Calibration of slip gauge block

Gauge Block Calibration

BS 4311, BS EN ISO 3650

Calibration ensures that your gauge blocks maintain their precision, providing reliable reference standards for other measurements. Rhopoint Metrology offers ISO 17025 certified calibration to single point or 5 point.

Gauge Block Calibration Services

Angle Slip Gauges

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Traceable Calibration for Angle Slip Gauge – Per BlockTraceable

2 Block Set

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UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauge Blocks – 1-Point: 2 block setUKAS
UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauge Blocks – 5-Point: 2 block setUKAS

3 Block Set

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UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauge Blocks – 1-Point: 3 block setUKAS
UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauge Blocks – 5-Point: 3 block setUKAS

4 Block Set

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UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauge Blocks – 1-Point: 4 block setUKAS
UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauge Blocks – 5-Point: 4 block setUKAS

4 to 47 blocks

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UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauges (Gauge Blocks) – 1-point: > 4 Upto 47 blocks – M5,M8,M41,M47 (E8,E28,E41)UKAS
UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauges (Gauge Blocks) – 5-point: > 4 Upto 47 blocks – M5,M8,M41,M47 (E8,E28,E41)UKAS

47 to 122 blocks

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UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauges (Gauge Blocks) – 1-point: > 47 Upto 122 blocks – M88,M112,M122 (E81,E90)UKAS
UKAS Calibration for Slip Gauges (Gauge Blocks) – 5-point: > 47 Upto 122 blocks – M88,M112,M122 (E81,E90)UKAS

Slip Gauge Accessory Set

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Traceable Calibration for Slip Gauge Accessory SetsTraceable

Precise Slip Gauges

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Traceable Calibration for Precise Slip GaugesTraceable

Need assistance with your calibration?

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Calibration of Gauge Blocks (also known as slip gauges)

Standard: BS EN ISO 3650: 1999, Length standards / gauge blocks (metric) up to 1000mm
Standard: BS 4311-1: 2007, Length standards / gauge blocks (imperial) up to 4 inches

The above standards reference 4 different grades:

  • Grade K –ย  This is a calibration grade gauge block which all other grades of gauge blocks are calibrated against.ย  This is a master grade gauge block calibrated by interferometry
  • Grade 0 – Highest grade accuracy working gauge block
  • Grade 1 – Medium grade accuracy working gauge block
  • Grade 2 – Lowest grade accuracy working gauge block

Grades 0-2 are calibrated by comparison against a Grade K gauge block.

It should be noted that even the lowest grade accuracy gauge block is adequate for usage in many general purpose engineering applications.ย The most common range of gauge blocks is 0.5mm to 100mm

Gauge blocks (slip gauges) are available in a variety of materials such as steel, tungsten carbide, and ceramic.ย  Steel is the most commonly used material.ย  Tungsten carbide and ceramic are used for applications where the gauge block needs to be more resistant to wear.

In applications where the accuracy of gauge blocks is not required or if a range of less than 0.5mm is needed, feeler gauges can be used in these applications.

Metrology – Gauge Blocks

Prior to the introduction of what we now term as Gauge Blocks, the earliest type of length standard was known as the Polhem Stick so named after the Swedish inventor Christopher Polhem. The exact date of his invention is unknown, what is known is that sticks of this type were in use prior to 1700. This in itself is somewhat unusual as at that time there was no requirement for the early locksmiths, clockmakers and the like to make anything other than parts that fitted together on an individual basis as no interchangeability was ever considered.

The mass production armaments factories in the 19th century and the requirements of interchangeability of, in particular the firing mechanism that often failed in the battlefield, lead to the inevitable introduction of gauges for all stages of manufacture. Unfortunately this also resulted in the production of many thousands of gauges and so the problem of interchangeability remained, in that there was no record of which gauge had been used to produce what firing mechanism for what weapon. This was by no means a problem that was limited to England and Europe in the United States of America the problem was highlighted during the Wars of Independence and the Civil Wars between the North and the South.

In 1894 the Swedish State placed a large order for the manufacture of Rifles from the German Mauser Factory. The weapons ordered were to be inspected by a commission set up by the Swedish State and a member of this commission was the armourer inspector Carl Edvard Johansson. When C.E. Johansson saw how things were arranged at the Mauser Factory, he realised that many thousands of gauges would be required to be manufactured before the Rifles could be made in Sweden. So upon completion if his commission in 1896 and during his return journey home he had the opportunity to consider and idea that he had for a relatively small number of gauge blocks that might possibly be made so that in combination with each other they would provide all the measurement figures required in the manufacturer of rifles. Thus the revolutionary idea of – The Combination Gauge Block Set – was conceived.

Example Certificate

Below is a layout for a typical in-house calibration for a metric gauge block set.

Rhopoint Metrology sample calibration certificate for metric gauge block set page 1 of 2
Rhopoint Metrology sample calibration certificate for metric gauge block set page 2 of 2

UKAS Calibration

All of our Laboratories are accredited to provide UKAS & Traceable calibrations to all the relevant standards giving you peace of mind.

Benefits of Calibration

Accurate & Reliable

Make consistent, accurate and reliable measurements

Increase Product Life

Ensure longevity of the measuring instruments

Safety and Reliability

Ensure safety in critical applications such as medical and aerospace