Tips & Tricks

Air gaging is a useful and effective method to measure hard to reach spaces such as small holes. Air gages have the additional advantage of being easy to use and are very flexible. Air gages are non-contact measuring devices and they are useful for measuring objects and surfaces that are extremely sensitive. When you are using air gages, there are some things that you need to keep in mind in order to produce the most accurate results possible.

Understand What You Are Measuring

Although this sounds obvious, it is not always the case that operators are clear on what they are measuring. Air gages can measure a variety of things including diameters, partial diameters, squareness, straightness, and more. Understanding what you want to measure will determine the usefulness of the data you get from the process.

Where Are You Measuring?

Air gages and the air jets that they use can measure a wide variety of spaces. One of the rules of air gaging is that the air jets have to be covered by the surface that it is measuring. When using an air gage, it is critical to understand that the air needs a path in order to accurately measure the dimensions of a hole. When you are measuring a blind hole, it can pose certain challenges.

Consider the Surface being Measured

When using an air gage, the finish (or roughness of the surface) will also have an effect on the reading that you get from the measuring device. If you were to use a contact-type gage to take the same measurement, there is a possibility that the two readings will be completely different.

Backpressure May Delay the Process

For an air gage to work properly, it is essential for the air channels and the air pipe in the machine to fill up due to the back pressure. This back pressure is created when the airflow from the jets are restricted by the part being measured. If the air pipes are long, this process can take a while, and in certain applications such as high-speed automated gaging, it might lead to incomplete results. One way to solve this problem is to bring the converter as close to the surface being measured as possible to reduce the length of the air pipes. The second way is to ensure that the air in the tool does not flow out of the part between measurements. This means that the air hoses take a shorter time to fill up as they would already have a significant amount of air from previous measurements.

Altitude Matters

The height of your location plays a part in the performance of your air gage. This is because air is thinner at higher altitudes and this can affect the performance of the equipment. Since most air gages are custom made for specific tasks, ensure that you ask your supplier to take the altitude of your location into consideration when calibrating the machine. This is also something to keep in mind when moving the equipment from one manufacturing plant to another.

Technicians may encounter some challenges when using larger height gages. The cause of those potential problems is not due to the height of the gage but its relationship to the size of the base. If there are errors in how the gage is set up, it can potentially distort a carefully planned height measurement procedure; that said, what can you do to get perfect measurements for every job and overcome said height gage challenges?

Keep and Use a Well-Maintained Surface Plate

A majority of height gages are typically used with surface plates. These surface plates are designed to provide the reference for both the height gage and the part that’s being measured. It is imperative that these plates are well-maintained and clean. When measuring a workpiece that has a height of approximately 10 inches, a strand of hair or a small metal chip is enough to throw off one’s measurements by 0.020 inches.

In addition to minute dirt and debris, the surface of the granite plate also plays a major role in performance of the height gage. The slightest imperfections can be amplified if the surface between the workpiece and height gage is not smooth enough, is uneven, etc. This may cause problems if the measurement gets higher. Here’s a quick scenario:

• The surface plate of your height gage has a flatness spec of 50 microinches
• The base has a length of six inches
• Imperfections on the granite plate’s surface can cause a 50-microinch error to grow over 0.0003 inches

Lengthen and Widen the Base

A height gage is designed to measure a specific height. That’s the point where it performs at its best. If the height gage model you are using is designed to measure 24 inches, you can’t simply extend the post to measure a part that’s three times that height. If the cross area of the measuring post or base design is not modified, the gage can start to flex and/or wobble, affecting the final measurement. Oftentimes, it is hard to spot if these problems are occurring at that moment. For example, a 0.001-inch wobble is invisible to the naked eye.

To prevent the post from flexing or wobbling, some technicians may focus on “strengthening” the column of the height gage. Unfortunately, this is not a viable solution for resolving the problem. If pressure is applied to the measuring contact when it’s nearing the maximum upper position, the gage may tip over. If the same amount of pressure is applied horizontally against the gage’s measuring contact, the gage may start sliding along the table.

