FOWLER TRIMOS VERTICAL 32"/800mm DIGITAL HEIGHT GAGE

I don't see a mention of a calibration cert or cofc.

800mm is rather a large wieldy instrument.

I had the Micro-Hite 350...350mm capacity 0.001mm res. A lovely tool with
the linear head for angle measurements.

http://www.swissinstruments.com/downloads/metrology_MICROHITE350_600_900.pdf

don't get ebay 390089617677 its missing to many bits and an older model.

keep an eye open for one of those they are worth having in any tool shop.

you will obviously need a granite plate for either.

dj

Post by StarDust
Anyone used this precision height gauge before, FOWLER TRIMOS TVD
1100 A VERTICAL DIGITAL HEIGHT GAGE? Swiss made!!!
It can do squareness measurement, by tracing part up and down!.
Any GOOD? It has a 1 micron resolution!
Item number: 360192876177
JS

Gunner Asch

2009-10-03 07:52:45 UTC

Post by Eric Shune
I don't see a mention of a calibration cert or cofc.
800mm is rather a large wieldy instrument.
I had the Micro-Hite 350...350mm capacity 0.001mm res. A lovely tool with
the linear head for angle measurements.
http://www.swissinstruments.com/downloads/metrology_MICROHITE350_600_900.pdf
don't get ebay 390089617677 its missing to many bits and an older model.
keep an eye open for one of those they are worth having in any tool shop.
you will obviously need a granite plate for either.

I happen to have a number of surface plates for sale......

Gunner

Eric Shune

2009-10-03 09:32:30 UTC

I happen to have a number of surface plates for sale......
Gunner

and to finish my story,

I had a 3M x 1.8M x 0.3M granite + Stainless Stand but could not sell it, I
even tried the local stonemason for use as crem stones but it was to big for
him to cut/handle. I ended up saying to a dealer you can have my 350
MicroHite FOC...IF you take the stone as well. Eventually he said OK. The
decline of British Engineering...2000.

Gunner Asch

2009-10-04 00:45:41 UTC

Post by Eric Shune

I happen to have a number of surface plates for sale......
Gunner

and to finish my story,
I had a 3M x 1.8M x 0.3M granite + Stainless Stand but could not sell it, I
even tried the local stonemason for use as crem stones but it was to big for
him to cut/handle. I ended up saying to a dealer you can have my 350
MicroHite FOC...IF you take the stone as well. Eventually he said OK. The
decline of British Engineering...2000.

Ouch! Even here in declining California, I just sold a 4'x6' Standrich
Grade A plate, (with stand) for $600

Gunner

Eric Shune

2009-10-04 04:49:33 UTC

Post by Eric Shune

I happen to have a number of surface plates for sale......
Gunner

and to finish my story,
I had a 3M x 1.8M x 0.3M granite + Stainless Stand but could not sell it, I
even tried the local stonemason for use as crem stones but it was to big for
him to cut/handle. I ended up saying to a dealer you can have my 350
MicroHite FOC...IF you take the stone as well. Eventually he said OK. The
decline of British Engineering...2000.

Ouch! Even here in declining California, I just sold a 4'x6' Standrich
Grade A plate, (with stand) for $600
Gunner

the only good thing was, I had to clear the building (which I owned) to get
a tenant in before working state side. Fortunately I had a good tenant for 2
years and then sold the building at a good profit so the stone was a minor
glitch in history.

Eric Shune

2009-10-03 09:37:22 UTC

I happen to have a number of surface plates for sale......
Gunner

If I can just add something. After wrapping up my workshop I headed over
your way for 2 years Louisiana way. During my rest times I visited some of
the local towns and noticed in the cemeteries they used large slabs of
black/grey granite, exactly the same as my table but obviously just honed
and polished, to hold the departed from floating to the surface. Or was it
to stop grave robbers.

Cliff

2009-10-02 09:33:37 UTC

Post by StarDust
It has a 1 micron resolution!

How many Hydrogen atoms is that?

--
Cliff

StarDust

2009-10-02 20:49:52 UTC

Post by StarDust
It has a 1 micron resolution!

