If your industry relies on incredibly precise measurements and components that are assembled with mathematical certainty, it's important that you invest in tools that will allow you to achieve those goals. Purchasing a reliable set of thread plug gages is a great way to constantly verify that your components will fit together as designed, but the tools themselves could be at risk if you're not careful to use them properly.
Below, you'll find a few suggestions that should help you maintain your thread plug gages for reliable and consistent usage. Following these tips is a great way to make sure that you receive accurate measurements every time and can put you in a position to generate reliable results that you know your customers will always be able to count on.
Proper Force Application
Finding the right balance of force when you use your thread plug gages may feel like a trial and error system, but it's an incredibly important task that you should be sure not to pass up.
If you apply too much pressure, your gages could damage the threaded connection they're attempting to measure. On occasion, damage to the gages themselves may occur, leaving you struggling to determine if your readings are as accurate as you want them to be.
Professionally constructed thread plug gages will be sure to fit snugly into a threaded hole without any force or cajoling necessary.
One good way to make sure you don't accidentally end up misapplying force is to only have the gage available that is specifically designed to fit into a specific slot. This way, there's no risk of picking up and improperly sized tool and forcing it where it doesn't go, and you can be sure that your tools and your inventory will both remain strong and reliable.
Full Length Measurements
Some of the biggest stresses on the tips of your thread plug gages come in the insertion and removal process. If your attempts to expedite your checking process involve you using one gage many times in rapid succession, you may be more likely to cause structural damage to the gage and, simultaneously, receive inaccurate measurements. This method can also leave you vulnerable to manufacturing deficiencies which may appear further down a threaded shaft.
Be sure to use your thread plug gages to measure the full length of a threaded surface if at all possible. Some connection points are designed to be shallow and thus won't be able to accept the full gage, and in those cases, it's important to follow the suggestions above about proper force. When available, however, using the full surface of your gage may be the best way to receive accurate readings.
Utilizing Both Ends
Both the "go" and "no go" ends of your thread plug gage fulfill a vital role in verifying the strength and usability of a given component. Putting too much repetitive stress on one end of the gage, as mentioned above, can put you in a position where it quickly wears down. Even with proper storage, you may find yourself with a damaged gage that suddenly risks the integrity of your operation.
Rather than settling for substandard results, checking both threads and rings with both ends of your thread plug gage will help guarantee repeated results that allow for customer satisfaction in every component. Rather than processing returns and new runs, you can be confident that your manufacturing process will be successful the first time.
The experts at WESTport Corporation will help guarantee you have access to the precise gage that will meet your manufacturing needs. Relying on our expertise is the first step in securing your manufacturing process for many years to come.
