Din 16742 - Tg5 May 2026

The primary technical feature of TG5 is that it does not use a single percentage for all dimensions. Instead, it splits tolerances into Functional Dimensions (F) and Non-Functional Dimensions (N) :

| Feature | TG5 Requirement | | :--- | :--- | | Functional (F) (e.g., fits, mating surfaces) | Very tight (e.g., ±0.03 mm up to 50mm, then increasing). Requires mold design to account for shrinkage precisely. | | Non-Functional (N) (e.g., free edges, bosses) | Standard tight (e.g., ±0.10 mm up to 50mm). |

The DIN 16742 standard is a widely used German engineering guideline for determining tolerances of plastic moulded parts. Within this standard, Tolerance Group 5 (TG5) represents the baseline or "standard" level of precision for industrial applications. Understanding DIN 16742 - TG5

Precision Level: TG5 is considered the standard precision category. It is often applied as a general tolerance across various plastic materials, such as ABS or PC+ABS, to ensure a balance between manufacturing cost and part quality.

Tolerance Range: While the exact numerical deviation depends on the nominal dimension of the part, TG5 typically allows for general tolerances in the range of ±0.1 mm to ±0.5%.

Purpose: Using TG5 allows engineers to define acceptable variations without having to specify tolerances for every single dimension on a drawing, simplifying the design process and setting clear expectations with manufacturers.

Status Update: Note that DIN 16742 was officially withdrawn and superseded by the international standard DIN ISO 20457:2020-03. Comparison of Tolerance Groups

Tolerances in DIN 16742 are categorized based on the required precision and manufacturing process: TG1 to TG3: Extreme precision parts. TG4: High-precision parts. TG5: Standard precision applications (baseline). din 16742 - tg5

TG6: Coarse parts where looser tolerances are acceptable (often used for standard thermoplastics).

TG7 to TG9: Very coarse parts where shrinkage is high or unpredictable. Key Implementation Advice

Material Influence: Shrinkage properties of different polymers (e.g., PP vs. ABS) will affect how easily TG5 is achieved.

Mold-Fixed vs. Non-Mold-Fixed: When citing this standard, you should specify whether the dimension is mold-fixed (within one half of the tool) or non-mold-fixed (crossing the parting line), as this changes the expected tolerance.

Alternative Processes: While primarily for injection moulding, TG5 is also a common target for vacuum casting and some CNC post-processing workflows.

Are you looking to apply these tolerances to a specific material or a particular manufacturing process like injection moulding? Vacuum Casting | FACTUREE – The Online Manufacturer

DIN 16742 TG5 refers to a specific "Tolerance Group" (TG) within the German standard for injection-molded plastic part tolerances. While is the most common standard for general industrial parts, The primary technical feature of TG5 is that

represents a more precise accuracy requirement typically used for high-quality technical components. Deep Mould Key Characteristics of TG5 Precision Level : TG5 is classified as an "Accurate" "Precision"

production level. It is tighter than the standard TG6 but less extreme than the tool-room limits of TG3 or TG4. Application

: It is often specified for "hard" plastic components or multi-component parts where a more accurate fit is needed (e.g., snap-fits or bearing housings). Cost vs. Accuracy

: Achieving TG5 requires more intensive process monitoring and higher-quality tooling, which generally increases production costs compared to TG6. www.makrolar.eu Factors Affecting TG5 Compliance

The ability to maintain TG5 tolerances depends on several manufacturing variables outlined in the standard: Material Shrinkage

: Tighter groups like TG5 are easier to achieve with amorphous resins (e.g., ABS, PC) that have low, predictable shrinkage than with semi-crystalline materials (e.g., PA66, POM). Dimension Type : DIN 16742 distinguishes between Tool-specific (W) Non-tool-specific (NW) dimensions: Tool-specific (W)

: Dimensions formed within a single mold half; these typically allow for tighter tolerances. Non-tool-specific (NW) | | Non-Functional (N) (e

: Dimensions affected by the opening/closing of the mold or moving parts (like sliders), which require larger tolerance ranges. Super-Ingenuity Implementation Recommendations

For technical guidance on applying this standard, designers often use tools like the PolTolerances Software

, which helps calculate specific values based on material and part geometry. www.makrolar.eu Design Note

: When using TG5, it is recommended to define "steel-off" positions on drawings to allow for final mold adjustments after the first trial (FOT). Standard Updates : Note that was largely harmonized with the international standard

, so you may see both referenced on modern engineering drawings. specific ±mm values for TG5 across different nominal dimension ranges?

The feature regarding DIN 16742 TG5 refers specifically to the tolerance grade for thermoplastics injection molded parts.

Here is the precise technical feature of TG5 within the standard:

Many molders hesitate to guarantee TG5 for three reasons:

Achieving TG5 is not automatic. It requires disciplined manufacturing protocols: