Measurement Tools for Machining

Measurement tools are used to verify that a part’s dimensions conform to required tolerances. They include calipers, micrometers, gages, ¸ßÅâÂÊÁùºÏ²Ês and profilometers.

Common Methods for Measuring Workpiece Radii
Measurement

Common Methods for Measuring Workpiece Radii

With today’s complicated and very high-precision parts, workpiece radii can have a variety of shapes and contours. Sophisticated tools can help simplify the measurement process.

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ESSENTIAL READING

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Basics

How to Evaluate Measurement Uncertainty

Manufacturing and measurement are closely coupled. An important consideration for the use of measurement results is the associated measurement uncertainty. This article describes common metrology terms and provides an example uncertainty analysis.

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6 Machine Shop Essentials to Stay Competitive

If you want to streamline production and be competitive in the industry, you will need far more than a standard three-axis CNC mill or two-axis CNC lathe and a few measuring tools.

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How to Choose the Correct Fixed-Body Plug Gaging Solution

The two types of fixed-body plug gages are both accurate, fast and easy to use. Consider these factors when selecting one for your gaging application.

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Basics

Rethink Quality Control to Increase Productivity, Decrease Scrap

Verifying parts is essential to documenting quality, and there are a few best practices that can make the quality control process more efficient.

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Basics

How to Calibrate Gages and Certify Calibration Programs

Tips for establishing and maintaining a regular gage calibration program.

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How to Choose the Correct Measuring Tool for Any Application

There are many options to choose from when deciding on a dimensional measurement tool. Consider these application-based factors when selecting a measurement solution.

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Latest Measurement News And Updates

Zeiss Blue Light Scanner Accelerates Part Digitization

PMTS 2025: The ATOS Q blue-light 3D scanner combines high-tech electronics and optics with robust design and software to provide high-precision measurement results across diverse applications.

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Machines

Prime Technical Services Monitoring Solutions Support Lights-Out Manufacturing

PMTS 2025: Prime Technical Services Inc. showcases CNC tool monitoring and process control from Caron Engineering, as well as smart manufacturing solutions from Blum-Novotest Inc.

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Marathon Precision’s Engineering Playground: One Shop’s Secret to Sustaining High Tech, Low-Volume and High Morale

Half an airplane on the wall, a ten-foot metal dragon, and a full-blown recording studio might not scream “manufacturing efficiency,” yet Marathon Precision proves otherwise. Here’s how forging, complex CNC operations and staff-driven creative projects combine to fuel the shop’s productivity and profitability.

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Zeiss Showcases Innovative Metrology Technology at Online Event

Zeiss will reveal seven new metrology technologies and software updates at its Zeiss Live Tech Reveal on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET.

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Renishaw Measurement System Provides Flexible, High-Volume Gaging

PMTS 2025: Equator measurement systems are designed to provide a fast, highly repeatable and versatile gage for shopfloor use.

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Measurement

Simplicity Meets Function in Starrett Programmable Indicator

Programmable, touchscreen-controlled indicators like Starrett’s W4900 can perform a wider range of tasks than either dial or traditional digital counterparts while proving simpler to use.

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Featured Posts

Automation

Automating Fixed-Body Plug Gaging

How tight-tolerance gaging and in-process automation can converge to streamline manufacturing processes.

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Automating Double-Flank Gear Testing

The form and surface finish of individual gears are becoming more demanding. Automated double-flank rolling tests are a particularly realistic measurement that simulates the behavior of the gears in operation.

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Holemaking

Measuring Torque, Thrust Force for Smart Drilling Operations

To monitor drilling operations for smart manufacturing solutions, torque and thrust force can be measured.

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A 100-Year-Old Measurement Tool That is Still Used Today

The reed mechanism was a breakthrough in high-precision measurement and is still used today for sub-micron or even nanometer resolution applications.

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Building Temperature Compensation Into the Gaging Station

As production tolerances become ever tighter and the error margin for measurement results shrinks, manufacturers must consider thermal fluctuations in their inspection processes.

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Measurement

Visible Touch: Tactile Sensor Enables Multi-Purpose Inspection

Not only can Gelsight’s tactile sensor detect and evaluate defects, but it can also measure part features, surface roughness and even contamination.

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FAQ: Measurement

What is a caliper?

Calipers, which can be Vernier, dial or digital, are versatile tools for basic length measurement. They can be used on the shop floor, in the inspection room or even in the home by hobbyists.

Source: Caliper Tips And Tricks

What is a micrometer?

A micrometer consists of two opposing surfaces, a stationary anvil and a moveable spindle. On most micrometers, these hardened steel or carbide-tipped contact surfaces are flat. However, micrometers can also be equipped with contact tips with unique forms for measuring special part characteristics.

Convenience is one of the reasons the micrometer is often the tool of choice for length/diameter measurements. The basic micrometer provides direct size information quickly, has high resolution and is easily adaptable to many different measurement applications.

Source: How to choose a micrometer that fits your needs

What is a gauge?

Gages are indirect reading instruments. The measurement units live not on the scale but off-site (for example, in a calibration room), and a master or other standard object acts as their substitute. The workpiece is compared against the master and only indirectly against the measurement units. The gage thus evaluates not the dimension itself, but the difference between the mastered dimension and the workpiece dimension. Examples of these comparative gages include an adjustable bore gage, mechanical snap gages or bench stands with dial indicators.

Gages tend to be faster and more accurate than measuring instruments. This is because they are dedicated to a particular size, and over their short range, they produce higher resolution and hence, greater accuracy.

Source: When Gaging Becomes Measuring That Becomes Gaging

What does ¸ßÅâÂÊÁùºÏ²Ê mean?

A coordinate measuring machine (¸ßÅâÂÊÁùºÏ²Ê) is a measurement tool that consists of a motion system, a probing system, a computer and measurement software.

Source: Machining 101: What Are Coordinate Measuring Machines?

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