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contactpoints
Back to the Basics:
Contact Points: Truncated or Not?
Keep in Contact
Gagemaker uses contact point (or contact ball) gages to inspect lead, taper, height, and
pitch diameter on nearly any type of thread. Generally, these gages require two contact
points. Our points are interchangeable, one set of points often can be used on different
types of inspection gages. For best results, we still recommend one set of points for each gage.
contact-point-close
Our contact points are carbide spheres precision ground to tolerances of +0.0002″. This method produces a more accurate radius than the traditional grinding down of a barrel to create a ball.
While we do offer straight shank contact points, threaded shank points are our most common, as all of our contact point gages use threaded points. Threaded shanks are broken into spherical and truncated points.
While most of our points are spherical*, truncated points are used to measure pitch diameters of certain straight threads, primarily Acme, Stub Acme, and the modified Stub Acme threads.
pitch-diameter-points
Truncated points ensure contact on the flanks at the pitchline, just as if using a mic-over-wire method. Non-truncated points would bottom out on the thread’s root (no longer touching the flanks at the pitchline).
*UN Series, Metric, 7×45 Buttress, and nearly all tapered threads (tubing & casing and rotary shouldered connections) use spherical points in measuring most thread elements.
Note: Remember when setting a gage with truncated points to set on the truncated surface of the point. Our set-to-flat values compensate for the truncation.
Look for more Gagemaker’s Back to the Basics in the months ahead!
Functional Thread Size Gages
Pitch Diameter Size Gages
Thread Lead Gages
Thread Profile Templates
Functional Rolls
Pitch Diameter Ball Contacts
TDWIN Thread Calculation Software
MIC TRAC 3000 Series
Gagemaker Videos:
Tapered Thread Inspection System
Explore Tapered Thread Inspection with Our New Video
Gagemaker Tapered Thread Inspection Systems
Gagemaker Tapered Thread Inspection Systems
Gagemaker has released a new video giving a full look at everything you need to inspect tapered threads, whether they are rotary shouldered connections, tubing, casing or pipe. Pitch Diameter, Thread Taper, Thread Lead, Thread Form, and Thread Height are all covered.
Over the years, we’ve also made a few helpful instructional videos, and now, you can find them on Gagemaker’s Youtube channel.
Look for the new more detailed RSC and Tubing & Casing Videos soon to be released…
…and then watch for more in the months ahead!
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Gagemaker White Paper
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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.