Random Questions about Gage Blocks

[RayG]

Hi All,

I was lusting after a set of ceramic gage blocks, like these..

Swiss Quality Discount (http://www.swissqualitydiscount.com/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=25)

But, aside from the fact that I can't really justify the expense, I'm wondering is ceramic is really that much better in actual usage..

If the gage block temperature co-oefficient is the same as the material being measured, then actual measurement temperature is less of an issue.

So, let's say the gage block is 10.000mm at 20 C, then if the gage block is at 30C it will measure 10.005, but if the thing I'm measuring is also at 30C doesn't that cancel the error?

Second question..

Anyone have thoughts about low cost gage block sets?

Brand New Set Metric 38PCS GAGE BLOCK RANGE 1.00 to 100mm STANDARD CERT.DIN861 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Brand-New-Set-Metric-38PCS-GAGE-BLOCK-RANGE-1-00-to-100mm-STANDARD-CERT-DIN861-/280794842017?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item4160ad43a1&_uhb=1#ht_2992wt_908)

Seems to me that if I know the actual dimension at 20C ( and it's flat and square and wrings correctly) why should I pay 10 times the price...


I'm not keen on second hand gage blocks, not really sure why, maybe it's not knowing how they've been treated in the past, and most of the second hand sets I've seens seem to have bits missing.

I'm leaning towards the cheap set...

Regards
Ray

[Stustoys]

Hi Ray,
My understanding is pretty much what SQD say "Ceramic gauge blocks are extremely resistant to wear and scratches. Due to the properties of this material, any minor damage is unlikely to affect the wringability of their measuring faces. Being corrosion resistant, these gauge blocks are insensitive to sweaty hands, among others."
I would assume in home use wear would likely be an non issue?(though in your home they would likely come out more than most)
Not being able to ding them would be handy for a butter fingers like myself (much like a granite plate, sure you can chip it but the doesnt really affect the flatness, unlike steel)
The sweaty hands issue would also be a big plus for me, but.

Having said that I fall back on my standard tight fisted self, if the cheap ones are any good you can buy a new set every 5(*) years with the interest you get on the money you saved.
You can always check them :D

If you were setting up a sine table wouldnt lower co-oefficient be a good thing?(though I havent done the maths is a sine table that good??)

I never did see the sense in a set of gauge blocks that was only missing one block.. coz you just know which one you are going to need!

Stuart

*instert number of your choice depending on interest rates, if they hit 10% you can get a new set every year lol

[Ueee]

Those 3 you have of mine are cheapies, they wring just fine, try for yourself. As for square and parallel, you can check that.....

[.RC.]

What are these gage block things? :D:D

[RayG]

What are these gage block things? :D:D

A well gauged response would be in order if I could think of one.. :)

Regards
Ray

[Mutawintji]

A well gauged response would be in order if I could think of one.. :)

Regards
Ray



ummmmm ... for those who can't think outside the square ?? :B

cool bananas ... greg

[Dave J]

I bought a set of cheap gauge blocks a few years back an they measure up, wring together and are fine.
The seller from China had a imperial set on ebay and I contacted him asking about metric ones, he said he could do a set for $120 posted ($80/$40 post), cant complain at the price.
From memory they are 82-87 piece, cant really remember without looking in the shed.
I did look at CTC but even his cheapest where a lot more expensive and are probably coming out of the same factory.

I suppose it all comes down to what you want them for, it seems you and Josh are getting down to sub microns, so a high end set or the ceramic set might suit your needs better.

Dave

[FenceFurniture]

That set that Ray has dug up on eBay looks like it might be just the ticket for setting the depth limiter on my (woodworking) drill press:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/members/62924-fencefurniture/albums/wabeco-drill-deck/231281-dd-6-de-holder-depthe-limiter.jpg

Woodpeckers have a set in anodised aluminium (for woodworking only of course) but they make them infrequently, and nowhere near as useful a size range. Similar money, IIRC.

Thanks for your research Ray! :U

Cheers
Brett

[rodm]

That's a coincidence as I received a 122 piece set of metric gauge blocks today. The wooden case and contents present well and each gauge is wrapped in oiled tissue paper. Ray has listed the seller in his first post Onlineseller and the delivered price was $200AUD.
On face value I gauge them to be of unusually good quality without being gouged on price.


