As discussed in our previous post, a good understanding of measuring tools is essential knowledge for your personnel — and critical to ensuring quality plastic parts wind up in your customers’ hands. Here, we will go into a bit more detail about fixturing the workpiece to ensure accurate measurement.

It’s Hard To Hit a Moving Target

It is very common to see someone taking measurements with a set of calipers in one hand and a plastic part in the other, yet this is not the best practice.

When someone holds something in their hand, it moves around — which causes inconsistency and potential inaccuracy when attempting a measurement. Holding both the measuring tool and product being measured in your hands compounds these inaccuracies.

The best practice is to keep either the measuring tool or the product being measured stationary.

Securing the Workpiece

Products such as a molded part, extrusion profile, or cavity block can often reman stationary by simply setting it on a flat table or surface plate. Awkward products can often set into a simple fixture or vise. When lots of measurements are to be take place, it is very common to have a custom fixture either 3D printed or machined from a block of plastic or aluminum.

Securing the Measuring Tool

In many cases fixturing the measuring tool can be easier. Tools such as height gauges and step micrometers are easy to just set on a surface plate to stabilize them. Measuring tools like micrometers, gauges, and calipers can benefit from the use of specialized holders and stands which hold the measurement device in place while the measurement is taking place. Essentially if the product being measured cannot be stationary, then the measurement device must be stationary to ensure the most accurate measurement.

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Routsis Training has developed innovative hands-on training labs for Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Measuring Tools. There is no better way to ensure your personnel know how to obtain accurate measurements. These training labs are also part of the Quality curriculum in our Professional Certification Portals, which deliver essential training and benchmarking to your entire workforce.