Posted to News on 23rd Oct 2008, 12:25
EuroGrade steel gauge blocks are economically priced
Alan Browne Gauges is supplying a new range of low-priced, steel gauge blocks for use as references in the setting and calibration of industrial, precision measuring equipment.
Supplied to international standards and with optional UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) calibration certification, the new gauge blocks - designated EuroGrade - are available in Grade 1 and Grade 2.
Grade 1 gauge blocks are produced in accordance with ISO 3650 and BS 4311-3 and are for checking inspection items such as micrometers and dial indicators within an inspection area.
Grade 2 gauge blocks, produced to the same ISO and BS standards, enable slightly wider tolerance deviation for measurement applications in general workshop environments.
Produced in both metric and imperial sizes, EuroGrade gauge blocks are produced in wear-resistant alloy steel with a hardness of >63HRC and a high-quality, lapped surface finish. They have excellent dimensional stability and provide a coefficient of thermal expansion of 11.5x10-6/degC.
The new gauge sets are available from stock and delivered in fitted wooden boxes.
Calibration
All gauge blocks require checking periodically. Alan Browne products are backed by full technical support from the company's UKAS-accredited calibration laboratory. (UKAS is the sole national accreditation body recognised to assess against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.)
Alan Browne Gauges has a 30-year history of specialisation in the supply of steel gauge blocks. The main benefit of steel over competitive tungsten carbide and ceramic blocks is the similarity and compatibility of material properties of steel gauges with the ferrous materials from which many precision components and instruments are made in the defence, aerospace, automotive, metrology and precision engineering industries.
Key to this benefit is the coefficient of thermal expansion. Tungsten carbide expands and contracts less than a typical steel component and/or instruments in ambient temperatures. The same can be said for ceramics, which also respond more slowly. Dimensional errors are possible wherever the actual measuring temperature differs from a standard 20degC. This is due to the differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion of tungsten carbide or ceramic gauge blocks and the steel components and instruments being measured. This is particularly relevant in measuring applications in workshop environments, where the ambient temperature may not be the standard 20degC.
