Our standard for a radius gage is when new and a visual each day of use by the user of the gage.
We calibrate them with the Optical Comparator when they are new and from there on the user checks them for wear, nicks, bends etc.
The internal auditor doesn't know if we can get by with just a "visual" on a TS audit.
We have verified they are good for at least 10 years. Maybe the best thing to do is just throw them away after ten years of use. What do you guys think?
Thanks for your suggestions.
Does the new one comes with a certificate?If yes,then that becomes your trceable standard.Otherwise,you may use templates(drawn and filled-in with black ink).Long back I have used thread profiles,supplied by the manufacturer.You may enquire from the manufacturer of radius gauges.
'Just a visual',in my opinion,may not suffice.Others on the cove may opine on this.I feel you should periodically compare the ones in use,against a new set of gages or templates.Periodicity will have to be determined on the basis of your own experience.Normally once in a year is enough,but in cases of high usage,you may increase the frequency or may shift the cycle from periodicity to number of usages.
For example,calibration frequency of thread plug gages in my factory,use to be annual.Due to consistent quality problem,it was reduced from one year to six months then to three months.For most of the gages 3M cycle is fine,but in 20% cases the problem persisted.So for these I changed the system to number of usage,and it is working fine.
Hope this helps
Umang
