Bridgeport Mill as a Gage - Verify gage dimensions using a Bridgeport Mill

[chartshorn]

THIS MAY BE A ROOKIE MISTAKE....but here goes.

Our company is seeking TS-16949 certification and we are in the process of verifying all of our gages. One of the techniques that we use is to verify gage dimensions using a Bridgeport mill in our tool room. Our consultant has recommended that we "certify" the mill for gage confirmation.

My question is, can we use standard measurement techniques (gage blocks, etec.) to certify the mill, or should we have the machine certified by a third party source.

Sorry if this topic is not in the correct forum.

[justncredible]

You can get it calibrated.

Verification and calibration are diffrent.

What did they write you up for?

[chartshorn]

Thanks for the reply.

I may not have been clear. We were not written up during an audit. Rather, our consultant and I have been updating our gauge tracking and it was brought up that we do use the mill as a means of checking our gauges. His suggestion was that we list the Bridgeport as a "gauge" and list it with the rest of our check fixtures in our Gauge Master Control log.

[AndyN]

I think you need to get another consultant! A Bridgeport being used to check gauges? To what accuracy may I ask?

With all the adjustments available on a Bridgeport you'd be constantly rechecking it to ensure nothing's moved. Get someone outside to help (Dynamic Technologies out in Hartland). I've got a number of names of consultants who wouldn't lead you down that futile path, again............

[chartshorn]

Thank you for the input. Being relatively new in the wonderful world of Quality, I do not always recognize good advice from other advice. That is one reason I joined "The Cove" (By the way, my consultant was the one who turned me on to the site.

Again...All Thanks To ANDY!