How to Measure Workpieces with Complex Structures?
Non-standard Measuring Tools Can Help! - Mitutoyo
In your daily work, when measuring length, diameter, and height, you undoubtedly think of using standard Mitutoyo tools like micrometers and Vernier calipers. These standard tools are primarily suitable for products with relatively simple external structures. However, in manufacturing, we often encounter workpieces with complex shapes—such as narrow grooves, recesses, tubular objects, and more—that are difficult to measure accurately with standard tools.
To address this, Mitutoyo has designed and developed a series of special purpose measuring tools aimed at solving these measurement challenges, making your measurements simpler!
We will introduce some special tools you might find useful by looking at several common complex structures, hoping this aids your measurement tasks.
01. For Narrow Grooves
Narrow groove structures mostly require evaluating their diameter. In this case, you can choose a Blade Micrometer. Its measuring faces are blade-shaped, making it well-suited for such shapes.
Alternatively, a Blade Caliper can also be used to measure such products.
02. For Recesses / Grooves
Recessed shapes are often found on the inside of tubular objects, where standard anvils have difficulty reaching the narrow areas. Using a Caliper-Type Micrometer for Recesses allows access to these areas, enabling accurate measurement of the recess wall thickness.
Furthermore, an External Recess Micrometer can be used to measure the outer diameter of a recess wall's thickness.
03. For Tubular Objects
Tubular objects are often cylindrical. Standard measuring tools can measure their outer diameter, but when measuring the inner diameter, insufficient contact between the anvil or jaw tips can lead to inaccurate measurements. To solve this problem, we recommend using a Caliper-Type Internal Micrometer or an Internal Caliper.
Types of Internal Calipers:
04. For Gears
Gear products often require evaluation of the "base tangent length" for spur and helical gears. Conventional anvils have difficulty making full contact with the workpiece surface. Therefore, we recommend using a Disk Micrometer to solve this challenge.
05. For Threads
Threads refer to the spiral, continuous projections with a specific cross-section made on the surface of a cylindrical or conical parent body, often used in mechanical parts and fasteners. For evaluating the pitch diameter of threads, we recommend a Thread Micrometer which can directly read the pitch diameter (no calculation needed) and has interchangeable anvils.
06. For Splines
Spline structures are often used in transmission components and frequently require evaluation of the spline shaft and groove diameters. For this, a Spline Micrometer with small-diameter anvils is an excellent helper for measuring such workpieces.
Technology is evolving, products are upgrading, and the future of measurement brings with it ever-new challenges. Based on over 90 years of technical expertise in the measurement field, Mitutoyo will continue to focus on market needs and strive to develop and manufacture products that exceed customer expectations!