How many Hydrogen atoms is that?
--
Cliff

1 micron of a meter, not atom!!!!!
Booooo!
js

D Murphy

2009-10-02 22:17:00 UTC

Just like a Chinese micrometer you'll find resolution doesn't mean jack
shit.

Assuming this is for measuring your 5 micron tolerance or .005 micron
tolerance (you didn't seem too sure), this thing has an accuracy of 3
microns per 300mm of travel. Repeatability of 2 microns, and who knows how
square it is, because that isn't listed. So maybe this would be good for
checking a 50 micron tolerance on a short length depending on how square
it's made and whether it's still within its "as new" specifications. It's
impossible to say if it could be used to check squareness, and it doesn't
say whether there is adjustment. Also it doesn't give any tolerance for
pitch, roll, and yaw for the traveling head which would also be useful
information if you want to check squareness with it.

--
Dan

StarDust

2009-10-02 23:58:24 UTC

Just like a Chinese micrometer you'll find resolution doesn't mean jack
shit.

TRIMOS, SWISS MADE, MARKETED BY FOWLER!

Post by D Murphy
Assuming this is for measuring your 5 micron tolerance or .005 micron
tolerance (you didn't seem too sure), this thing has an accuracy of 3
microns per 300mm of travel. Repeatability of 2 microns, and who knows how
square it is, because that isn't listed. So maybe this would be good for
checking a 50 micron tolerance on a short length depending on how square
it's made and whether it's still within its "as new" specifications. It's
impossible to say if it could be used to check squareness, and it doesn't
say whether there is adjustment. Also it doesn't give any tolerance for
pitch, roll, and yaw for the traveling head which would also be useful
information if you want to check squareness with it.

YOU ARE PESSIMISTIC!

Post by D Murphy
JS
--
Dan

D Murphy

2009-10-03 01:21:35 UTC

Just like a Chinese micrometer you'll find resolution doesn't mean
jack shit.

TRIMOS, SWISS MADE, MARKETED BY FOWLER!

I know where it's made. The point you didn't grasp is that the
resolution of the display has zip to do with the accuracy and
repeatability of the instrument.

Someday you'll also grasp that if the height gage is tilted to the
surface it's sitting on, it can't measure squareness. It might even dawn
on you that if the part your "tracing" the work with rolls or pitches up
or down, that will affect the accuracy of your measurement too.

Post by D Murphy
square it is, because that isn't listed. So maybe this would be good
for checking a 50 micron tolerance on a short length depending on how
square it's made and whether it's still within its "as new"
specifications. It's impossible to say if it could be used to check
squareness, and it doesn't say whether there is adjustment. Also it
doesn't give any tolerance for pitch, roll, and yaw for the traveling
head which would also be useful information if you want to check
squareness with it.

YOU ARE PESSIMISTIC!

No, just realistic. You want to be able to check a five micron tolerance
with an instrument that has a factory documented accuracy and
repeatability that is equal to your tolerance. Good practice would be to
use an instrument that is accurate to 1/10 of your tolerance.

Why even bother to measure the thing your making?

--
Dan

StarDust

2009-10-03 04:32:53 UTC

Just like a Chinese micrometer you'll find resolution doesn't mean
jack shit.

TRIMOS, SWISS MADE, MARKETED BY FOWLER!

I know where it's made. The point you didn't grasp is that the
resolution of the display has zip to do with the accuracy and
repeatability of the instrument.
Someday you'll also grasp that if the height gage is tilted to the
surface it's sitting on, it can't measure squareness. It might even dawn
on you that if the part your "tracing" the work with rolls or pitches up
or down, that will affect the accuracy of your measurement too.

YOU ARE PESSIMISTIC!

Bottom of the gauge is lapped for squareness.
It cost $12,000 new.
Why would some one spend $12,000 for an instrument that can't even
measure 5 micron meter in any direction?
JS

D Murphy

2009-10-03 05:47:23 UTC

innews:c907cfe0-09bc-4c19-a969-221e7a8f81

Post by StarDust
Anyone used this precision height gauge before, FOWLER TRIMOS
TVD 1100 A VERTICAL DIGITAL HEIGHT GAGE? Swiss made!!!
It can do squareness measurement, by tracing part up and down!.
Any GOOD? It has a 1 micron resolution!
Item number: 360192876177
JS

Just like a Chinese micrometer you'll find resolution doesn't mean
jack shit.

