Form Gages and Form Gaging Systems

Form gages and form gaging systems are used to inspect parameters such as roundness, angularity, squareness, straightness, flatness, runout, taper and concentricity. Form gages are similar to profilometers, inspection tools used to measure surface profile, roughness, waviness, and other finish parameters. There are two basic types of form gages and form gaging systems: contact and non-contact. Contact or stylus-based instruments measure surface texture by dragging a sharp, pointed tool across the surface. Height variations of the tip are recorded and then used to form a texture profile. Roughness and waviness are also calculated from the profile data. Non-contact form gages and form gaging systems measure surface texture by optically scanning a surface with a light or laser. Optical or light-based instruments may also use triangulation or interferometry to measure or capture a surface profile. Most contact or stylus-based form gages and form gaging systems provide only a two-dimensional (2D) or line profile; however, non-contact devices can also provide three-dimensional (3D) or areal topography measurements. In this way, 2D or 3D roughness and waviness parameters are calculated from profile data. 

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