Mike1974
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2014
- Location
- Tampa area
Reliably measuring small internal features (+/_.0002") IN MACHINE (cost efficient)
Ok, posting here as it seems the most appropriate, but hoping it doesn't get "lost" as this doesn't seem to be a popular sub-forum.
I am looking for ideas to check small internal features (per the title) in the machine. They are small, but easily accessible. Needing to measure within about +/-.0002-.0003". Feature size would mostly range .03"-.07" (or there-abouts..) with depths of .050-.100" deep. We have a vision system (so verifying numbers isn't really the issue), however we need to get as close as possible in machine measurements, as parts take some time to machine, and finding out it is out of spec after removing from machine is getting time consuming...
A couple ideas floated ----
Tenth set pins (deltronic, target size, etc) _ would be great, and accurate for our needs, but spendy considering we have a relatively large range of sizes and these only cover +/-.0012"
Molding compound _ just thought of this while posting, but not sure a vision system would be reliable with this depending on voids and "flash"... could you actually use a mic on this stuff after it sets? is there shrinkage? is it expensive/take a long time to set?
What have I missed?? ID mics I have seen start at .2"... Bore gages (would be a PITA imo having to rock them for and aft and left to right and up and down) ..maybe, but smallest I have seen again starts around .2-.25" In machine probing, maybe (?) but the stylus would need to be around .5mm/.020" and not sure how accuracy is affected at these numbers (Haas machines*). Small hole gages -too finicky, see bore gages, plus not direct reading.
I tried a search for small gage blocks, like .020-.030 etc, but would need these in multiples AND need tenths (.0201, .0202, .0203 etc), did not find anything... Shop made gages are pretty much out of the picture as we have one really crappy surface grinder (and only maybe 2 guys that 'might' be able to do it, including myself). We do have Sodick wedm, but not sure if they could hold +/-.0001 to make "gage block" like blocks, plus surface finish issues...
*Just want to address the Haas issue before the peanut gallery gets here (LoL!). We can make these things fine, once we dial in comp, it is just trying to get there with a reliable in machine inspection we are trying to improve...
Ok, posting here as it seems the most appropriate, but hoping it doesn't get "lost" as this doesn't seem to be a popular sub-forum.
I am looking for ideas to check small internal features (per the title) in the machine. They are small, but easily accessible. Needing to measure within about +/-.0002-.0003". Feature size would mostly range .03"-.07" (or there-abouts..) with depths of .050-.100" deep. We have a vision system (so verifying numbers isn't really the issue), however we need to get as close as possible in machine measurements, as parts take some time to machine, and finding out it is out of spec after removing from machine is getting time consuming...
A couple ideas floated ----
Tenth set pins (deltronic, target size, etc) _ would be great, and accurate for our needs, but spendy considering we have a relatively large range of sizes and these only cover +/-.0012"
Molding compound _ just thought of this while posting, but not sure a vision system would be reliable with this depending on voids and "flash"... could you actually use a mic on this stuff after it sets? is there shrinkage? is it expensive/take a long time to set?
What have I missed?? ID mics I have seen start at .2"... Bore gages (would be a PITA imo having to rock them for and aft and left to right and up and down) ..maybe, but smallest I have seen again starts around .2-.25" In machine probing, maybe (?) but the stylus would need to be around .5mm/.020" and not sure how accuracy is affected at these numbers (Haas machines*). Small hole gages -too finicky, see bore gages, plus not direct reading.
I tried a search for small gage blocks, like .020-.030 etc, but would need these in multiples AND need tenths (.0201, .0202, .0203 etc), did not find anything... Shop made gages are pretty much out of the picture as we have one really crappy surface grinder (and only maybe 2 guys that 'might' be able to do it, including myself). We do have Sodick wedm, but not sure if they could hold +/-.0001 to make "gage block" like blocks, plus surface finish issues...
*Just want to address the Haas issue before the peanut gallery gets here (LoL!). We can make these things fine, once we dial in comp, it is just trying to get there with a reliable in machine inspection we are trying to improve...