Engineering lab · Interactive tool

Linear Tolerance Stack Calculator.

Model signed nominal contributors with separate bilateral limits. Compare deterministic worst-case accumulation with an RSS estimate, then export the working stack.

Signed linear tolerance contributors
Contributor	Direction	Nominal (mm)	+ Tol.	− Tol.
Contributor 1 label	Direction for Housing shoulder	nominal for Housing shoulder	plus for Housing shoulder	minus for Housing shoulder
Contributor 2 label	Direction for Spacer	nominal for Spacer	plus for Spacer	minus for Spacer
Contributor 3 label	Direction for Bearing width	nominal for Bearing width	plus for Bearing width	minus for Bearing width
Contributor 4 label	Direction for End plate	nominal for End plate	plus for End plate	minus for End plate

+Housing shoulder

+Spacer

−Bearing width

−End plate

Nominal result0.200 mmΣ signed nominal dimensions

Worst-case limits0.060 to 0.340 mm−0.140 / +0.140

RSS estimate0.12652 to 0.27348 mm−0.07348 / +0.07348

Revision1.2

AuthorJared Maffucci

Last technical review23 July 2026

Input guardrailsFinite values; nonnegative magnitudes; physical geometry and material domains enforced

UsePreliminary engineering judgment only

Variable definitions

N: nominal stack
sᵢ: contributor direction
Tᵢ: bilateral contributor limit
RSS: root-sum-square estimate

Hand-verified examples

A−B stack: nominal 6.0, worst-case 5.7 to 6.4
Empty stack: all reported outputs equal zero

Change log · revision 1.2

Added visible variables, two verification examples, and an experience connection. Calculation method is unchanged.

Related engineering capability

How to read the result

Worst-case arithmetic places every contributor at the limit that drives the result in the same adverse direction. That is conservative and distribution-free.

RSS combines independent contributor magnitudes by root-sum-square. It is a statistical estimate, not proof of process capability. Use it only when contributor distributions, centering, independence, and manufacturing evidence support the assumptions.

Before releasing a stack

Confirm each sign from a closed dimension loop
Trace every contributor to a controlled feature or interface
Separate measurement uncertainty from product variation
Check assembly shift, temperature, wear, and deformation
Tie the resulting clearance or interference to a functional requirement

Direct conversation

Review the product, the available evidence, and the decision blocking progress.

Send a concise, non-confidential brief. You will work directly with Jared from the first review through final handoff.

Discuss a Product