Engineering Reference

Thread class (2A / 2B / 3A / 3B)

The Unified system's allowance and tolerance designation controlling thread fit.

Definition

A is external, B is internal; 1 is loose, 2 is standard, 3 is tight. The common pair is 2A bolt with 2B nut, which assembles freely and is used for almost everything.

Class 3 has no allowance — the parts are made to nominal and assemble only if both are near the middle of their tolerance zones. It is specified for close-tolerance work such as aerospace fasteners and instrumentation, and it costs more because both parts must be made accurately.

Common misuse

Specifying class 3 "for quality". It buys tighter fit, not better quality, and it makes assembly harder and the parts more expensive.

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