Gauges Explained

Why are gauges necessary?

Gauges play a vital role in the manufacturing industry, ensuring that items produced meet the required specifications. They are simple yet effective tools designed to quickly check whether a component is manufactured to the allowed tolerances on the production drawings.

The use of gauges enables operators to make informed decisions on whether the component meets the required standards. Although gauges do not provide a physical measurement, they allow for quick and reliable checks without the need for expensive measuring equipment.

Go and No-Go

As the name suggests; go and no-go gauges check if components will go or not go inside a hole or thread.

Plug Gauge

Plug gauges have a male end (either plain or threaded) and are used to “plug” a female thread or hole.

Ring Gauge

Ring gauges have a female hole (either plain or threaded), used to check if a male end on a component is within tolerance

BSP

This stands for British Standard Pipe and is an internationally adopted thread used for sealing pipes and fittings. They can have either tapered or parallel threads types.

BSW / BSF

BSW stands for British Standard Whitworth; which is a coarse imperial based thread type.

BSF stands for British Standard Fine, and is a fine-pitch alternative to the BSW thread.

UNC / UNF

UNC stands for United National Coarse which is a standard thread form commonly used on bolts and nuts in USA and Canada.

UNF stands for United National Fine and is the fine-pitch alternative.

NPT

This stands for National Pipe Tapered and is an American standard tapered thread type used on pipe fittings.

Acme

An Acme thread has a trapezoid shaped profile commonly used in engineering systems which require precise positioning.

CSG/API

This is a standard thread connection used in tubing and casings for special petroleum pipes

Gauges come in standard sizes and can also be manufactured to fit custom sizes, making them versatile tools that can be used to check a range of features such as threads, internal and external diameters, radiuses, and more.

Threaded Ring Gauges

Imperial and metric sizes available

Go and no-go rings – for the general inspection of external threads.
NPT/BSPT – for the inspection of external tapered threads.
BSF/UNF – for the inspection of fine external threads
BSW/UNC – for the inspection of coarse external threads

Threaded Plug Gauges