The correct way is to focus on decreasing the ratio of the base to the post. One can achieve this by making the base wider and longer. In addition, build in some mass. By doing this, one can expect to see significant improvements in the height gage’s performance.

Looking for a reliable height gage? At Willrich Precision, you can purchase high-performance height gages online at the best prices. Feel free to contact us if you have any inquiries.

Before we delve into why getting a retrofit controller for your CMM is a good idea, it will help to start with the basics as to what a CMM is and what it does. A CMM or coordinate measuring machine is a tool that measures the geometry of the surface of an object by sensing the points on that surface with a probe. CMM machines come in many forms. Some are computer-controlled while others are controlled manually by an operator.

CMM machines also use various kinds of probes to sense surfaces. For example, there are CMM machines that use laser probes, mechanical probes, optical probes, and white light probes. CMM machines use a reference point in order to specify a probe’s position. Some CMM machines allow for probe angling in order to measure hard-to-reach surfaces. Hence, CMMs generally offer greater precision than other measurement tools such as micrometers and calipers.

CMM machines allow for parts to be upgraded and one of the parts that are likely to be upgraded is the CMM controller. There are numerous benefits to upgrading your CMM controller which we are going to explore in this article.

Reduce CMM Downtime

A worn-out controller can easily lead to serious measurement errors or worse, complete breakdown of the CMM machine. For this reason, it is better to catch the problem early and change the controller before it gets to this point. Even though the changes will necessitate some downtime, this is short relative to the downtime that would be occasioned by a breakdown. Proactively changing the controller leads to fewer errors and eliminates any chance of the complete breakdown due to a malfunctioning controller.

Take Advantage Of New Technologies

The technology around controllers is always changing and replacing your CMM controller allows you to take advantage of modern technology without having to get a completely new CMM. Better controller technology leads to more accurate readings and helps to keep the CMM machine operating at optimal levels.

Prepare For The Future

Related to the previous section is the fact that changing your CMM controller will put you in a better position to prepare for next-generation CMMs. What this means is that by upgrading your CMM, you are ensuring that your machining process can keep up with modern technologies and prepare for future expectations.

Extend Your CMM’s Capabilities

By upgrading your CMM controller, you ensure that your CMM can do more. For example, upgrading to some of the new CMM controllers can transform you CMM and give it new capabilities such as touch-trigger and also add non-contact measurement capabilities. All these changes lead to more precise measurements and greater flexibility when using the CMMs.

Lower Your Training Costs

Newer CMM controller technologies come with simulation capabilities which mean that you can effectively train machine operators via modern digital technology. This translates to significantly lower training costs and shorter training time.

As you can see, there are quite a number of benefits to retrofitting your CMM controllers. If you notice that your CMM controllers are reaching the end of their shelf life, don’t be afraid to upgrade and install new controllers. It will give your CMM machines a new lease of life as well as offer you many other benefits.

Bore gage is a collective term that refers to tools that are used to give very precise measurements of holes. There are many reasons why a manufacturing process would want to have a very precise measurement of holes. For example, the quality control process of a manufacturing plant might be very interested in measuring holes in a given part that is being produced, especially if that part is designed to fit into another part.

Any deviation from the set size would have costly implications for the manufacturer and therefore the quality control process has to use very precise tools to ensure that all the parts have the right size/shape of the hole. To this end, companies invest in bore gages and the choice of what type of gage to buy is determined by various factors that we are going to explore.

Consider The Manufacturing Environment

Various bore gages work in various environments and it helps to understand where exactly the bore gage that you want to buy is designed to work in. For example, if a manufacturing process will require the quality controller to move around randomly checking samples, it might make sense to get a bore gage that is easy to use and portable. Such a manufacturing process might discourage some of the non-contact gages that tend to be bulky and very expensive to maintain.

