Precise inspection of grooves and incisions using gauge blocks
Gauge blocks are small, cuboid blocks that play a major role in metal construction. They can be used to check products, test equipment and tools quickly and with high precision. Gauge blocks are a variant used to check grooves, holes and milled grooves.
Everything under control with the gauge block box
The gauge block is an extremely important tool for metal fabricators and quality inspectors. It can be used to check a wide range of dimensions to within a thousandth of a millimeter. Its underlying intrinsic dimension is “tv”. This represents the “tolerance for the deviation margin” and is specified in micrometers.
- Accuracy grade 2: tv 0.3 µm at 10 mm measuring length – tv 1 µm at 1000 mm measuring length
- Accuracy grade 1: tv 0.16 µm at 10 mm measuring length – tv 0.6 µm at 1000 mm measuring length
- Accuracy grade 0: tv 0.1 µm at 10 mm measuring length – tv 0.4 µm at 1000 mm measuring length
- Degree of accuracy K: tv 0.05 µm at 10 mm measuring length – tv 0.25 µm at 1000 mm measuring length
In practice, tolerance classes 1 and 2 are mainly used. Gauge block boxes with a higher tolerance are mainly used for calibrating measuring equipment and test devices. Class K gauge blocks easily cost 100 times as much as those in class 2.
A particularly practical feature is that the gauge blocks stick together without the use of adhesives or magnets. Due to their high precision, there are hardly any accumulated tolerance deviations. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, you should always combine as few blocks as possible to check for parallelism.
Cost-effective safety with parallelism and dimensional accuracy
Checking the parallelism of a keyway, bore or bushing is very important. It ensures that sliding elements such as sliding blocks, pistons or pins can be installed easily and without play. Gauge blocks ensure that this backlash-free sliding is guaranteed over the entire distance.
