Why use air gaging?
Air gaging is a very fast, efficient and reliable method of measuring. It is designed to be used on workpieces with tolerances of 0.005” or smaller. The resolution and repeatability of the measurement can be in the millionths of an inch. Because air gaging is a non-contact method, it is useful for measuring soft, highly polished, thin walled and other materials susceptible to marking. Air gaging is extremely easy to use and requires no special skills for the operator. Multiple operators will achieve the same or nearly the same measuring results when measuring the same part, thus taking operator technique out of the measurement results. This is a problem when you are using a contact gage such as a micrometer or dial bore gage.
Air gaging can be used to measure complex geometric tolerances such as diameter, taper, parallelism, squareness, flatness and matching of components in a very fast and efficient method.
Many of today’s columns and/or measuring computers can become an integral part of the manufacturing cell with communication to robotic loaders and the ability to send offset values to the machine, which allows for around the clock manufacturing with 100 percent inspection of workpieces.
Air gaging systems operate at air pressures that can remove contaminates such as abrasive particles and coolant, which will eliminate the need for a separate cleaning in most applications. The air tooling has no moving parts and therefore has a very long and dependable service life.
Here is a list of 10 benefits of using air gaging:
• Fast. The measurement is extremely fast. Great for 100 percent inspection of high-volume parts. Measurement takes only seconds and can be done inline, in many operations.
• High precision measuring results. Air gaging can repeat measurements in the sub-micron range (millionths of an inch range) with a very high degree of accuracy.
• No special training. Multiple operators will achieve similar results in measurements without special training. Ideal for the busy shop where everybody multi-tasks nowadays.
• Easy to use. Goes hand in hand with no special training, as air gaging requires just a few quick steps.
• Non-contact. Air gaging is non-contact and will not damage your parts. Sensitive components and delicate webbed structures can be measured without risk of damage.
• Self-cleaning. Because the air is blowing across the surface being measured, any dust or coolant will be cleaned from the part. This saves considerable prep time and related costs for the shop.
• No moving parts. This provides for longevity of the gaging system. If the air supply is consistent and clean, air gages can last for many years.
• Small diameters. Air gaging can be used to measure extremely small diameters. Less than .6mm on an inside diameter is possible.
• Taper measurements. Air is a quick and accurate way to measure tapers. Can display in degrees, minutes, seconds, taper per foot and many more.
• Small lands or thin-walled parts. Will not distort the part on thin walls.