Digital Calipers Offer Measurement Versatility
Mahr Federal’s MarCal digital calipers are designed to accommodate a variety of outside, inside, depth, step and compound measurements.

Modular Gaging for Short-Run Production
Gaging systems that consist of reconfigurable modules promise flexibility for high-precision inspection of short-run shaft production.

Modular Gaging for Short-Run Production
Gaging systems that consist of reconfigurable modules promise flexibility for high-precision inspection of short-run shaft production.

Portable Air Gage Features Rotating Digital Dial
The company will highlight its Micro-Dimensionair II portable air gage.

Mahr Expands Application Center
The company has expanded its Providence, Rhode Island headquarters.

Portable Air Gage with Digital Indicator
Mahr Federal’s new Micro-Dimensionair II portable air gage incorporates the enhanced Micro-Maxum II digital indicator and an interchangeable handle to provide accurate, convenient readouts at the measurement site.

Bearings Designed for Rotary and Linear Movements
Mahr Federal’s MarMotion high-precision linear and rotary stroke bearings are designed for applications requiring linear, rotary and combined movements.

Skidless Surface Gage Features Motorized Probe Height Adjustment
The MarSurf M 400 skidless surface evaluation system from Mahr features motorized probe height adjustment said to automatically zero the probe in seconds.

PC-Based Surface Measuring System Combines Skidded and Skidless Drive Units
Mahr’s MarSurf XR 1 surface measuring system is designed to bridge the gap between portable measuring devices and larger PC-based systems.

Skidless Surface Gage with Motorized Probe Height Adjustment
Mahr Federal will be featuring a new skidless surface evaluation system as part of its MarSurf line of mobile surface metrology systems at IMTS 2012.

Skidless Surface Gage with Motorized Probe Height Adjustment
 Mahr Federal will be featuring a new skidless surface evaluation system as part of its MarSurf line of mobile surface metrology systems.

Length Measurement System for Thin-Walled Parts
Mahr’s Precimar PLM 600-2 high-precision length measuring system is capable of measuring parts in their undeformed state.

A Half-Century of Dimensional Gaging
Advances in measurement technologies have both resulted from and contributed to positive changes in a variety of industries.

Skidless Surface Gage Evaluates Complex Parameters
The MarSurf M 400 skidless surface metrology system from Mahr Federal is designed to capture primary, waviness and roughness profiles for the evaluation of more complex parameters.

Mahr Celebrates 150-Year Milestone
Employees at Mahr Federal (Providence, Rhode Island) recently celebrated parent company Mahr’s 150th birthday.

Digital Indicators Feature Versatility Enhancements
Mahr Federal offers the next generation of its µMaxµm line of digital indicators.

Rugged, Light-Weight Digital Indicators
The µMaxum II line of digital indicators offers a range of new features including dynamic max, min and TIR; two-point difference measurement; multiplier factor for ratio measurements; indicator serial number identification; resolution to 10 micro-inches; selectable continuous output; and long battery life.  

Height Gage Offers Precision, Ease of Use
Built for production operations, the Digimar 816 CL height gage from Mahr Federal is designed to provide accurate measurements without complicated procedures.

Enhanced Digital Caliper Line
The updated line of MarCal digital calipers features lapped guideways, a reference system that retains the zero-position setting and additional product options and accessories.

Cylindricity Machine with Automated Probing System
The MMQ 200 Formtester cylindricity machine features an automated T7W probing system.

Cylindricity Machine With Automated Probing System
 The MMQ 200 Formtester cylindricity machine features the T7W, a ±360 degree, motorized, bi-directional probe designed for automated probe positioning.

Software For Form Measurements
Mahr’s EasyForm 3. 0 is standard on all new MMQ 100 and 200 Formtesters and is available as an upgrade for a variety of older systems.

Cylindricity Measuring Machine
Mahr Federal’s MMQ 200 Formtester cylindricity measuring machine extends the capability of the MMQ Formtester line, and is tailored for measuring cylindricity and other deviations of form and position. Equipped with EasyForm version 3 Software, the machine is compact, fast, easy to learn and operate, and is at home in the metrology lab or on the shop floor, the company says.

Universal Length Measuring Instrument
 The Linear 100 is a high precision, universal length measuring instrument for rapid, high-accuracy internal and external measurements directly on the shop floor. The instrument features a direct measuring range to 2″ (50 mm) and an application range to 4″ (100 mm). Key features include an adjustable 3″ × 3″ (76 × 76 mm) measuring table for precise position adjustment of the part when measuring ODs.

Linear ID/OD Indicator Gage
For use on the shop floor, the Linear 100 is a high-precision, universal-length measuring instrument for rapid, high-accuracy internal and external measurements. With a direct measuring range of 2" (50 mm) and an application range of 4" (100 mm), the simple design makes it possible for the instrument to measure quickly and to adapt to new measurement tasks, the company says. For example, the instrument can be used to measure both lengths and diameters tasks such as measuring the dimension over two balls on gear ODs.

