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Best strategy for measuring threads position


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My strategy:
- Online with Four-Point Circle Macro (doesn't work offline)
- Offline with a Cylinder's Helix path

If you have the correct gradient, it doesn't matter if your element's position is on minimum or maximum of the thread diameter for True Positions/Bore Patterns.
If you want the most accurate and repeatable you will need a true-position plug.

If you can sacrifice some repeatability you can either do two methods:

- Helix path up the pitch using self-centering. This only works on active scanning heads

- Linear line scans up the thread. I do a minimum of 5 lines, on the evaluation side you will need to set your Outlier Elimination to 1/3 with at least an iteration of 3 times. In order for this to work well, you will need to have a high amount of point density on the lines.

If the thread pitch is large enough, like for example a buttress thread for the oil/gas guys I'd use the helix no matter what. If it is a small fine pitch thread, the linear line scans will work perfectly.
I'm not sure what the ISO requirements are. I believe for ASME the position applies to the pitch diameter, unless specified on the print, otherwise. If the only option available is to use linear scans on the thread, I would note that the use of threaded hole location gages were not permitted... I'm guessing due to the cost.

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This is not always true, e.g. using a standard plug on a cast surface(read page 51-54 of the presentation). If the casting surface is sufficiently rough, then it will cock the plug at an angle. You will be able to miniplate the results by how much torque you put on the plug. Not every threaded bore lies on a machined surface. In this particular instance, you will get more accurate and repeatable results measuring on threads.

Note, this does not apply to the threadlock plugs that don't interface with the surface.
[quote= - Linear line scans up the thread. I do a minimum of 5 lines, on the evaluation side you will need to set your Outlier Elimination to 1/3 with at least an iteration of 3 times. In order for this to work well, you will need to have a high amount of point density on the lines.
[/quote]

I did this yesterday on a gage with a tolerance of +/- .0005 for Z location 3x. Worked great, all three came in.

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To go even further I would suggest using the plugs that have the slot cut in them so they tighten up at a certain depth because we have the regular plugs and when they're tightened down to a face, the results were a little sporadic compared to my double helix path scans.

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Precisely. For example, suppose your threaded cylinder is not very perpendicular to the machined face. When you use a standard plug that mates with the machined plane, then the perpendicularity error will again cock the plug to the side. Again, you will see differences in results based on how much torque is applied to the plug.
How often do you see tight tolerance threaded-holes on casted parts like described?

If the tolerance is very open, just directly measure it.

I should have clarified, but my position about thread plugs refers to machined surfaces, and tight tolerances.

They are also great for heli-coils.
yeah, we're kinda picking on ya Richard. You set yourself up by saying "if X, then always Y." You know that we can't let anything be black and white around here.

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More than what you would think. One reason is designers using what I call "feel good tolerances." Also, more and more standards are holding features to 1.33CPK and even 1.66CPK. These are the situations where it comes up.

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Lol I definitely wouldn't slight Richard for anything on here, that man has helped me with so much!

I just wanted to relay my experience in case someone wants to buy these plug gages. They would definitely do well to buy the slotted ones.
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