Practical engineering, explained

Short, practical articles on tolerances, fits, pipe, gears and steel, each linked to a free tool you can try.

What NPS and schedule numbers really mean, why Sch 40 is not one wall thickness, and how to estimate pipe weight and allowable pressure.

How module and tooth count set the size of a spur gear, how to work out the centre distance, and what to check before you order one.

Quick rules for the weight of plate, bar, tube and sections, and the allowances that turn a drawing into a realistic material order.

Tighter is not automatically better. How to decide what a feature really needs, and what each step down costs.

Units, mesh quality and closed solids: how to export a model that can be measured and quoted without back and forth.

Clearance, transition and interference fits in plain terms, with the H7 fits you will meet most often.

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