Content area
Full Text
Take advantage of all the benefits of in-process gaging.
Historically, in-process gaging has not been widely used in the machine tool industry, but today that's changing. Gaging companies have been evolving their products and making them easier to use, while enabling users to do more with gaging routines.
There's a perception that in-process gaging adds to cycle time. However, when done properly, this functionality will likely save time and resources by reducing scrap and eliminating operator error. Here I'll review some of the things you should consider if you're interested in getting started with inprocess gaging.
CONSIDER YOUR PARTS
The first step when considering gaging is to think about the parts you produce. Is there a point in the process where the part is clean (free of chips or coolant), or you can make it clean for measurement? Contaminants can throw off your measurements, so the parts must be clean. It's also important to consider your angles of approach to the part. Do you have a clear path where a straight probe will work? If not, you can investigate other options such as angle probes or multitip probes. In any case, the size and shape of the probe selected should be able to access the part while clearing all its features.
It's also important to do some planning to confirm that you have the macros that will be needed to make your in-process gaging work. This...