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What is Metrology?

Metrology Science

The science of measurement is known as metrology. The metrology field is responsible for the global standardization of units of measurement. In the United States, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is largely responsible for setting, maintaining, and updating national measurement standards.

 Metrology is divided into three different subfields: 

  • Scientific metrology (creating and establishing units of measurement)
  • Legal metrology (legal requirements for measurement instruments)
  • Industrial metrology (technical applications for metrology)

Manufacturers rely on established industrial metrology practices to facilitate processes in a comprehensive array of applications.

Industrial Metrology

Industrial metrology—also called applied metrology—refers to the broad range of gauges and other instruments used to provide precise measurements for manufacturing processes, liquid and gas process flows, pipelines, transportation equipment, and more. Standardized national and global industrial metrology best practices provide industrial stakeholders with the means to make sure critical instruments remain properly calibrated. 

These calibrated instruments are crucial for meeting machining tolerances, ensuring accurate raw material measurements, verifying shipping weights, and much more.

The Importance of Metrology in Manufacturing

Manufacturers rely on metrology equipment for exacting material measurements and for creating parts with complex geometries. Over time, gauges and other equipment will become misaligned due to continuous exposure to environmental and process factors such as vibration, humidity, impacts, and more. 

Trained metrologists often work in quality assurance at manufacturers, ensuring that produced parts meet all required design specifications. If the measurements are off, the metrologist can recalibrate the machinery. Many manufacturers also use regularly scheduled third-party calibration professionals to ensure all process gauges and equipment function optimally.

Machine shops and other manufacturing environments rely on thread plug gauges to verify the functionality of threaded holes. Multiple types of thread gauges exist, including:

  • Solid thread ring gauges
  • Adjustable thread ring gauges
  • Thread caliper gauges

Thread Plug Gauges (Gages)

Thread plug gauges assure the assembly of mating parts and provide quality control for production runs of threaded parts. Differing gauge classes each serve different purposes:

  • Class 1A has the greatest range of tolerance
  • Classes 2A and 2B are the most common varieties
  • Class 3A has the closest tolerance and is used when safety and strength are concerned

Thread gauges are typically used to check tapped holes in a component, which is a simple method for inspecting threads. Thread gauges are a simple and effective solution in nearly any application where the functionality of threaded holes must be checked. 

A GO/NO-GO thread gauge inspects a threaded part based on its pitch diameter. The results are simple to interpret: 

  • A GO reading means the hole threads appropriately without undue force
  • A NO-GO means the hole does not thread properly 

GO/NO-GO thread gauges are available in a broad range of sizes and thread measurements to assist in the verification of nearly any pitch diameter or major internal diameter.

High Quality Metrology Products from Tanfel

Tanfel Metrology offers high-quality GO/NO-GO thread plug gauges for a broad range of applications. By selling directly to our customers without distributors, we can offer significant savings on our full range of thread plug gauges.

 

Please contact us with any questions about our metrology solutions.