Measuring ID/OD On The Shop Floor
Mahr Federal’s bench-mounted indicator gage is said to provide a handy way to measure ID and OD on the shop floor. Available in both T-plate and V-plate styles and in two sizes, the 36 B ID/OD indicator gage can measure IDs from 0. 75″ to 9″ and ODs from 0.

Universal Gear Tester
Mahr Federal introduces a Class 1 universal gear tester that provides fast, accurate analysis for a range of gear and gear tool applications on gears with ODs as large as 400 mm. The system is part of the GMX series and incorporates a four-axis PowerPC controller with automatic tailstock and high-accuracy 3D scanning probe head. The system provides a solution for both universal and specialized gear manufacturing processes.

Metrology System Features White Light Interferometry

Measuring Taper For Toolholders And Spindle Applications
Companies concerned about strict quality requirements regularly check toolholder tapers for wear or inaccuracy because these conditions can jeopardize the results of a critical operation. However, a shop can check tapers quickly and reliably with air gages. These devices can be used effectively without special operator training. For measuring taper in a production environment, few other methods can match the speed and performance of air, as multiple-circuit air jets can be placed in very small taper gages.

Height Gage Designed For Accuracy, Repeatability

3D Measuring Probe Eases Machine Setup

Water-Resistant Digital Calipers and Micrometers

Semi-Automated Sequences And Contour Evaluation

Portable Air Gage

Digital Height Gage

Sliced Bread—And The Limits Of Air Gaging
"Air gaging is the greatest thing since sliced bread," a friend once said. And he was right—air gaging is good.

Surface Texture From Ra to Rz
The irregularity of a machined surface is the result of the machining process, including the choice of tool; feed and speed of the tool; machine geometry; and environmental conditions. This irregularity consists of high and low spots machined into a surface by the tool bit or a grinding wheel.

DFGT - Double Flank Gear Testing
Functional gear testing, also known as total radial composite deviation, is a method of looking at the total effect of gear errors. This test method simulates the conditions under which a set of gears is likely to operate as a result of the gears meshing together.

The Three Ds Of Straightness Plugs
We have touched on different applications of air gaging: size, match gaging and form applications such as taper. In this column, we'll discuss air straightness plugs.

A Different Differential
When we talk about differential gaging, we are usually referring to the process of using two sensing devices and combining the results into one measurement. The measured dimension is the change in the position of the two sensing components.

Stacking Up For Big IDs
For those medium and large parts with inside diameters greater than 4 inches, an inside micrometer is often used as the inspection tool of choice. This is especially true if the volume of parts is low and there is a large range of diameters to account for.

The Dial Tells It All
Dial indicators—you've seen one, you've seen them all. They are all over the shop, and as you walk around, they all look the same to you.

Say Hello to Mr. Abbé, Mr. Hooke And Mr. Hertz
Whenever you use a handtool or precision gage, you should be aware of typical pitfalls that prevent good gage performance. These include measurement errors resulting from environmental conditions (dirt and temperature), loose and/or worn gage parts, and operator misuse.

Feels Like A Go To Me
Once a QC manager came to me, confused and dissatisfied. He was spending money to buy quality masters, but his inspection process was not improving.

Working With Your Working Gage Blocks
The uses of working gage blocks are as varied as the number of gage blocks in a large set. The working blocks have an intermediate grade and are often used in the inspection or calibration lab, but they may also be found on the shop floor.

Semi-Automatics—The In-Between Gages
The faucet has been opened a little, and you've just received a long-awaited contract to produce 10,000 large trunnion caps for a manufacturer of earth moving equipment. Despite the joy, you realize that you have a problem: The machines will be in place and ready to run the part shortly, but you haven't given much thought to the gaging.

The 'Issues' With Height Gages
Don't tell anyone, but there is something of a problem with height gages. The big issue that they have is what they measure: height.

The Real Dirt About Gaging
I'm not sure that any of us in the metrology business are very close to godliness, but I do know that cleanliness is the first step to approaching accuracy in gaging. Probably every machinist is at least nominally aware that dirt can interfere with the ability to take accurate measurements.

Fixtures Are A Common Source Of Gaging Error
As a gaging engineer, my concept of a gage includes both the measuring instrument and its fixture. Assuming you are dealing with a reputable supplier, and your instrument was engineered to do its job as intended, there is probably little you can do to improve its accuracy, aside from throwing it out and spending more money.

Choice Of Bore Gage Depends On The Application
Indicating bore gages come in two basic varieties: adjustable-capacity gages with interchangeable contacts or extensions and fixed-size gages with plug-type bodies. While indicating plug gages can measure closer tolerances with higher repeatability than adjustable ones, these are only two of several factors to consider when selecting a bore gage.

You Won't Err With Air
It is perfectly natural that machinists should have an affinity for mechanical gages. To a machinist, the working of a mechanical gage is both straightforward and pleasing.

Holes Big Enough To Fall Into
Maybe you’re not in Texas, but suddenly you find yourself faced with a huge measurement requirement. You’ve been given the task of checking some large diameters—not your 6 inch variety—I mean those large enough to drive a herd of cows through.

To Help You Select The Right Gage And Master, Let's Play 20 Questions
You will soon be going into production with a new component. There are six or eight ways you could measure the part and dozens of products that might do the job.

