George Schuetz Director of Precision Gages

2 Jul 2005

Hardness Testing And Surface Variation

Hardness measurement is a topic that has not been addressed in this column before. However, when dimensional measurements can affect hardness results, it's time to focus on the issue.

8 Jun 2005

Speeding And Gaging Don't Mix

Manufacturing is under constant pressure to get more productivity out of its process. Machine tool speeds, feed rates and part positioning all keep getting faster, yielding more parts in less time.

2 May 2005

The Gaging Environment

The environment can often largely contribute to measurement errors. Conversely, once the environment is under control, strides can be made to improve the overall measurement process.

3 Apr 2005

TIR Versus Concentricity For Coaxiality

One of my favorite customers was having a bad day. "Those CMM operators are disputing my gage results," Sue said.

2 Mar 2005

Indicator Troubleshooting And Repair

Repairing dial indicators is a task usually assigned to a trained gage technician. Because the indicator amplifies the actual gage displacement to make it a readable value, it is an essential component.

5 Feb 2005

Air Rings And Air Forks

Air gaging brings advantages to the manufacturing process, especially on the shop floor. In addition to speed, ease of use and the ability to automatically clean part surfaces before measuring, air gages can also measure to tighter tolerances than mechanical gages.

Basics 3 Jan 2005

The Foundation Of Dimensional Measurement

When getting down to the basics with dimensional measurement, nothing is more basic than that big rock on the shop floor. Actually, the use of rock for the foundation of measurement is relatively new.

1 Dec 2004

Who Is So Uncertain About Accuracy?

A few months ago, we talked about the sources of error that can be found in the setup of a form testing system. We used the terms "accuracy" and "uncertainty.

1 Nov 2004

Magnified Objects Appear Closer Than They Are

Looking through some older electronic and air gaging catalogs, I noticed that the term "magnification" appeared frequently. In today's world of digital indicators and amplifiers, this term is often left out of the description, simply because digital electronics work a little differently than older, analog amplifiers.

1 Oct 2004

The "Pluses" And & "Minuses" Of Indicator Dials

Despite their many "faces," dial indicators and test indicator dials tend to look pretty similar in that they all have graduations and numbers. This similarity is especially true of dial indicators that have balanced dials.

1 Sep 2004

Formulating Error In Your Form Measuring System

It is generally understood that the results of precision measurements, such as from a form measuring instrument, are subject to a number of environmental influences, such as shock, vibration and temperature deviations. What is less understood, however, is that the form measuring machine itself can also influence the measurement results.

1 Aug 2004

S-W-I-P-E For Gaging Accuracy

Last month we looked at a new Ingress Protection, or IP, standard for evaluating how well a gage will handle the various conditions it will encounter on the shop floor. We described how a caliper or micrometer with a rating of IP-67 is impervious to dust and dirt, and is also both water- and coolant-proof.