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When Gaging Becomes Measuring That Becomes Gaging
In a previous column, we discussed the terms “gaging” and “measuring,” which are often used interchangeably. There are times when gaging is appropriate and other times when measuring is the best way to go.
Read MoreGive Your Mechanical Snap Gage A 50,000 Mile Checkup
Your snap gages have been out on the shop floor for years and have served you well. Normally they are zeroed with a zero master, measurements are made and all is well.
Read MoreTime To Re-Evaluate Your Gaging?
Let’s say you’ve been making the same part for decades, running hundreds or thousands of parts every day, from the same machines, using the same process and the same gaging purchased when the process was started. If this is the case, then you’re not alone.
Read MoreThe More Things Change: Quality Gaging Tips, The Book
We’ve decided to break from our usual format in this column to make a special announcement (at least, I think it’s special): Hanser Gardner Publications has released a new book, “Quality Gaging Tips,” written and edited by yours truly and the original author of this column, the late Jim McCusker. The book is a compilation of more than 140 Quality Gaging Tips columns, arranged by measurement topic and incorporating additional material and illustrations that would not fit in the original magazine format.
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Self- And Datum-Referenced Form Measurements
Form or geometry gages are generally divided into two categories depending on what form parameters they are designed to measure. While there is no formal designation to differentiate these two categories—sometimes they are simply referred to as roundness or cylindricity gages—their difference is primarily based on their ability to make self-referenced or datum-referenced measurements.
Read MoreA Primer On Dial Indicators
Also known as dial gages, clocks, comparators or just indicators, dial indicators are widely used as basic gages for measuring linear dimensions. This device is useless by itself; it needs to be attached to a fixed base or a stand so that the tip of the spindle is at a specific height against either a master or reference part.
Read MoreSize May Matter, But Form Counts Too
Cylindrical parts range from beer cans to bearings to bullets. Therefore, measuring cylindricity has considerable value for manufacturers.
Read MoreNine Enemies Of Precision Gaging
In some plants, metal parts are made accurate to 0. 01 inch.
Read MoreFully Utilize Your Form Measuring System: Part II
In last month's column, we looked at some of the setup and analysis issues that can influence the results of your form measurement, including the way the parts are staged; the influence of the stylus tip; using the wrong filter; confusion about the look of the graph; measuring the wrong parameter; and the influence of poor part tilt/centering. These are some of the pitfalls that can rob accuracy from your measurement, but there are others that also need to be addressed.
Read MoreGet The Most Out Of Your Measuring System
With the implementation of touchscreen operation, canned measurement routines and automatic ranging, form measuring machines have become nearly foolproof and have successfully migrated from the lab to the shop floor. Still, the form machine is only as good as its setup, and without due attention to the basics, there are many pitfalls that can make even the most basic measurement useless.
Read MoreRepeatable Expectations For GR&R
It seems axiomatic that the more precise we try to be, the less certain we become. In today's manufacturing world, nothing is flat, round, smooth or exactly the same length.
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Setting Adjustable Bore Gages
Adjustable bore gages are comparative instruments. This means that the readout, whether it be a dial, digital indicator or other type of electronic readout, will show the amount and direction of variation in the test bore from nominal size.
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