Consider Their Application

Various gages have varying capabilities. For example, some bore gages come with digital read-outs that allow for data collection. Other manufacturing processes don’t really care much for data collection as long as the bore gages can help them ensure that there is no variation in the parts being produced. With this in mind, it would be important to get a gage that has a digital read-out screen and a data collection port if data processing is important to your manufacturing process. If not, you might be ok with a simple bore gage which typically tends to be more durable and easy to use.

Level of Flexibility Required

Some bore gages offer greater flexibility when it comes to calibration than others. A good example is the two-three point contact system that is calibrated to a reference master. The implication of this is that only the setting ring on the reference master needs to be calibrated and this offers a much easier and faster process of keeping the gages calibrated. For a manufacturing process that requires precision as well as fast calibration (such as a large and busy manufacturing plant), these kinds of gages might be more ideal.

Type Of Holes Involved

Holes come in different sizes, shapes and depths and all these factors play a part in determining the type of bore gage to be used. For example, air gages work well with holes that are tapered. Where they are located on the part and how accessible they are will also play a part in determining the type of gage you select. Air gages again are easier to use on holes that may be in positions that make it hard to use mechanical gages.

There are many factors to be considered when selecting a bore gage. Understanding your manufacturing process and what you want to measure with the bore gage are the first steps in determining what kind of bore gage to buy.

Handling large production runs? Need to take high-resolution measurements? An air gage can help! Air gaging currently represents the method of choice for these tasks. Compared to mechanical gages, air gages are pretty reliable and durable. Air gages, however, require a higher level of maintenance. That’s just part of the deal.

Proper Air Gage Maintenance Ensures Accurate Air Gaging

There are two main things you need to do to achieve accurate air gaging. Be mindful of the air supply and properly maintain the tooling. Although you (the gage user) can’t control the factory air supply, you must ensure that the air that reaches your gage is clean, stable in pressure, and dry. It has to be this way because the air lines and compressors may be shared by dozens of other users. Tooling is directly under your control, so there’s no reason not to maintain it!

The Basic Requirement of Maintenance

Air gage maintenance involves keeping the tooling dry and clean inside and out. You cannot let contaminants such as cutting fluid, coolant, dirt, and chips to be picked up from work pieces. Oil and water are known to originate from the air source itself. So, be very careful.

Some air gage users depend on air flow to clear out certain air passages (this can happen on its own). This is not always recommended. You should keep in mind that some contamination may still occur in the measuring jets and master jet. You can throw off the measurement if you allow even a few millionths of an inch of contaminants to accumulate. If you master repeatedly and it produces inconsistent readings, it’s a sign of dirty jets!

Prevents Air Leaks

Air gage inaccuracy is typically caused by air leaks. To confirm your suspicions, observe the indicator needle after covering the measuring jets tightly with your fingers. If the needle does not remain stationary, check all of your connectors, tubes, and fittings for leaks.

Avoids Damaging Sensitive Tooling

Although most factory air lines run at approximately 100 psi, the final amount still depends on other air users’ demands. Air gages that are properly designed should be able to operate reliably between 40 psi and 150 psi. A small amount of fluctuation is acceptable.

It is important to check the sensitivity of your air gages. A part of maintaining them includes isolating them from fluctuations via a semi-dedicated or dedicated air line. With that in mind, sensitivity checks can be conducted by leaving a master in place on the tool. Next, take note of the indicator’s movement while other air line users facilitate normal tasks.

Prevents Moisture Build-Up

The accumulation of water mist and oil can cause moisture to build up. When they do, these elements can act as an abrasive and accelerate part wear over time. Will air dryers work? If you compress air, the process produces moisture. Additionally, the compressor will need lubrication, which will generate oil mist in the line. A better solution is to employ an air line design that intercepts oil and water mist before they enter the meter. You can also consider taking air from the top and not the bottom of the mains. This will prevent moisture from draining into the feed.

Right angles—perpendicular intersection of surfaces and lines—apply to many things such as manufacturing, agriculture, civil engineering, and architecture. There is an array of terms utilized to explain this relationship, including squareness, normalcy, 90 degrees, and perpendicularity.

