How to Use Gage Types for Kitting
GAGEtrak's Kitting feature is a powerful tool for tracking the issuance of multiple gages to one location or job. The Kitting feature allows you to select gages either by Gage ID or Gage Type.
Selection by Gage ID requires that a specific gage be issued with the kit. In this case, the gage must meet this criteria:
- Gage is Active
- Gage is not past due for calibration
- Gage is not currently issued
Selection by Gage Type also requires that a gage of your desired type be available that meets the following criteria:
- Gage is Active
- Gage is not past due for calibration
- Gage is not currently issued
Selection by Gage Type allows GAGEtrak to select one of many possible tools to complete the kit. Gage Types are selected within the Gages -> Information tab. For this feature to be efficient and effective, the Gage Type nomenclature must be specific enough to guarantee that the gage being selected by GAGEtrak will meet the job requirements.
For instance, a Gage Type of Cal (for caliper) would not be specific enough. Is it a 6-inch, 12-inch or 18-inch caliper? Obviously, if a 12-inch caliper is required, a 6-inch one will not do. So, the recommendation is to develop a nomenclature convention which is specific and concise. It must accurately define the characteristics of the gage to prevent the issuance of an insufficient gage.
Following are suggestions as to how to go about developing your own Gage Type nomenclature convention for your unique inventory of gages.
Calipers: Calipers are possibly the simplest type for which to develop a naming convention. A 12-inch caliper might be CAL12 or C12; a 6-inch caliper might be CAL06 or C06. To further specify that a caliper is digital, dial or vernier, you could add a suffix for this feature; CAL12DG would be a 12-inch digital caliper.
Micrometers: Micrometers not only come in different sizes, but have different travel (measurement length), can have different surface characteristics and can be digital, dial or vernier. So, a 6-inch blade mic with a digital readout and 2-inch travel would be MIC46B-DG.
- The 46 indicates that the travel is 2 inches with a maximum measuring capability of 6 inches, i.e., 4 to 6
- A one-inch travel would have been 56 (i.e., 5 to 6)
- B indicates that it's a blade mic
- DG indicates that it's digital
Thread Plug: In addition to noting the diameter and thread count of a thread plug, you may need to note whether the particular gage was to be used 'pre' or 'post' the plating operation. So, a 3/16-inch gage, with 24 thread count, used before plating, with an additional thickness of .00003 to .00005 might be TH0316c24+0305.
- 0316 represents 3/16"
- The c is to note the count (thread count), followed by 24 (the actual thread count)
- If the gage was to be used post, the + would be -
- The thickness is reduced to significant numbers only. If the thickness were in the range .00009 to .00011, the last element in the naming convention would be +0911. Leading zeros are used here only for the sake of uniformity; they are not necessary.
Begin developing your Gage Type naming conventions with broadest type designation and add ever more refining detail from there. Care must be taken to assure there is no possible question regarding the value these numbers represent. Gage Types must be meaningful and concise whereas the gage record's Description field would normally contain the same information in its expanded form.
Designating types in this fashion will allow you to effortlessly use gage type selection in GAGEtrak's Kitting feature, for maximum flexibility and efficiency.
We encourage you to explore the additional capabilities in your GAGEtrak software and as always, keep an eye out for future Tech Tips.
