Cody's Lab: How do Gauge Blocks Stick?

Spyderedge · Feb 14, 2017

Besides some slight gauge block abuse I thought this might be a good video to post. If he does an update to this video, or shows if they do, infact, cold weld after a long period of time, I'll post it in this thread.

I have some blocks I ground using a 150 grit wheel wrung together for weeks on end and they didn't cold weld. Although not lapped, I couldn't see the needle move on a tenths indicator while measuring them. I wonder if a vacuum changes that and provides the proper conditions to weld like gold nanowires for microscopic electronics work.

Spyderedge · Feb 14, 2017

And here is a short clip of gold nanowires "cold welding"

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

dian · Feb 27, 2017

his experiment doesnt make sense to me, he should check if block stick in the vacuum and not let the air in.

Larry Dickman · Feb 27, 2017

what a complete load of shit, and an absolute waste of time.

DMF_TomB · Feb 27, 2017

37 years of using gage blocks and not once could i not get them apart

SteveBausch · Feb 27, 2017

Perhaps this cold-welding is a prerequisite for one of those "something for nothing" processes?

DMF_TomB · Feb 27, 2017

i have seen tight fitting assembled steel parts rust together fairly solid. like who hasnt had nuts and bolts stuck together where they would not come apart.
.
usually gage block material is fairly durable for intended use. i usually just wipe on piece of paper and they stick together with wringing motion. only ones that do not stick are scratched ones being used on a part slot to check slot width. after checking slots a few hundred times they tend not to stick together as easily

bryan_machine · Feb 27, 2017

There is a paper on gauge blocks by NIST, if anybody cares I'll hunt up the title. If you read this paper (written some years ago) you will find that the bit where gauge blocks wring together:
a. Has been studied for nearly 100 years, with no good explanation so far. By the way it's been known to NOT be due to air pressure since the beginning.
b. Exotic stuff has been tried to explain it and failed.
c. It's not cold welding - that's a real thing, but is not what wringing is.

DMF_TomB · Feb 27, 2017

bryan_machine said:
There is a paper on gauge blocks by NIST, if anybody cares I'll hunt up the title. If you read this paper (written some years ago) you will find that the bit where gauge blocks wring together:
a. Has been studied for nearly 100 years, with no good explanation so far. By the way it's been known to NOT be due to air pressure since the beginning.
b. Exotic stuff has been tried to explain it and failed.
c. It's not cold welding - that's a real thing, but is not what wringing is.

.
.
i was told it was a type of molecular attraction. not magnetic but a similar type of attraction that occurs on precisely the same shape surfaces usually flat. when round shaft stuck in round bore usually just say it galled or little tears on material come off from material sticking together. also seen on cutting tools and lack of lubricant you get false cutting edge buildup or cut material sticking to cutting edge.
.
lost of times metal sticks when clean and dry

gustafson · Feb 27, 2017

bryan_machine said:
There is a paper on gauge blocks by NIST, if anybody cares I'll hunt up the title. If you read this paper (written some years ago) you will find that the bit where gauge blocks wring together:
a. Has been studied for nearly 100 years, with no good explanation so far. By the way it's been known to NOT be due to air pressure since the beginning.
b. Exotic stuff has been tried to explain it and failed.
c. It's not cold welding - that's a real thing, but is not what wringing is.

It was my understanding it was basically a type of adhesion, being so flat the two objects can get so close that they can exchange electrons and adhere

don't think it is a mystery

Eric M · Feb 27, 2017

It's called "The Gauge Block Handbook". https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/documents/calibrations/mono180.pdf

bryan_machine said:
There is a paper on gauge blocks by NIST, if anybody cares I'll hunt up the title. If you read this paper (written some years ago) you will find that the bit where gauge blocks wring together:
a. Has been studied for nearly 100 years, with no good explanation so far. By the way it's been known to NOT be due to air pressure since the beginning.
b. Exotic stuff has been tried to explain it and failed.
c. It's not cold welding - that's a real thing, but is not what wringing is.

niemi24s · Feb 28, 2017

Vaguely recall reading somewhere that the "sticking" may be the result of Van der Waals force: Van der Waals force - Wikipedia

The real Leigh · Feb 28, 2017

Spyderedge said:
I have some blocks I ground using a 150 grit wheel wrung together for weeks on end and they didn't cold weld. Although not lapped, I couldn't see the needle move on a tenths indicator while measuring them.

150 grit and a tenths indicator ? ? ?

This has nothing to do with gage blocks.

Thread closed.

- Leigh

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Cody's Lab: How do Gauge Blocks Stick?

Spyderedge

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Spyderedge

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dian

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Larry Dickman

Titanium

DMF_TomB

Diamond

SteveBausch

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DMF_TomB

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bryan_machine

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DMF_TomB

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gustafson

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Eric M

Cast Iron

niemi24s

Aluminum

The real Leigh

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