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Appreciating the Different Types of Thread Gages Used for Measuring

The small components that you use in your machine shop are critical to your ability to handle repair or assembly projects and serve your customers. To ensure that parts like screws, bolts, and nuts can be used effectively, you need to gauge the threads on them. Gauging the threads calls for you to use special tools designed for measuring them. These different types of thread gages can make counting threads on these parts easier for you and your staff.

Leaf Gauge

A leaf gauge is a thread gage that fans out like a leaf when you use it. Its design has also been likened to a Swiss Army knife. It is especially useful for measuring a wide array of threads. It can even be used on parts that have the same thread diameters on several pitches.

Its compact, fanned out design makes it quick and easy to use. However, it is not as effective for measuring the full circumference of thread. Still, when you want a thread gage that offers versatile measuring, you could keep a leaf gauge on hand in your shop.

Ring Gauge

Ring gauges are used to measure the threads on parts like bolts and screws. These parts are said to have male threads on them. The ring gauge that you use on them can measure both diameter and pitch. 

As their name implies, ring gauges are round in design and have a hole in their center. They are not quite as versatile as leaf gauges. However, they come in a variety of sizes to ensure that you can measure screws and bolts of all dimensions.

Plug Gauges

Plug gauges are used to measure the threads in nuts, which have female threads. A plug gauge features a cylindrical design with gauges on each end. It can be placed inside of a nut to measure the interior threads. Its design makes it more versatile for measuring threads in cylindrical or round parts than leaf or ring gauges.

These types of thread gages are a few that are available to you. They are useful for counting or measuring threads in small parts like bolts, nuts, and screws. They also ensure that the components that you have on hand can be used for repairs and assembly projects. These gauges vary in design and function. Their designs allow them to go around or be inserted in parts to measure the threads.

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