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[RayG]

That's a coincidence as I received a 122 piece set of metric gauge blocks today. The wooden case and contents present well and each gauge is wrapped in oiled tissue paper. Ray has listed the seller in his first post Onlineseller and the delivered price was $200AUD.
On face value I gauge them to be of unusually good quality without being gouged on price.




Hi Rod,

Nice coincidence! :) Thanks for posting that, I'm thinking of the cheaper 5 micron 38 piece set. Yours is the better 1/2 micron set, which is tempting, if the smaller set works out ok, I might spring for the bigger set as well..

Alternatively wait for the magic 6 numbers.. and then buy the ceramic set :)

Regards
Ray

[Pete F]

This is hardly confidence inspiring

All Blcok are made precision and ground precision

If they're simply ground and not lapped will they wring?

[Greg Q]

I bought a used set of Brown & Sharpe blocks a couple of years ago. They were all present, but many of them have tarnish or rust and are obviously scrap. The box is nice though:rolleyes:

On the other hand I also bought a 21 pc Mitutoyo set complete with optical flat that ended up being new, and in a genuine fake rosewood box, too.

I plan to get a Chinese set if I can find a price like Dave's

Greg

[Ueee]

Greg, ys tools (onlineseller68) have 3 sizes, the 38, an 80 something and the 120. Search for gage blocks not gauge blocks. Also search overseas, the overseas prices look to be better than the aus specific ones......

[Dave J]

Hi Greg,
I just had a look but can't find the receipt as it was a few years ago and I have a new computer.
I am pretty sure it was the YS tool seller that I bought them off. He had a imperial set on ebay and I contacted him and bought the metric 83 piece set off ebay.

Here is the certificate that came with mine.

Dave

[Abratool]

Drooling & thinking about a set of Gauge Blocks has been going on for me for about 55 years since apprentice tooling days. Been using a Planer Gauge as a substitute over that time.
I went to the 2 day Lithgow Small Arms Factory years ago & there were box after box of beautiful Gauge Block Sets going for around $400 to $450 a box.
More than I wanted to spend or could justify.
Searched on E Bay & like Ray was never comfortable with 2nd hand & blocks missing.
Last June I had a relo travelling out to Australia, from the USA, at last, an opportunity!
Purchased an 81 block set from "Shars" a USA supplier,the set is of Asian origin,it was from memory $78. All in a nice wooden box, beautifully presented with each gauge block individually wrapped in paper.
The Gauge Blocks have done everything I wanted from them. They are lapped & wring together & are more than accurate enough, for the occasional use I give them, which is setting up Sine Bars, Sine Angle Adjustable angle plate & the measurement of slots & all other odd jobs. ( Not chasing the square root of microns)
Found them very useful on my Hercus Mill for measuring accurate table movement in conjunction with a dial indicator as I do not have digital readout.
So all in all very satisfied. Of course mine are Imperial because that is the measurement I have always used & its meaningful to me, no other reason.
Hope this may be of assistance.
regards
Bruce

[.RC.]

With metric gauge block sets, the 83 piece ones start at 1.005mm and then jump to 1.01mm.. The 87 piece sets start at 1.001mm and go through to 1.009mm before going to 0.01mm, but miss out a few further along being 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 and 1.9mm, you cannot make that stack height either with an 87 piece..

Whether that makes any difference to you you have to decide...

[Dave J]

That's a coincidence as I received a 122 piece set of metric gauge blocks today. The wooden case and contents present well and each gauge is wrapped in oiled tissue paper. Ray has listed the seller in his first post Onlineseller and the delivered price was $200AUD.
On face value I gauge them to be of unusually good quality without being gouged on price.


256668256669256670256671

Mine came in the same box as that, just the layout is different.

Dave

[welder]

There's an imperial gauge block set on eBay made in England and its calibrated.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewitem?itemId=140924068159&index=0&nav=SEARCH&nid=29048271243

[Brobdingnagian]

With metric gauge block sets, the 83 piece ones start at 1.005mm and then jump to 1.01mm.. The 87 piece sets start at 1.001mm and go through to 1.009mm before going to 0.01mm, but miss out a few further along being 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 and 1.9mm, you cannot make that stack height either with an 87 piece..

Whether that makes any difference to you you have to decide...


Ahh, almost a Frobenius number problem but with gauge blocks.

[Greg Q]

Yeah, its a quirk that 81 pc imperial sets cover the range nicely but almost 50% more required to parse the milimeter.