Spring standard – gauging for the shop floor
Original article date: November 1999
Alan Quinn reports on a compression spring gauging system which is now available off the shelf for the first time
Previously only available through Cadar’s bespoke gauging service, the company’s spring compression gauge is now available as a standard product for the first time. Although primarily designed to measure car suspension springs, the gauges can be used to measure a large range of compression springs.
Wherever possible, the approach is to measure components in the same manner as they are used in operation. The gauge has the ability to measure loads in seven axes at any point between free condition and bound state. it can also scragg (pre-stress) springs to loads of up to 25kN.
The spring compression gauge consists of a support frame, a vertically mounted electrically powered ram with an interchangeable spring locator for the major spring bore and a table with an interchangeable locator for the minor spring bore. The movement of the ram is monitored by a glass scale linear encoder and the loads are measured by a strain gauge, upon which the minor bore locator is mounted.
The spring compression gauge has been designed to be very strong and robust, thus allowing it to operate in a shop floor environment. Safety is a prime concern and it is for this reason that the operating area of the gauge is fully enclosed by three clear fixed panels and a sliding door. This door must be closed and for reasons of safety the gauge will not operate with the door open.
The gauge control software is configurable by the user to allow for custom details to be added. Three proprietary software packages are available for use with the gauge: Variables, Checkmate or the new QS-Pro package. Measurement details are displayed on the Cadar Checkstation industrial computer which is supplied as part of the kit.
- Cadar
November 1999