Gage Calibration
Gage Calibration
(OP)
During our last ISO Audit, our Auditor cited us because we did not have our Squares, calibrated. Employees use these to monitor the angle of the parts after forming or bending. I have always used the rule if you are making a decision about the part based on the measurement you are taking then it should be calibrated. However I have lots of squares on the shop floor and would take months to calibrate all of them. What are some ways the rest of you handle this.
RE: Gage Calibration
The 3rd party auditing firm was correct. Each of the squares on the shop floor must be in your gauge log and confirmed and I would suggest yearly. That should not be a big cost factor then.
Here is how I would do it.
Have 1 square confirmed by an outside calibration firm and retain the certificate on that square. It will now be the master square in your plant and not used for anything else except for calibration purposes.
The remaining squares will be confirmed using the master. If one sees light through the squares as the kiss back to back, then the shop floor square must be replaced.
Remember, place both the master and the square on the granite table. Push them together so that the vertical squares are touching each other. Look for light.
3rd party auditing firms cannot tell a company how to confirm the calibration so perform it in the easiest, most effient way possible.
Hope this helps.
Dave D.
www.qmsi.ca
RE: Gage Calibration
RE: Gage Calibration
RE: Gage Calibration
We used a cylindrical square checker on a granite table to check all inspection squares, which were just as good as the standard.
One interesting point is they were going to include the carpenter squares used by the fab shop until they put a couple on the table to check. They gave up real quick as nearly all were Al.
RE: Gage Calibration
Since you indicate that part decisions are based on measurements taken, such a system is likely inappropriate. I agree with the previous posters that you should use as simple a calibration process as is effective for product control.
Regards,