Measure size of hold and location

[petersi]

I have a part looks like this.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXMWA9&P=7

I want to know how can I measure the hold size? Using a vernier caliper is not
accurate enough especially measure a small size of hole.

Second how can I measure the location of the hole? I am learning solidworks. Let
say I want to draw the exact part of the picture. How to measure the hole
location accurately?

thanks a lot

 

[MikeHalloran]

To measure a HOLE:
You buy a set of pin gages.
The one that just barely sticks in the hole without forcing is the size.
Leave the pin gage in place, and measure over it,
and 'under' it, to e.g. an edge, and take the average.
Do it again in an orthogonal direction, and you have a location.

The hole right next to the bend is probably distorted, so you can only guess at its original size.

To be really accurate, you probably need a surface plate, and an angle plate, and a height indicator. But you should be able to get a measurement as accurate as the tolerance of a sheet metal part like that with just a decent dial caliper.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[petersi]

Thank you for the replies.

I want to know is there a better tool because I will always need to measuring something like this. I can spend up to $1500 for the measuring tool. I know CMM machine will get my job done but I see they are like $3000 at least. So, with $1500 what is my best tool? thanks

 

[zekeman]

How accurately do you need the size and location of these holes? Also, is this for a single part configuration or for various parts?

The answer is crucial to the cost of measuring tools required.

Maybe a simple go-nogo template for each part would be more cost-effective as a tool.

 

[petersi]

Thank you for helping.

it is single part configuration

It needs to be +- 0.05mm.

Usually the holes are small holes like a few mm, not larger then 10mm

Please advise the best tool for $1500 budget.

Thanks so much for helping.

 

[racookpe1978]

Sterrett, ENCO, MSC, Fastenal, Reid Tools, and several other machining sales groups have "hole locators" of various diameters that set down into the hole and allow you to measure teh location of the center of the resulting locator.

They are essentially cones of various diameter with cross-hairs on the flat top that you measure to from an edge with conventional calipers or gages.

If you have the budget, you can also make a jig or fixture to set the drilled pieces into, then have a calibrated arm (also available from those same suppliers) measure the center of the hole(s) in your plate from a known constant reference point - probably the corner of the center. Get real fancy, and you take the digital x,y output from the calibrated arm directly to a digital output and then to your QA program for analysis.