George Schuetz Director of Precision Gages
Masters For Comparative Gages
Most masters used for setting comparative gages look like everyday gage blocks, master rings or discs. However, ASME standards for these masters are very specific in defining their characteristics, including material, physical sizes and geometric conditions.
Read MoreThings You Should Know About Digital Height Gages
With its long range of motion, the digital height gage can be thought of as a giant caliper, but one with the accuracy of a sophisticated benchtop gaging system. These versatile digital height gages are capable of performing a range of measuring tasks quickly and reliably.
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The Right Angle On Perpendicularity
In nature, a right angle happens only by chance. But the importance of this concept—which results from the perpendicular intersection of lines or surfaces—applies to architecture, civil engineering, agriculture and manufacturing.
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Tracking Down Tracking Errors
In the world of dimensional measurement, electronic gages make up a class of instruments that are capable of detecting extremely small dimensional variations on a surface element. The gage's electronic transducer can operate in a number of different ways, typically LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transducer) or through a digital scale-based technology.
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Locking It In With A Good Taper Fit
A machined taper fit between mating parts is a fast and secure way to put two parts together. Fast mating and good alignment make taper fits critical in two very different fields.
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Gaging Tighter Tolerances Is A Different Animal
If you are planning on manufacturing to tolerances of 0. 0001 inch or less and have not done so before, your introduction to high order gaging might be an eye opener.
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Gage Accuracy Runs Hot And Cold
“It takes a while to warm up in the morning, but after that, it runs great. ” I swear that machinists apply this statement to their gages as if the instruments were like car engines with 50-weight motor oil and cold-intake manifolds.
Read MoreWhen 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.
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