Precision is paramount when it comes to manufacturing intricate parts. Imperceptible variations can spell the difference between a product that’s ready for market and one that gets sent to the scrap heap. Fortunately, manufacturers have a myriad of tools at their disposal for quality control. We’re here to take a closer look at air gaging instruments to assess if they indeed are the key to maintaining that vital precision needed for superior quality control.
Advantages of Air Gaging Instruments
To start, air gaging is a high-precision measurement method that operates under the principle of comparing a part’s dimensions to a precisely controlled gap of air. It offers several advantages that arguably make it an optimal choice for quality control tasks. Air gaging instruments are inherently fast, offering real-time readings without any significant lag since they don’t experience traditional wear like their physical contact counterparts. Further, they are exquisitely sensitive, making them capable of detecting deviations that might be too fine for other measuring tools.
These gages are also ideal for delicate workpieces or those with soft, polished, or sensitive surfaces, as they don’t cause marring or damage during measurement. Given air’s compressibility, this method is excellent for creating and working with exceptionally small tolerances. Regarding non-destructive testing, air gaging is often preferable because it is non-contact and traceable to national and international standards.
Applications in Quality Control
This all translates to air gaging instruments being fast and precise options, making them valuable in a range of manufacturing applications. They’re extensively used in the automotive sector for engine and powertrain components, particularly when measuring critical dimensions such as crankshaft journals or camshaft lobes. In the production of aero-engines, an application that demands stringent quality standards, air gaging plays a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of part geometries.
Complex machined parts, small bores, and features with tight dimensional tolerances all benefit from the application of air gaging. In gear manufacturing, air gaging provides the fine measurements necessary for checking many critical facets of gear quality. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry utilizes air gaging for precise measurements in the manufacturing of medical devices and drug delivery systems.
Considerations for Implementation
As you can now see, air gage instruments are indeed a key component of quality control in many industries. However, before implementing these tools in your business, several critical considerations warrant attention, including the following:
- Cost-effectiveness: While air gage setups can be more expensive initially, they often prove to be cost-effective in the long run, particularly when reduced maintenance and replacement expenses are factored in.
- Operator training: As with any specialized equipment, ensuring operators are properly trained is essential to realize the full benefits and potential of air gaging instruments.
- Environmental conditions: Consistent air supply and stable environmental conditions are crucial for the reliable operation of air gaging systems.
- Trends in quality reporting: With the increasing prevalence of smart factories and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), integrating air gaging with digital quality reports can provide invaluable insights.
After looking over these considerations for implementing air gage equipment, it’s time to decide if your company should buy them. If you want tools that’ll suit your business the best, you should take a look at our custom air gages. We have plenty of options and variations that’ll work perfectly for any type of business.