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Here at MTG, Inc. we decided to look for answers by studying one of the
most successful I methods of gaging external threads, the 3-wire system.
No one had ever seriously considered this system for internal threads
before because it was obvious that the physical characteristics of wires
made it impossible to deploy and seat them in the tight convolutions of
a female thread.
But the principle was sound, so we overcame the physical problems by substituting
floating balls of Best Wire sizes for the actual wires. Held captive in
caliper fingers and mounted on an indicating gage frame, the balls could
be made to simulate three-wire inspection in internal threads, Figure
1.
LESS GAGING PRESSURE
The use of balls, incidentally, eliminates perhaps the only significant
shortcoming of wires. The problem is spelled out in Screw Thread Standards
for Federal Sen/ices, under the heading Limitations of Three-Wire Measurement
of External Threads:
"When the lead angle and diameter of a thread are such that double contact
of the measuring wires occurs, it will be necessary to check the pitch
diameter by means of balls rather than wires. For accurate measurement
with wires, single contact on each flank must occur. Measuring wires can
be used if the following formula is satisfied for a specific thread."
Then follows a lengthy compensation formula developed by Werner F Vogel
of The Van Keuren Co.
Because of the possibility that wires may make double contact in threads
of certain lead and diameter combinations, Vogel's equation calls for
increased gaging pressure to seat the wires--as much as 21/2 Ib. in a
1/2-20 thread. This may result in deformation of wire and thread.
Replacing the wires with balls as we have done eliminates seating problems
by making spheres rather than cylinders the method of contact. Gaging
pressure need be only about 1 oz., or enough to satisfy the inspector
that contact pressure is sufficient to register the size.
HOW ERROR IS ISOLATED
To understand how the ball principle isolates thread aspects for errorless
measurement, let us first consider the key dimension in any thread; the
pitch diameter. By definition, the pitch diameter is an imaginary cylinder
along which each cut thread and each web of intervening metal have the
same width: one-half the pitch, or P/2.
Traditionally, the pitch diameter has been checked with thread plug gages.
If an inspector could enter the "Go" plug but not the "No Go," the pitch
diameter was considered to be within tolerance. Should the "Go" fail to
enter, general practice was to deepen the cut until it did. Conversely,
should the "No Go'' enter, the cut would be made shallower to prevent
its entry.
The blind spot in this procedure was that it assumed perfection in all
other aspects of the internal thread. It ignored the fact that a thread
cut to perfect depth will gage undersize if there is lead error, because
the mis-matched leads of the thread and the plug gage will have interference.
By the same token, a thread cut oversize and having lead error can pass
thread plug inspection if the interference is not enough to block the
"Go" but does prevent the "No Go" from entering.
The floating ball system cannot be deceived by errors in lead or helix,
no matter how severe or erratic (as in drunken threads), because the balls
float laterally to find a perfect seat in the cuts regardless of the width
of the metal between cuts, Figure 2. The balls are solid carbide, finished
to Best Wire sizes, and will positively establish whether the tool is
cutting to PD tolerance, since they measure diametrically across the threaded
hole from cut to cut, not from cut to metal.
What is the importance of gaging from cut to cut? Simply stated, all
diameters of an internal thread are functions of depth of cut. The cut
is the constant, an exact matrix of the cutter at every point along the
thread. The metal between cuts, however, is an unknown remainder whose
P/2 width is a linear function dependent on the accuracy of the lead.
A lead with a plus error will widen the metal between cuts; a minus error
will narrow it; an erratic lead will result in inconstant widths. Unless
the lead has been proved perfect in advance, checking the pitch diameter
by using the metal as a gaging point is futile.
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ISOLATING SUBSEQUENT ASPECTS
With the ability
to isolate and accurately check the pitch diameter, it becomes a simple
matter to inspect the remaining thread factors one at a time, isolating
extraneous errors at each step. In our system, the same gage frame is
provided with additional pairs of fingers, each with a separate function.