TRIMOS, SWISS MADE, MARKETED BY FOWLER!

I know where it's made. The point you didn't grasp is that the
resolution of the display has zip to do with the accuracy and
repeatability of the instrument.
Someday you'll also grasp that if the height gage is tilted to the
surface it's sitting on, it can't measure squareness. It might even
dawn on you that if the part your "tracing" the work with rolls or
pitches up or down, that will affect the accuracy of your measurement
too.

Post by D Murphy
square it is, because that isn't listed. So maybe this would be
good for checking a 50 micron tolerance on a short length
depending on how square it's made and whether it's still within
its "as new" specifications. It's impossible to say if it could be
used to check squareness, and it doesn't say whether there is
adjustment. Also it doesn't give any tolerance for pitch, roll,
and yaw for the traveling head which would also be useful
information if you want to check squareness with it.

YOU ARE PESSIMISTIC!

No, just realistic. You want to be able to check a five micron
tolerance with an instrument that has a factory documented accuracy
and repeatability that is equal to your tolerance. Good practice
would be to use an instrument that is accurate to 1/10 of your
tolerance.
Why even bother to measure the thing your making?
--
Dan

Bottom of the gauge is lapped for squareness.

To what tolerance?

Post by StarDust
It cost $12,000 new.

Big deal.

Post by StarDust
Why would some one spend $12,000 for an instrument that can't even
measure 5 micron meter in any direction?

Most CMM's aren't accurate enough to measure your block and they cost
even more. A brand new Zeiss Contura CMM couldn't do it and it costs a
shitload more money than a cheesy height gage from Freddy Fowler. Your
part is right on the edge of what is possible with mechanical metrology.

You really don't understand what you are trying to do. Hopefully the
dopes you are making the parts for don't either.

Do you even know what the specs of a AA grade master square are? How
much do they cost? A AA master square is barely adequate to insure your
measurement in a labratory setting. Add up the uncertainty in your
indicator, the squareness gage, the flatness over the lengths involved
on your surface plate, and the error in the master square and you will
use up all your tolerance unless you have labratory AA grade instruments
and a damn good environment.

What are you going to set your bargain basement priced height gage on?
Some beat up bargain priced surface plate that you use as a table for
your coffee cup I suppose. Have you ever had it checked and certified?
Does your company have a Rahn Repeat-O-Meter? Autocollimeters?

I didn't think so.

How you expect to insure the squareness of a 10" x 8" x 1" block to 5
microns using a mystery height gage bought used off of ebay that wasn't
good enough to do the job in a lab when new if baffling to me. Just like
resolution, list price of the instrument doesn't mean jack either.

And the fact that you ask advice from professionals and then argue with
them when they try to explain the reality of the situation proves you
don't have the smarts to check this block even if you had the right
stuff.

Find a metrology lab that has a Zeiss UPMC 850 Super ACC or Ultra ACC
and pay them check it for you. Be prepared to be disappointed with the
results. They will be able to truly measure it.

<http://www.accretechusa.com/measuring/pdf/upmc.pdf>

--
Dan

StarDust

2009-10-03 12:52:27 UTC

innews:c907cfe0-09bc-4c19-a969-221e7a8f81

Post by StarDust
Anyone used this precision height gauge before, FOWLER TRIMOS
TVD 1100 A VERTICAL DIGITAL HEIGHT GAGE? Swiss made!!!
It can do squareness measurement, by tracing part up and down!.
Any GOOD? It has a 1 micron resolution!
Item number: 360192876177
JS

Just like a Chinese micrometer you'll find resolution doesn't mean
jack shit.

TRIMOS, SWISS MADE, MARKETED BY FOWLER!

