Air gages can be grouped by the method of calibration. Source: Western Gage Co.

Air gages measure length. Closing off of an open-air jet causes back pressure to be built up in the channel from the air supply. This backpressure can be graphed on a pressure distance curve and as the open-air jet becomes more restricted, the backpressure builds up. The pressure distance curve created by this effect is repeatable and usable for displacement measurement.

"The pressure distance curve is what makes up the air gage and is what ensures its practical use on the shop floor," says George Schuetz, director of precision gages at Mahr Federal Inc. (Providence, RI). "We have introductory information from the 1940s about air gaging, and the tooling and applications have not changed dramatically from those times, it's simply built upon the laws of physics.

"The air tooling itself is nothing more then a precision cylinder that holds-usually-two open air jets which feed to a common channel. The clearances are important, but the restriction placed on the open-air jet causes pressure to be built up which can be measured. Back in the 1940s, people understood the importance of the two jets for differential measurement. They also knew that more jets could be added for finding geometric condition-or that taper, straightness and other relationship conditions could be measured with air tooling."

This air spindle measures two inside diameters on a hub for a rotor and hub assembly on a 4X4 pickup truck. The spindle is connected to an air-to-electric converter and then runs into the gage instrument where the data is displayed and stored. Source: Verimation Technology Inc.

Hole measurement history

Practical dimensional air gages began to appear in the late 1930s. "This was when flowmeter instruments with operating pressures of 10 psig were developed," says Don Moors, president of Western Gage Corp., (Camarillo, CA). "About the same time dial-type back-pressure instruments with gage pressures at the midpoint of the scale ranging from 20 to 25 psig were developed. Both of these designs proved practical for many gaging applications, with many proponents of both systems."

During the 1940s, there was increased demand for tighter tolerance from war-related needs. After this, aeronautical requirements forced tolerances to get even tighter. Air gaging and their displays took measurement to another level and for the first time operators were able to measure 0.00002 inch on the shop floor-well before electronic amplifiers and probes.

One thing that hasn't changed considerably in the past 90 years is air gage's tooling. While there have been upgrades in materials, coatings and processes, according to Schuetz, "You could take a piece of tooling used in 1945, put it on a gage built in 2006 and it would still function. Also mechanical-style, analog displays have not changed too much over this period. Air gage displays today still use some type of pressure-sensing mechanical device with a magnifier to move a needle to display a length change. These are very similar to ones made 60 years ago. What really has changed are the options for displays that can be used. In the past 50 years, the electronic readout is what brought air gaging to a new level by providing more information in an easier-to-understand format to the operator.

"The electronic pressure sensor is what brought the air gage display into the 21st century. Combined with the power of microprocessors and computers virtually anything can be done with the air pressure change," Schuetz says.

It's true that one innovation today not present 90 years ago is that air gage systems can convert pressure readings to an electronic signal easily converted to a display on an electronic column or a microprocessor-based gaging system. "These displays are more of a one-size-fits all, where the resolution can be easily changed and the displays increased or decreased without changes to the min/max masters or the gage itself," says Don Kumpula, sales manager at Air Gage Co., (Livonia, MI). "The gage results can now be stored and the data downloaded to a network system to be analyzed for statistical process control."

This is a piston groove width air tool. Source: Edmunds Gages

Pressure, flow and variety

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of system. "The back-pressure-bleed system is one of the most popular, due to its inherent accuracy from a dual-master calibration routine," Gaughan says. "The differential system is also very popular due to its extreme ease of use. So there is no real low-end vs. high-end variation, just choices based upon basic principles and beliefs of what works best for the individual."

Air gaging is manufactured per its application, so there can be a variety of uses and types. "Some would include simple, lower-end applications for measuring ID or OD using open jets or ball jets," says Rose Garvey, president at Blanchette Tool & Gage Manufacturing Corp., (Clifton, NJ). "The more complicated applications measure taper, flatness, concentricity, thickness, center distance using leaf jets, plunjets, taper air gages and multicircuit gages. A high-end application could include a special 6-inch diameter rifle-barrel twist air spindle with a 10-foot long connector to measure a cannon bore."

Often, the number of orifices and the complexity of the fixture that holds the parts often determine the value of an air gage. "The more readings and the more difficult it is to locate and hold the part, the more expensive it is," says David Birdsall, president of Birdsall Tool & Gage Co., (Farmington Hills, MI). "The introduction of computers as a replacement to columns has greatly reduced the cost of air gages. Computers run between $2,000 and $3,000 each and can replace up to eight air columns at a time. There is no reason to ever purchase a column again. They are outdated and too limited for practical use."

There are single-master and dual-master air gages. "Using a dual-master system, the operator calibrates the system by observing that the span displayed by the comparator instrument corresponds to the span between a set of minimum and maximum setting masters," Moors says. "This method sets the combined sensitivity of all the components of the gaging system at one time. Sensitivities like flow restrictors, amplifiers, pressure indicators and gaging nozzles, as well as the effect of pressure drops in air lines are included in one overall calibration. Because of this, stringent control of individual components is not necessary to obtain accurate overall results using a dual-master system.

"Single-setting master systems require accurate control of the sensitivities of both the gage readouts and the air gage members at the factory prior to shipment," Moors says. "The sensitivities of single-mastered readouts are verified using master orifices that simulate air flow to gage nozzles. The gaging member sensitivities are controlled during manufacture by precise control of the gaging nozzle geometry."

