George Schuetz Director of Precision Gages
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.
Read MoreMagnified 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.
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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.
Read MoreFormulating 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.
Read MoreS-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.
Read MoreEvaluating Gaging For The Shop Floor
Measuring instruments have been used for the inspection of manufactured parts ever since the first vernier caliper was introduced. It wasn't difficult to take care of those old tools on the shop floor: A clean cloth, a little elbow grease and a good storage box were all that was needed to make those gages last a lifetime.
Read MoreNew Gage Block Standard
ASME's Dimensional Standards are relatively stable for a long period of time. This is good because change is a hard thing to deal with, especially in the metrology world.
Read MoreUnderstanding Plate Gages
You’ve seen the bench-mounted ID/OD comparative gage with the tilting stage plate to set and locate the part being gaged. This basic design, which has been around for more than 50 years, is convenient for fast, comparative gaging of flat and relatively thin-walled parts, such as ball and roller bearing rings, where diameter measurements must be made in a plane parallel to at least one of the faces, and sometimes at a particular depth on the ID or OD.
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A Novel Use For Air Gaging
Throughout the years, we have discussed many successful uses of air gages in this column. We have seen them used to measure diameters, tapers, straightness and even little bitty holes.
Read MoreImproving Height Gage Results
As with any measurement, the quality of the result depends on the measurement instrument and the care with which the operator handles the measurement procedure. Many gages are designed to make this as easy as possible.
Read MoreSearching For The Perfect Identical Waves
When two different dimensional measuring systems are used on the same part, one would expect to get pretty much the same results. But in certain cases, this may not be true.
Read MoreCalibrating Gages: With Master (And Engagement) Rings, Size Matters
A master ring, or ring gage, is basically a bore of known dimension. The precision hole is often used as a setting master for variable ID gages (such as bore gages, air tooling and mechanical plug gages), for go/no-go mastering of fixed ID gages and for go/no-go OD inspection of male cylindrical workpieces.
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