I know where it's made. The point you didn't grasp is that the
resolution of the display has zip to do with the accuracy and
repeatability of the instrument.
Someday you'll also grasp that if the height gage is tilted to the
surface it's sitting on, it can't measure squareness. It might even
dawn on you that if the part your "tracing" the work with rolls or
pitches up or down, that will affect the accuracy of your measurement
too.

Post by D Murphy
square it is, because that isn't listed. So maybe this would be
good for checking a 50 micron tolerance on a short length
depending on how square it's made and whether it's still within
its "as new" specifications. It's impossible to say if it could be
used to check squareness, and it doesn't say whether there is
adjustment. Also it doesn't give any tolerance for pitch, roll,
and yaw for the traveling head which would also be useful
information if you want to check squareness with it.

YOU ARE PESSIMISTIC!

No, just realistic. You want to be able to check a five micron
tolerance with an instrument that has a factory documented accuracy
and repeatability that is equal to your tolerance. Good practice
would be to use an instrument that is accurate to 1/10 of your
tolerance.
Why even bother to measure the thing your making?
--
Dan

Bottom of the gauge is lapped for squareness.

To what tolerance?

Post by StarDust
It cost $12,000 new.

Big deal.

Post by StarDust
Why would some one spend $12,000 for an instrument that can't even
measure 5 micron meter in any direction?

Most CMM's aren't accurate enough to measure your block and they cost
even more. A brand new Zeiss Contura CMM couldn't do it and it costs a
shitload more money than a cheesy height gage from Freddy Fowler. Your
part is right on the edge of what is possible with mechanical metrology.
You really don't understand what you are trying to do. Hopefully the
dopes you are making the parts for don't either.
Do you even know what the specs of a AA grade master square are? How
much do they cost? A AA master square is barely adequate to insure your
measurement in a labratory setting. Add up the uncertainty in your
indicator, the squareness gage, the flatness over the lengths involved
on your surface plate, and the error in the master square and you will
use up all your tolerance unless you have labratory AA grade instruments
and a damn good environment.
What are you going to set your bargain basement priced height gage on?
Some beat up bargain priced surface plate that you use as a table for
your coffee cup I suppose. Have you ever had it checked and certified?
Does your company have a Rahn Repeat-O-Meter? Autocollimeters?
I didn't think so.
How you expect to insure the squareness of a 10" x 8" x 1" block to 5
microns using a mystery height gage bought used off of ebay that wasn't
good enough to do the job in a lab when new if baffling to me. Just like
resolution, list price of the instrument doesn't mean jack either.
And the fact that you ask advice from professionals and then argue with
them when they try to explain the reality of the situation proves you
don't have the smarts to check this block even if you had the right
stuff.
Find a metrology lab that has a Zeiss UPMC 850 Super ACC or Ultra ACC
and pay them check it for you. Be prepared to be disappointed with the
results. They will be able to truly measure it.
<http://www.accretechusa.com/measuring/pdf/upmc.pdf>
--
Dan

Now, that's a fancy CMM in the brochure.
Small company I work for would go bankrupt buying that thing! (o:
My old company had a few CMM's, even one from Zeiss.
CMM can measure .0002" or 5 micron meter accurate!
I think, I have a solution checking squareness within 5 micron or .
00025", using our 12" Ultradex or a precision granite angle plate.
Have to try it Monday!
JS

D Murphy

2009-10-03 21:57:40 UTC

Post by StarDust
Now, that's a fancy CMM in the brochure.

That's why I said pay someone to check it. I've done it before, it's pretty
cheap all things considered.

Post by StarDust
My old company had a few CMM's, even one from Zeiss.
CMM can measure .0002" or 5 micron meter accurate!

Heh. I wish I had a nickel for every time I had to prove to someone that
not only can't their CMM measure 0.0002" over some great length, it was
never designed to. To measure your part reliably a CMM would need to be
accurate to .5 micron over 457.2mm of combined travel.

Post by StarDust
I think, I have a solution checking squareness within 5 micron or .
00025", using our 12" Ultradex or a precision granite angle plate.
Have to try it Monday!

Uh, 5 microns or 0.005mm = 0.0001968" not 0.00025".

Good luck.

--
Dan

BottleBob

2009-10-04 04:37:22 UTC