32
| Aluminum | Specified Thickness | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| 0.250" | 6.35 mm | ± 0.014" | 0.35mm | |
| 0.188" | 4.78 mm | ± 0.009" | 0.23mm | |
| 8 Gauge | 0.1285” | 3.26mm | ± 0.007" | 0.18mm |
| 10 Gauge | 0.102” | 2.59mm | ± 0.006" | 0.15mm |
| 11 Gauge | 0.091" | 2.31mm | ± 0.0045" | 0.11mm |
| 12 Gauge | 0.081" | 2.06 mm | ± 0.0045" | 0.11mm |
| 14 Gauge | 0.064" | 1.63 mm | ± 0.0040" | 0.10mm |
| 16 Gauge | 0.051" | 1.30 mm | ± 0.0035" | 0.04mm |
| 18 Gauge | 0.040" | 1.02 mm | ± 0.0035" | 0.09mm |
| 20 Gauge | 0.032" | 0.81 mm | ± 0.0030" | 0.08mm |
6061 Aluminum - T6
| Aluminum | Specified Thickness | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1285" | 3.26 mm | ± 0.007" | 0.18mm | |
| 0.188" | 4.78 mm | ± 0.009" | 0.23mm | |
| * | 0.250" | 6.35 mm | ± 0.014" | 0.36mm |
| * | 0.375" | 9.53 mm | ± 0.017" | 0.43mm |
| * | 0.500" | 12.7 mm | ± 0.023" | 0.58mm |
