Short Answer:

Fitting in mechanical workshops refers to the process of assembling, adjusting, and finishing metal parts to achieve proper alignment and a precise fit. It involves various manual operations such as filing, sawing, drilling, tapping, reaming, and measuring using hand tools. The main goal of fitting is to ensure that parts fit together accurately without gaps or misalignment.

Fitting is a basic but very important activity in workshops, especially when parts are handmade or need final adjustments before assembly. It is widely used in maintenance work, repair jobs, and custom fabrication of mechanical parts.

Detailed Explanation:

Fitting in mechanical workshops

Fitting is one of the most common and essential workshop practices in mechanical engineering. It deals with the accurate shaping and joining of metal parts by manual operations. The term “fitting” comes from the idea of making parts “fit” together properly. It is done using simple hand tools like files, hammers, hacksaws, chisels, punches, taps, dies, and measuring instruments.

The fitting process is mostly used when parts made by casting, forging, or machining need final adjustments. Even in industries with high automation, fitting work is still required during installation, assembly, and maintenance. A skilled fitter ensures that the final parts are aligned, smooth, and meet size and tolerance requirements.

Fitting is also taught in ITI, diploma, and engineering workshops as a basic skill for mechanical and production students.

Common operations in fitting

1. Filing
   Filing is used to remove small amounts of material and smooth the surface. It helps in fine adjustment of dimensions.
2. Hacksawing
   A hacksaw is used to cut metal rods, bars, or sheets to the required length.
3. Drilling
   Drilling is used to make holes in metal using a hand drill or a bench drill.
4. Reaming
   Reaming is done to enlarge or finish a drilled hole with high precision.
5. Tapping
   Tapping creates internal threads inside a drilled hole to allow bolts or screws to fit.
6. Dieing
   Dieing is the process of making external threads on rods or bolts using a die set.
7. Chiseling
   A cold chisel is used to remove excess metal, mainly in cutting or shaping.
8. Scraping and Lapping
   These are high-precision operations used for finishing and fine adjustments.
9. Punching and Marking
   Used to mark points and layout lines before cutting or drilling. Marking tools include scribers, punches, surface plates, and steel rules.
10. Measuring and Checking
    Tools like vernier calipers, micrometers, steel scales, and try squares are used to check sizes, angles, and flatness.

Purpose and importance of fitting

• Ensures proper fit and function
  It adjusts the parts so that they assemble correctly and work as intended.
• Improves product life and performance
  Well-fitted components reduce wear and tear and ensure smooth operation.
• Helps in custom jobs and repairs
  Fitting is especially useful when machine-made parts don’t match exactly, or when replacing old parts.
• Required in final finishing
  Even after machining, some hand-finishing might be needed for precision.
• Supports maintenance work
  During breakdown repairs or part replacements, fitters manually adjust and assemble components.

Tools used in fitting workshop

• Bench vice
• Files (flat, round, half-round)
• Hacksaw
• Hammer
• Punch set
• Taps and dies
• Surface plate
• Try square
• Calipers and micrometers
• Marking tools (scriber, dot punch)

Conclusion

Fitting is a traditional and essential practice in mechanical workshops that involves assembling and finishing parts using hand tools. It ensures that all components fit together perfectly and function smoothly. Although machines can do much of the work today, manual fitting is still important for adjustments, repairs, and final checks. It builds the foundation of practical skills for every mechanical technician and engineer.