When it comes to engineering products, some of them do not feature perpendicular surfaces. In this case, perpendicularity when engineers and technicians need to create dimensions via rectangular coordinates. In the manufacturing industry, the measurement and implementation of right angles are never perfect. It is whether you achieve a higher degree of perpendicularity or not.

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Also known as a boroscope, borescopes are optical devices designed for visual inspection work. These devices are used to measure areas that are inaccessible by other means and to detect imperfections and defects. Borescopes are great alternatives for measurement procedures that require expensive, time-consuming, or destructive dismounting activities. Borescopes are excellent tools to use to inspect automotive engines, diesel engines, truck engines, steam turbines, aeroderivative industrial gas turbines, and aircraft engines. With that in mind, what should you look out for if you want to purchase borescopes? Let’s find out more!

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During a manufacturing process, it is often a challenge to measure hexagonal (hex) holes. Hex holes are even harder to measure if they are internal (inside a compartment or object) because of varying reasons such as getting the right tools. This is the reason why Go & No Go gages are so useful in such processes. Typically, to make hex holes, a pilot hole is first done and then the sides are cut out to create the hex shape. The first stage usually presents few problems as a pilot hole is relatively easy to gage (such as with an air gage for example). The harder part comes when you are doing the sides as these usually determine how well the hex hole will fit into its intended part.

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Comparative instruments, such as an adjustable bore gage, can feature an electronic readout or dial that displays the direction and amount of variation in the test bore, from the nominal size. If you are using adjustable bore gages this way, you need to set the gage to the required nominal size, to which the bore is to be compared. There are various ways to set the bore gage to the nominal size. The methods explained below can provide a balance of versatility and reliability, precision, and speed. Read on to find out which setup method will work best for you:

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At the most basic level, manual gages are designed to make it easier to stage and gage a workpiece, ensure the best possible performance for the measuring task at hand, and reduce operator error. With this type of fixturing, the technician does not need to expend a significant amount of effort and time to complete the task. Today’s manufacturing operations are fast-paced. Those operations are also based on short runs of precision parts and flexibility. That is why using a gaging system that matches the way components are made is highly recommended. Here are further ways to simply gaging processes:

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The Coordinate Measuring Machine, otherwise referred to as the CMM is a familiar tool in manufacturing facilities. It stands out as one of the most effective and reliable tools used in quality control. Used for three dimensional measurement and verification, CMMs come in different designs and of course brands.  This makes it hard for a manufacturer with little or no knowledge on CMMs to buy one.  There are however, factors that can make the whole buying process easy. Such factors include:

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Much has been said and written about statistical process control, commonly referred to as SPC. Shop owners seem to keep off the process, citing reasons such as how expensive SPC gaging equipment are or how small their facilities are. These two reasons can best be termed as misconceptions. SPC is not as complicated as most people think. Secondly, you do not need complex computerized systems and costly software to get into SPC. You should therefore benefit from gaging for SPC, as much as your competitors do. But before that, here is how to simplify the whole gaging process.

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When it comes to metrology, nothing matters more than accuracy. That’s why it is important to invest in high-quality calibration equipment if you are in the metrology industry. But even then, regular calibration is vital because even with the most advanced equipment, you risk inaccuracy anytime you ignore regular calibration. What then follows are losses, botched expenses and costly expenses. To fully appreciate the importance of regular gage calibration, one needs to first understand what calibration is and how the whole process works.

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Snap gages are basically go/no go gages that measure outside diameters. Their appearance is similar to micrometers. A snap gage also features anvils that can be found on a micrometer too. You should keep in mind that snap gages come in an array of sizes and shapes. There can be types A, C, and U, and the gages may come with dial or digital indicators. Apart from measuring outside diameters, snap gages can be used for measuring widths and groove diameters. In this post, we will focus on one of the main variations of snap gages – adjustable snap gages. You will learn how to master this extremely useful gage.

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With all of the types of height gages available, and with each of their matching applications, it might be hard to decide which one is the most appropriate for you. Which gage will meet your needs? The following will hopefully help you distinguish between not only the different types of height gages but the various purposes for which they were designed.

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