One major advantage air gages have over other types of gages is maintenance. "Air gages need less maintenance. They are clean, simple and require fewer moving parts. The measuring surfaces don't touch the piece part being measured," says David B. Hickel, engineering manager at Etamic Corp., (Plymouth, MI). "Also, air nozzles help clean debris from parts while they are being measured. Reduce mechanical apparatus and you reduce the risk of broken parts on your gage."

This simple air gage spindle has its gage head inserted into a diameter and the air/electronic module converts the back pressure of the air escaping from the open air orifice into a scalable measurement. Source: Air Gage Co.

What to ask for

Birdsall suggests a list of questions that should be asked before purchasing and operating air gaging include, "What are the productions levels? Do they want to check the parts in-line or off-line. Are they checking every piece or random samples? What is the tolerance?"

Because air gaging has to be used for a variety of tolerances, its amplifier's flexibility needs to be questioned. Having one type of amplifier that can accommodate various sizes and tolerances makes implementation on the shop floor much easier for operators due to consistency, and also is less costly in the long run. "The popular column-type amplifiers usually have selectable ranges that can be used for the various tolerances," Gaughan says. "In contrast, most of the dial-type amplifiers have one fixed range like 0.001 inch, so if you need to measure a product with a 0.002-inch tolerance you need to buy a different amplifier. With a column product you simply select a different range."

An important question to ask is whether there a useable output that can be used for data collection, data recording or intranet purposes. With more and more emphasis on lot sampling for statistical purposes, the output from an air age becomes extremely important to its usefulness to ensure quality of parts being measured.

"Most dial-type air stands do not offer an output because of their mechanical limitation," Gaughan says. "However the column-type products, known as air-to-electronic units, usually provide an RS-232C type output signal of the dimensions measurement that can be tied to a printer, data gatherer, PC or intranet, for recording or statistical analysis."

Instead of companies asking what they need from air gaging, Thaddeus Hosford, senior mechanical designer at Verimation Technology Inc., (Novi, MI) says that they should tell suppliers what they need. "I am a believer of consultive sales, in which the sales force proposes what the end user will require," he says. "This type of sales requires that the salesmen have a thorough knowledge of the measurements required, dimension, location, tolerance, finish, material, temperature, ambient conditions and whether it is manually or automatically made. The buyer should have an idea of what they want and many times defining all of this information requires bi-directional information sharing."

Simple electronic air gages may use electronic probes. Source: Birdsall Tool & Gage Co.

Seek a smooth surface

Noncontact air gaging requires better surface finishes than contact gaging. The smoother the surface, the more accurate the measurement results will be. "The reason noncontact air gaging is affected by surface finish is that the air gage measures the flow of air escaping past the air gage orifice," Hosford says. "This is the cylindrical area above the highest surface feature and the average cylindrical area from the lowest feature to the highest feature. Conversely, when using contact gaging, the gage contacts the highest surface features. Therefore if you compare the noncontact air gage measurement, it will be different by half the average surface finish height. However, this is impossible to test, because when the air gage is mastered it uses masters that are hardened and ground with a fine surface finish."

In addition to being sensitive to the surface finish, air gages are also affected by any impurity in the air or what is on the part. "They also require regular cleaning because if dirt builds up on the orifice or on the part, the air volume changes and affects the readings and the measurements," Birdsall says.

Another 90 years?

Electronic gages are considered to be a strong replacement. Laser gages are also becoming more popular as a replacement when the tolerances are not too tight. "There are several companies that provide precision laser noncontact physical measurement gages," Birdsall says. "These laser gages consist of fixed and separate throat, single- and dual-axis configurations. They are capable of performing noncontact measurement of ID and OD, gap, pitch, width, edge, thickness, position and movement. They are very accurate but like all noncontact gaging, they depend on a clean environment, smooth surface finishes on the parts and no obstructions."

However, while the quality industry keeps its eye on new technologies, most believe that air gages will be a mainstay for tight tolerances, dirty environments, and inexpensive and fast measurement. When applied correctly, air gaging provides operators a simple, robust and accurate measuring tool. "It is still regarded as one of the best shop floor measurement systems. I don't think much will change," Schuetz says. "Fixed mechanical plugs, CMMs, and vision systems have been nipping at its heels. But for tight tolerance and high-volume parts, air gaging may be the choice for many years to come. There are other gages or systems that can do the measurements of air gaging, but they have limitations that could include speed, ease of use, accuracy and cost. Air gaging may be the simplest high performance gaging on the shop floor system for years to come."

For more information on the companies mentioned in this article, visit their Web sites:

Birdsall Tool & Gage Co., www.birdsalltool.com;

Blanchette Tool & Gage Mfg. Co., www.blanchettetool.com;

Edmunds Gages, www.edmundsgages.com;

Etamic Corp., www.etamic.com;

Mahr Federal Inc., www.mahr.com;

Verimation Technology Inc., www.verimation.com; and

Western Gage Corp., www.westerngage.com

Sidebar: Tech Tips

• The different types of air gages are based upon variations of two basic principles of compressed air: pressure and flow.
• Air gaging has increased in popularity as part tolerances have gotten tighter.
• In addition to being sensitive to the surface finish, air gages are also affected by any impurity in the air or what is on the part.

Links

• Blanchette Tool & Gage Mfg. Co.
• Western Gage Corp.
• Edmunds Gages
• Etamic Corp.
• Verimation Technology Inc.
• Mahr Federal Inc.
• Air Gage Co.
• Birdsall Tool & Gage Co.