HOW ACCURATE?
In this system, much thought has been given to the elimination of
normally inherited errors. For example, the gage does not measure. It
compares the work piece against an accepted reference such as a plain
ring gage or gage blocks, and shows any variation on a dial indicator
or electronic comparator. Fingers move on one plane only, along the axis
of the indicator, so no radial or angular "scissors effect" errors can
be introduced.
Problems of taper and out-of-round will not fool the system because its
point-contact fingers reveal such conditions by displaying various readings
when they are moved from one location to another around or along the thread.
Repeatability of the MTG gage is excellent, since there is nothing to
change successive readings except surface contaminants, and careful cleaning
of critical parts can overcome this.
The system is so accurate it can be used to certify thread ring gages
on the job. In actual tests, it has detected and confirmed errors even
in brand new adjustable thread ring gages. |
INTERNAL THREAD
INSPECTION
Thread plug gages
can neither isolate compound errors in female threads nor reveal the amount
of error. They merely suggest that "something is wrong."
Now the ''MTG System'' lets the producer of internal threads make his
own step-by-step analysis with a hand-held gage in a few minutes. Required
data is obtained by use of interchangeable fingers shown in the chart
on the page opposite.
Most significant of the fingers is ''J'', which contains two floating
balls of "Best Wire Size''. These balls make contact at the P/2 width,
or pitch circle of the thread grooves. Because they float, the balls will
seat at the pitch circle whether the lead is short, long, correct or drunken.
Finger "J" is used in conjunction with every upper finger in the thread
series except the "Functional", and provides an identical base line in
every case!
PITCH (MINIMUM MATERIAL)
DIAMETER
Fingers "A" and "J" both tungsten carbide balls of "Best Wire Size",
and give a reading which excludes lead error but not angular errors. PD
fingers can be used for right or left hand threads.
TAPER AND OVALITY
Use fingers "A" and "J" at intervals along thread for taper and around
the thread for ovality.
INCLUDED ANGLE
Use fingers "D" and "J". The ball in "D" is smaller than in pitch
diameter finger "A", and should seat a prescribed distance deeper. If
it does not, angular error is present. The degree of error and its effect
on P.D. can be determined by a formula.
MAJOR DIAMETER
Use fingers "B" and "J"
UNEQUAL HALC ANGLES
Opposite finger "J", use "E"; then either "F" or "G". "E" has full
flanks, while "F" and "G" are limited to 0.1H contact. Where half-angles
are unequal, the thread groove will be tilted, and ''E'' will seat more
shallow because its broader contact surfaces will meet greater interference
from the tilted groove. The degree of tilt and its effect on P.D. is available
through thread specification publications.
MINOR DIAMETER
Concentricity between minor and PD. is measured by using fingers "C" and
"J~ and rotating the workpiece or gage. Minor diameter size, roundness
and taper are checked with a pair of "C" fingers.
FUNCTIONAL (MAXIMUM MATERIAL)
DIAMETER
Paired fingers "C' are helically ground for a single PD., pitch/lead combination
which will measure the net effect of all errors. |
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SIMPLE
SETTING METHOD
The MTG gage is set
"over the balls" or "over the crests" with gage blocks, micrometers, super
micrometers, or plain cylindrical ring gages. No threaded masters are
needed.
The pitch diameter setting equals the pitch diameter (low, nominal or
high) plus the ball radius. The ball diameter is etched on the pitch diameter
fingers.
All contacts (except minor diameter) that are used opposite contact "J"
are marked with a constant dimension thus: + CO .0214; or -.0251. Setting
size is equal to the PD. setting plus or minus the constant dimension.
Functional fingers are marked with a specific setting size thus; OD .7501.
Paired minor diameter fingers are set exactly to the minor diameter size.
When a single minor diameter finger is used opposite a ''J'' finger to
check concentricity, no precise setting is required. |
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