Calibration and Control - Need help with plug, ring, and thread plug gages

[timoth]

hi,

I am looking for procedure to calibrate go no go plug gages,ring gages, thread plug gages.

Also I would like suggestions on how to manage a calibration database?
We do not have gagetrak but I created an Access database.

It is killing me to update this database and to control the gages. We are a manufacturing facility and the gages get lost. Different areas use one another's gages. how could one have a better control? We outsource most of our calibration requirements but we want to start calibrating some simple gages.

please help.

thanks
tim

 

[BradM]

Re: How to manage calibration program

This post has been moved from this thread:

Calibration Procedures in Gagetrak

 

[BradM]

Re: How to manage calibration program

Tim,

Welcome to the Cove. Here is a good thread on ring gauges. There are a couple of attachments/ procedures given in it:

Thread Gage Calibration / Verification Instruction

 

[DietCokeofEvil]

For calibration, what kind of equipment do you have? Procedures will generally tell you WHAT you need to calibration, not necessarily how.

 

[Sfree]

Hello,
I am new to the physical dimensional area and have been tasked to calibrate thread ring gages using the Labmaster Universal. Does anyone have experience with using this method to calibrate thread ring gages? I have been getting consistently high readings and was wondering if anyone can comment or share any tips. We did get training from P&W on the machine but they acknowledge that this is the most challenging application to make measurements on and that it does take some touch to get good readings.

Thanks,

 

[CalRich]

Hello,
I am new to the physical dimensional area and have been tasked to calibrate thread ring gages using the Labmaster Universal. Does anyone have experience with using this method to calibrate thread ring gages? I have been getting consistently high readings and was wondering if anyone can comment or share any tips. We did get training from P&W on the machine but they acknowledge that this is the most challenging application to make measurements on and that it does take some touch to get good readings.

Thanks,

If you are trying to calibrate adjustable thread rings with the Labmaster, you're going at it the wrong way. The internal thread of these rings becomes (at least over time) egg-shaped, and so a linerar device is not suitable. Adjustable thread rings should be set with Class W master set thread plugs. It's been my experience that many companies do not have an adequate inventory of set plugs for the calibrations of their rings. Even amongst commercial calibration labs, there is often a lack of adequate set plugs to satisfy the needs of all of the rings. Rings should be set to a set plug of the same size and pitch diameters (as well as RH vs. LH, etc.). Be cautious of trying to simply set rings to gage balls as this only checks the minor diameter, and not too well at that.

Now, if we're talking solid thread rings, equipment like the Labmaster or other univeral measuring machines can technically calibrate solid thread rings. It's a tricky business and usually the measurement uncertainty (if calculated) greatly exceeds the tolerances. We tried them at a lab I worked at, but we could get any reading we wanted. I would suggest performing some statistical studies and perhaps sending to other labs for verification of your results.

Good luck.

 

[jfgunn]

Calrich is absolutely correct. Remember adjustmeable thread rings aren't round.

We also have a Labmaster Universal and originally purchased it with the accessories for thread rings. We sent the box of these fixtures back to P&W and got our $5,000 back.

Set plugs are the way to go!

 

[Wayne]

I am looking for procedure to calibrate go no go plug gages,ring gages, thread plug gages.

Tim;
Most of the questions we receive about calibration concern screw thread ring gages.

To that end, we have the following posted on our website:
Using Truncated Set Plug Gages
Setting Screw Thread Ring Gages
Adjusting Thread Ring Gage Locking Device

By comparison, calibration of Working Plug Gages and Truncated Setting Plugs may be considered simple.

 

[Wayne]

I ... have been tasked to calibrate thread ring gages using the Labmaster Universal. Does anyone have experience with using this method to calibrate thread ring gages? I have been getting consistently high readings and was wondering if anyone can comment or share any tips. We did get training from P&W on the machine but they acknowledge that this is the most challenging application to make measurements on and that it does take some touch to get good readings.

I would advise against that method for measuring American Gage Design (AGD) Adjustable Screw Thread Ring Gages for several reasons.

First, it is not authorized by the ANSI/ASME thread gage standards.
Second, measurements taken will not match the size of the ring as it was set on a set plug due to some out-of-roundness of the ring gage.
Third, adjustments made to the ring gage will result in an undetectable out-of-tolerance condition.

I have much exact detail, references to the gage standard, and a real life story posted at: Ring Gage Calibration by Direct Measurement.

I hope this information will be helpful to you.

 

[bobhall]

I have been a Calibration Tech for over 15 years now and have developed some systems to control gages. Such labeling, using containers and color coding. We currenty have over 1200 active gages per month and are able to keep our missing gage number to under 4. Where are you located?