The Importance of Dimensional Metrology

The methodical inspection of the physical distance of any given object using different physical scales is called dimensional metrology. Examples of scales used are holographic etalons or laser interferometers which are considered as the most precise among the various scales being used. This process is very important for companies who are planning to introduce a new product or service to the market and it is also used in quality control of products.

There are three sub-disciplines of dimensional metrology which are linear metrology (one-dimensional length measurements), geometrical metrology (multi-dimensional measurements) and angular metrology (angle measurement).

Because of the competitiveness of today’s market, businesses should be able to come up with cutting-edge products in order to become successful. Creating new products involve a lot of research where metrology plays an important role in authenticating the results of the research. Without metrology, technical progress will not be possible.

Some of the dimensional measurement services offered by inspection companies are on-site inspection, process capability studies, tooling verification, part layouts, and vision inspection of small parts. Additionally, customized reporting, part inspection, turn key part programming and part inspections to print are also available.

In the advancement of metrology, the measurement devices being used are continuously being improved. Examples of modern dimensional measurement equipment are optical comparators, hand tools and coordinate-measurement machine (CMM). Hand tools such as micrometers are used for the accurate measurement of short distances while optical comparators are used when measuring parts or things which should not be touched physically so it uses light sensitive detectors and lasers. A CMM is used for things where physical contact is possible and the measurement is also done automatically.

CMMs are one of the most common machines used in dimensional measurement. They can be operated manually or via a computer. There are two kinds of CMM- traditional CMM and the more recent portable CMM. They are often used to measure large areas. Nowadays, there are many modern and highly developed CMM instruments which can provide accurate measurements. Some of the services this technology can do include portable arm measuring, laser measurement within 80 meters, reverse engineering and laser scanning capacity within 15 meters.