{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets are written by Xem Studio from the cited sources and are free to use (CC BY 4.0, attribute 'Xem Studio'). Linked files belong to their publishers under the license shown; Xem Studio does not host them. 'license_verified: false' means the license shown is from memory or the publisher's page as last read and should be confirmed at the link before commercial use.",
 "slug": "hole-gauges",
 "name": "Hole gauges for Ø3, Ø5 and Ø8 (0.1 mm steps)",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Stirling engines",
 "group": "Generators & instruments",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How do I find the hole allowance my 3D printer needs for parts drawn at exact size?",
 "tags": [
  "calibration",
  "gauge",
  "hole",
  "tolerance",
  "test print",
  "stirling",
  "long earth society"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "3d printer hole calibration",
  "hole tolerance test print",
  "press fit tolerance 3d print",
  "hole size gauge stl",
  "xy compensation test"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": true,
 "free_files": 3,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/hole-gauges/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/hole-gauges/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Holes stepped around the Ø3, Ø5 and Ø8 nominals in 0.1 mm (plus one 0.2 mm) steps; every file on the site is drawn at exact size",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Every file on this site is drawn at exact size with no printing allowance; this gauge steps through sizes around the nominal so you can measure the allowance your process needs for one fit class, then apply it only to the features each object lists under Mating features.",
   "Each gauge is a 118 × 24 × 5 mm plate with eight through holes on 14 mm pitch and the size engraved under each: 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6; 4.8–5.4 and 5.6; 7.8–8.4 and 8.6.",
   "Push a true pin or shaft into each hole: the smallest it presses into and stays is your press size, the smallest it slides through by hand your slide size, the smallest it turns freely in your run size.",
   "Each of those minus the nominal is your allowance for that fit class; for example a Ø3 pin that presses into 3.1 and turns freely in 3.3 gives +0.1 press and +0.3 run."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "gauge",
    "sizes_mm",
    "nominal_mm"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "hole-gauge-m3-2-8-to-3-6",
     "2.8–3.4, 3.6",
     3
    ],
    [
     "hole-gauge-m5-4-8-to-5-6",
     "4.8–5.4, 5.6",
     5
    ],
    [
     "hole-gauge-m8-7-8-to-8-6",
     "7.8–8.4, 8.6",
     8
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Hole gauges for Ø3, Ø5 and Ø8 (0.1 mm steps) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/hole-gauges/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Holes stepped around the Ø3, Ø5 and Ø8 nominals in 0.1 mm (plus one 0.2 mm) steps; every file on the site is drawn at exact size\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Every file on this site is drawn at exact size with no printing allowance; this gauge steps through sizes around the nominal so you can measure the allowance your process needs for one fit class, then apply it only to the features each object lists under Mating features.\n- Each gauge is a 118 × 24 × 5 mm plate with eight through holes on 14 mm pitch and the size engraved under each: 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6; 4.8–5.4 and 5.6; 7.8–8.4 and 8.6.\n- Push a true pin or shaft into each hole: the smallest it presses into and stays is your press size, the smallest it slides through by hand your slide size, the smallest it turns freely in your run size.\n- Each of those minus the nominal is your allowance for that fit class; for example a Ø3 pin that presses into 3.1 and turns freely in 3.3 gives +0.1 press and +0.3 run.\n\ngauge  sizes_mm  nominal_mm\nhole-gauge-m3-2-8-to-3-6  2.8–3.4, 3.6  3\nhole-gauge-m5-4-8-to-5-6  4.8–5.4, 5.6  5\nhole-gauge-m8-7-8-to-8-6  7.8–8.4, 8.6  8\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Wikipedia: Engineering tolerance — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_tolerance\n- Prusa: Knowledge base: XY size compensation — web — Prusa KB [verify license at link] — https://help.prusa3d.com/article/xy-size-compensation_125045\n- Long Earth Society: Engine and rig builds — web, video — LES site — https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/\n\nFree files (CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 3 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/hole-gauges/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=hole-gauges\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Engineering tolerance",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_tolerance",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Prusa",
   "title": "Knowledge base: XY size compensation",
   "url": "https://help.prusa3d.com/article/xy-size-compensation_125045",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Prusa KB",
   "license_verified": false,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Long Earth Society",
   "title": "Engine and rig builds",
   "url": "https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/",
   "formats": [
    "web",
    "video"
   ],
   "license": "LES site",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "pin-gauges",
  "nut-trap-gauge",
  "bearing-pocket-gauge",
  "extrusion-tongue-gauge",
  "dowel-pins-metric"
 ],
 "fits": [
  {
   "role": "Connects to",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "dowel-pins-metric",
     "why": "a true Ø3 / Ø5 / Ø8 pin pushed into each hole"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "role": "Also needed",
   "items": [
    {
     "slug": "pin-gauges",
     "why": "the matching outside-diameter test"
    },
    {
     "slug": "bearing-pocket-gauge",
     "why": "the same test for bearing pockets"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [
  {
   "feature": "gauge sizes",
   "exact": "stepped around nominal",
   "mates": "the true pin, nut, bearing or extrusion slot being tested",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "all"
  }
 ],
 "fit_classes": {
  "press": "stays put: pin, tube, bearing or magnet held by interference. Typical FDM: hole +0.0 to +0.1 mm on diameter.",
  "slide": "assembles by hand and is held by a grub, pinch or clamp: shaft in a hub, rod in a socket, spigot in a bore. Typical FDM: +0.2 mm.",
  "run": "turns or slides in use: pin in a link, rod through a guide. Typical FDM: +0.3 mm.",
  "socket": "large sliding fit: syringe barrel, sleeve, bobbin in a bore. Typical FDM: +0.3 mm.",
  "clamp": "split part that closes on the mating part with screws: make it at size.",
  "designed": "a gap that is part of the design (piston fit option, displacer gap, air gap): do not change."
 },
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "My holes print too small; what do I change?",
   "a": "Find the gauge hole a true pin presses into and the one it turns freely in; the differences from nominal are your press and run allowances, applied only to the listed mating features."
  },
  {
   "q": "What tolerance do the files on this site include?",
   "a": "None. A hole for a Ø3 pin is 3.000; these gauges measure the allowance your process needs."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "hole-gauge-m3-2-8-to-3-6",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/printer-calibration-coupons/hole-gauge-m3-2-8-to-3-6.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/printer-calibration-coupons/hole-gauge-m3-2-8-to-3-6.stl",
   "note": "hole gauge for Ø3 pins/screws: 2.8–3.6 in 0.1 steps (find press, slip and clearance)"
  },
  {
   "file": "hole-gauge-m5-4-8-to-5-6",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/printer-calibration-coupons/hole-gauge-m5-4-8-to-5-6.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/printer-calibration-coupons/hole-gauge-m5-4-8-to-5-6.stl",
   "note": "hole gauge for Ø5 shafts: 4.8–5.6"
  },
  {
   "file": "hole-gauge-m8-7-8-to-8-6",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/printer-calibration-coupons/hole-gauge-m8-7-8-to-8-6.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/printer-calibration-coupons/hole-gauge-m8-7-8-to-8-6.stl",
   "note": "hole gauge for Ø8 shafts: 7.8–8.6"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/hole-gauges/index.md"
}