Measuring System Guide

There are also some other nations who adopt other systems rather than the metric system on their measuring systems, but the basic concepts are all the same regarding the units, metrics, systems, measuring, and the overall demonstration methods. 

Digital Measuring System with Dial Indicators

Traditional dial indicators are measuring device, which are one of the most primary measuring tools utilized in the precision manufacturing process. People read the scales printed on the piece and make their adjustments. For instance, in the engine building, they are typically used to measure deck clearances, crankshaft thrust and straightness. Lifter travel and other measurements that involve the distance between two surfaces or small amounts of component travel are also common in the dial indicator inventory.

Now many dial indicators are designed as digital, making this device more comprehensive on data transmission. Digital dial indicators aim at comparing measurements between two objects so inspection technicians can check the conformity of one of the objects and send the data to the measuring systems. During the comparison, the second one is normally the reference for the first one. The dial indicator can be used in many objects while for the final checking shall also be checked by other precision devices such as the CMM system. 

Digital Measuring System with Vernier Caliper

If the dial indicators are designed for telling the deck clearance, then the Vernier calipers are designed for the distance measurement. Varnier calipers are often used in precision inspection for length and distance such as diameter values. The checked values are used as the primary means for the accuracy testing due to its fast and precise capacity of the inspection. A Vernier scale can also be integrated into measuring systems though it is a small device that is based on visual aid, but it can tell the accurate measurement reading of checked values between two graduation markings on a linear scale volume by using mechanical interpolation.

This linear scale checking can increase resolution and reduce measurement uncertainty concerns by using the so called Vernier acuity to reduce man made errors and the data connection between the device with the measurement system help to calibrate the outcome. In most of Chinese speaking areas, the values are demonstrated by the metric system, since the metric system was imported at the very beginning in the old days. Most of the Chinese speakers use metric systems on the measurement system and this trend affects the manufacturers’ default settings of those systems of units. 

Measuring System with CMM Machines

The coordinate measuring machines can be recognized as a single system by its own. It contains several units and measurements that are connected inside the CMM measurement system, such as the probe, axis, light, working table, base, columns, etc. For the CMM devices, there are many types of probes which are adopted in CMM systems, including mechanical, optical, laser, and even white light.

Based on the machine models, the probe position may be manually controlled by an onsite operator or computer based on the programming and planning. In practical usages, CMM systems typically specify a probe's position in terms of the displacement from a reference position in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, which are with XYZ axes system of units for measuring as planned in the drawings. 

Axes of the Measuring Systems

In order to move the probes along the X, Y, and Z axes of the CMM, many machines allow the probe angle to be managed to allow measurement of surfaces that would otherwise be unreachable. In the machine tool industry, the CMM equipment is widely used and connected to the entire measuring system to do precision measurement for the work piece as well as other objects. This endeavor can achieve the intended accurate processing within the intended standard. CMM is widely used in the machinery industry, and the deployment of CMM devices in the grinding process by machinery is very common in the industry.

For the manufacturing industry, machine tools are the most fundamental capital goods for manufacturers since grinding, polishing, buffing are the final steps for their production lines. So these types of machineries play the critical roles that determine the final outcome of their products, and the measuring of the polishing and grinding values are critical.

CMM Machine and Other Measuring Units Embedded in Machining Tools

To improve the processing accuracy and the overall quality of the capital machineries, suppliers of machine tools are now embedding measuring systems as well as other metric measurement units into the machine tools such as milling centers and cylindrical grinding machines. Also, many machining centers are now designed with CMM machines that are embedded into the machining centers itself as one of the critical accessories that support the precision measuring actions operated on the top notch machining centers.

Those measuring machines can do a lot of calibrations onto the work piece items, so things like processed gears, propellers, engine cases, wing flaps, chassis, cylinders, and many other precision parts of automotive and airplanes are put to measurement process while they are machined.

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