Coming To Terms With Accuracy
A question I am frequently asked is, "How accurate is that gage?" I am usually tempted to say something like, "Super accurate" or "So accurate you wouldn't believe it!" But I don't. Instead, I take a deep breath and give my questioner a couple paragraphs worth of information, then watch his jaw drop because he was only expecting a few words.

Where's The Fault? SWIPE To Find Out
Nobody likes to be the bearer of bad tidings. This goes back to the dawn of recorded history, when a tribal leader might easily decide to kill the messenger if the news was not to his liking.

Gaging Oldies But Goodies—A Review Of Some Things We Should Know By Now
Ten years ago this month, Quality Gaging Tips first appeared in Modern Machine Shop. Since that time, we have covered many tools and techniques for assuring accurate, repeatable measurement and gaging in machine shops.

Do's And Don'ts For Keeping Dial Indicators In The Game
Just because dial indicators have been around since the early 1900s, don't expect them to fade away with the last century. This tool's long-term popularity is well earned.

Pump Maker Gains Production Efficiency With Smart Gaging Choices
The challenge facing this pump manufacturer was to make the high-tolerance inspection process so efficient that parts could be checked randomly by several machinists, without causing delays that would slow production.

Going To Extremes
When most of us think about measurement environments, what generally comes to mind are pleasant laboratories with temperatures controlled to 68°F/20°C—plus or minus a degree or two. Or in the worst case, we picture a gaging shop with swings of temperature between 65° and 90° F.

Calipers: Ideal For Measurement On The Go
Although it has been around for a long time, the caliper is still an extremely versatile and useful tool for making a range of distance measurements (both ODs and IDs). While micrometers are more accurate, they have a limited measurement range (typically several inches).

Machine Compensation
Ever since electronics first made their way onto machine tools, machine builders and users have tried to achieve some level of "automatic" process control. Certain causes of dimensional variation in machined parts—tool wear, for instance—occur gradually.

Perfect Gaging In An Imperfect World
It is certainly not news that, more and more, gages are being forced out onto the shop floor. Tight-tolerance measurements that were once performed in a semi-clean room by a trained inspection technician are now being done right next to the machine, often by the machinist.

Gaging Countersunk And Chamfered Holes
While countersunk and chamfered holes are similar in appearance, functionally they are quite different. Consequently, different gages exist to serve these different functional requirements.

Never Forget The Basics
We spend a lot of time in this column discussing sophisticated gages and out-of-the-ordinary applications—so much so, that perhaps we've lately been neglecting the basics. After all, the fanciest electronics, computers and software won't deliver accurate results if good gaging practice is absent.

Electronic Height Gages
We've looked at "basic" comparative height gages, which are used for layout tasks and other surface plate measurements. Related to these are instruments known as electronic height gages.

Inspecting Tapers, Part 2: Toolholder Gaging
A few months ago, we discussed the calibration of conical taper masters, which are used to master taper gages. Now let's look at the parts those gages are used to inspect—toolholders.

Surface Finish: A Machinist's Tool. A Design Necessity.
Simple "roughness" measurements remain useful in the increasingly stringent world of surface finish specifications. Here's a look at why surface measurement is important and how to use sophisticated portable gages to perform inspections on the shop floor.

Assessing Gage Stability
Gage stability implies different things in different contexts. If taken literally, it may refer to whether there is something loose on the gage, or some other gage problem occurs randomly, to cause two identical trials to produce different results.

Piston Maker Boosts Quality With Special Geometry Software
A leading manufacturer of pistons for high performance engines has improved its manufacturing accuracy and quality control by using a software package developed especially to measure the unusual geometry of pistons.

When Indicators Go Both Ways
Measuring and gaging are two fairly distinct forms of dimensional inspection. Measuring is a direct-reading process, in which the instrument incorporates a continuous scale of units, against which the part is compared directly.

Look Into My Stylii: Care Of Surface Finish Contacts
Proper care of contact points is one of the basic considerations in gaging. Whether you're using a simple indicator gage or a sophisticated surface finish instrument, much depends on the condition of the sensitive contact point, which is the interface between the gage and the workpiece.

Gaging Distance Between Hole Centers
Many of the gaging applications we've considered over the years involve size inspection of a single feature, that is, the diameter of a hole, depth of a groove, height of a gage block, and so on. Many parts, however, contain multiple features that establish dimensional relationships between two or more other parts.

Air Gaging For Itty-Bitty Holes
Conventional air gaging for measuring inside diameters is typically limited to a minimum size of about 0. 060 inch/1.

Auto OEM Grinds 8,000 Parts Per Hour To +/-2 Microns
A new industrial controller this company is integrating with its high-precision centerless grinders is helping a Big 3 automaker turn out precision parts at 8,000 per hour.

Measuring Part Geometry On The Shop Floor
Measuring workpiece dimensions is relatively simple for machine operators but measuring workpiece geometry which involves more complex comparisons of part shape to an ideal shape--is now also practical on the shop floor. The gaging equipment for doing this is coming down in price while becoming easier to use.