In order to determine which type of gage is best for shaft inspection, various aspects of shaft production and features need to be considered.

Consolidation is something we’ve all done. It’s efficient and can help save time and space and naturally leads to greater organization and productivity.

Here’s a thought: what if you could also perform multiple measuring tasks at the same time, on the same part with one machine, right there on the factory floor?

When a shop begins the manufacture of rotating shafts, they frequently turn to their conventional CMM for part validation. However, this is often a case of using the tool that is at hand, rather than one designed for the job. 

Most of us have had occasion to (or even reluctantly needed to) put a hammer to a nail, which makes the above analogy so relatable. 

The simple shaft is one of the ubiquitous items in every mechanical system. Shafts contain a number of key functional elements, such as splines, tapers, grooves, threads, cams and gears, which all have associated critical dimensions to allow these mechanical systems to perform the function for which they were designed.

Pick up any shaft or threaded fastener. How are you going to check it? An outside micrometer is most often the go-to tool for measuring diameters. A height gage or drop indicator could be used to check dimensions between part features, while an optical comparator is a good way to inspect thread forms or measure a groove width.

You may be unfamiliar with the term “optical shaft metrology.” But you’ve no doubt experienced the advantages of this technology. Traveling by car or airplane, for example. In fact, it might surprise you to learn that anytime you’ve used a machine with an electric motor, a turbo charger, fuel injection, precision bearings, transaxles or spindles, chances are good you’ve benefited from optical shaft metrology.

Adcole Corporation is proud to introduce the LightSCOPE™ optical measurement system at IMTS 2018.