February 2012 Newsletter- Caring for Your Gages
gage-report-test 2012
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Heartgage
Helpful Hints:
Caring for Your Gages
Want to Extend the Life of Your Gages and Maintain the Highest Quality in Your Inspection System?
Then don’t overlook simple gage care. Caring for your gages will help ensure your quality system stays at its best for the longest time. There are a few simple things that you can do to maintain nearly all your gages, as well as more specific suggestions for individual parts and gages.
Basic Gage Care:
Keep all unprotected metal surfaces coated with light oil.
Avoid dropping the gage or subjecting it to any vibration or impact
Keep the gage dry and away from any machine coolant spray.
Do not force the movement of any of the mechanical parts. The mechanics are designed to move freely.
Keep the indicator face clean.
MRP Crest Diameter Gages
Functional Roll Gages
MIC TRAC Calibration Center
MIC TRAC Blocks
ChangeScrews
Changing Functional Roll Screws
External Functional Roll Gage
MIC TRAC Blocks in a Proper Case
Advanced Care:
» MRP Rails:
Inspect MRP rails for straightness: roll them on a qualified flat surface to look for bends or hooked ends.
Do NOT use pliers when tightening the knobs on an MRP-2000. Hand-tighten only,
The rails are thin-walled mechanical tubes and pliers will make flat-spots and indentations. This takes away from the accuracy of the gage and the knobs will set in the existing indentation every time, instead of at the desired location.
The ridges on the knobs can wear off quickly if you use pliers, and then the knobs can no longer be sufficiently tightened.
» MRP Wear Pads
Check the wear pads for excessive wear. Replace pads if there is 0.010″ difference from across the length or width of the pad.
A worn pad changes the location of the gage plane on a tapered connection and leads to inaccurate measurements.
» Functional Roll Gage Roll Screws
Occasionally replace screws
Old fasteners may unscrew during operation.
When the “thread lock” wears off the screws after many change-overs, the screws tend to “lock-up” the rolls when tightened. The rolls are supposed to rotate during gaging and reduce the amount of wear.
» Indicator Set Screws & Split Bushings
Do NOT over-tighten the set screw that holds the indicator in place.
Always use the appropriate split bushing
Never tighten directly onto the indicator stem… it will bend.
» Indicator Travel
Check that the indicator stem moves free and clear and does not bind.
» MIC TRAC Blocks
Store in a dry environment (foam plastic case).
Do NOT store them in direct contact with wood or in a wood box. This can lead to rusting.
» Setting Standards
Immediately send dropped Rod or Frame style standards for calibration!
Look for more Gagemaker Helpful Hints in the months ahead!
Related Articles:
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Gagemaker, LP develops and manufactures innovative precision mechanical inspection equipment for the Oilfield, Automotive and General Machining industries. Recognized as the leading provider of Tapered & Straight Thread Measurement Gages; API Products, Tubing and Casing Gages, Engineering Software and Calibration Software & Equipment, Gagemaker products are used in countless facilities around the world.