CMM measurement strategies. CMM measurement strategies. Fundamental good practice in dimensional metrology. Fundamental good practice guide in the design and interpretation of engineering drawings for measurement processes CMM probing. CMM verification. NPL produces a range of Good Practice Guides.

The following Good Practice Guides in Dimensional Metrology and related areas are now available. Follow the links in the table below for more details, a free download, or to purchase a printed copy.

Printed copies of new Good Practice Guides may be obtained for free from several Local Distribution Centres (see below), by personal application. It is hoped, in the future, to expand the range of guides available from these Centres.

Printed copies of guides 079 and 080 are available for free from David Flack, or follow the links in the table below for more details or a free download.

Title	Link to publications database for free download
A beginner's guide to uncertainty in measurement	GPG 011
The measurement of surface texture using stylus instruments	GPG 037
Dimensional measurement using vision systems	GPG 039
Callipers and micrometers	GPG 040
CMM measurement strategies	GPG 041
CMM verification (Issue 2)	GPG 042
CMM probing	GPG 043
Fundamental good practice guide in the design and interpretation of engineering drawings for measurement processes	GPG 079
Fundamental good practice in dimensional metrology (Issue 2)	GPG 080
Guide to the measurement of smooth surface topography using coherence scanning interferometry	GPG 108
The measurement of rough surface topography using coherence scanning interferometry	GPG 116

The Measurement of Surface Texture using Stylus Instruments
Guide No 37 (84 pages)
This guide covers the measurement of surface texture using a stylus instrument. It describes the current international standards, introduces the terminology associated with surface texture measurement, and describes how to make measurements and how to interpret the results. The guide also covers the calibration of surface texture measuring instruments and informs the user of such instruments how to calculate measurement uncertainties.

Dimensional Measurement using Vision Systems
Guide No 39 (66 pages)
This guide provides information on the components that make up vision systems used for microscopic and macroscopic dimensional measurements. It also includes generalized measurement good practice and describes the various processes and techniques required to perform accurate and traceable dimensional measurements using these systems.

Callipers and Micrometers
Guide No 40 (71 pages)
This guide covers the use of callipers and micrometers for internal, external and depth measurements. The issues covered include use and general care, support and handling of micrometers and callipers; guidance on choosing the most appropriate equipment type for the measurement; advice on calibration and verification methods and how to generate an uncertainty budget for a measurement; use of electronic instruments; and standard calibration methods and reporting of results.

CMM Measurement Strategies
Guide No 41 (81 pages)
This guide covers the selection of the number of measurement points when using CMMs and gives advice on the compromise between accuracy and speed. It provides guidance on sampling criteria for standard features and advice on measurements that involve projections of features over long distances. It also contains information on basic measurement principles, CMM software functionality in relation to drawing requirements and good metrology practice when using CMMs with CAD data to inspect parts.

CMM Verification
Guide No 42 (102 pages)
Originally written in 2001, this guide has been extensively updated to reflect the latest edition of ISO 10360. The guide covers performance assessment of CMM accuracy, use of everyday artefacts for regular CMM checking, methods of monitoring machine performance between formal verification intervals, and traceablilty. Information is also provided on the acceptance test of the CMM probing system and assessment and reverification tests for CMMs with the axis of a rotary table as the fourth axis.

CMM Probing
Guide No 43 (58 pages)
This is a general guide on CMM probes and probing. It covers probing practice; types of touch probes, their advantages and disadvantages and how they work. It also covers the advantages and disadvantages of various stylus configurations; choosing the appropriate probing sphere size; and the use of non-contact sensors on CMMs.

Interpretation of engineering drawings for measurement
Guide No 79 (99 pages)
This good practice guide is written for engineers, designers and metrology technicians who wish to understand the basics of the interpretation of engineering drawings in relation to the measurement process. After reading this guide designers should have a better understanding of the measurement process and metrology technicians should be in a better position to interpret the aims of the designer.

Fundamental Good Practice in Dimensional Metrology
Guide No 80 (227 pages)
This good practice guide is written for those who need to make dimensional measurements but are not necessarily trained metrologists. On reading this guide you should have gained a basic knowledge of fundamental good practice when making dimensional measurements. An introduction to length units and key issues such as traceability and uncertainty is followed by some examples of typical sources of error in length measurement. Checking to specification, accreditation and measurement techniques are also covered along with an introduction to optical measurement techniques.

The measurement of rough surface topography using coherence scanning interferometry
Guide No 116 (131 pages)
This guide describes good practice for the measurement and characterisation of rough surface topography using coherence scanning interferometry (commonly referred to as vertical scanning white light interferometry). It is aimed at users of coherence scanning interferometry for the optical measurement of surface texture within production and research environments. The general guidelines described herein can be applied to the measurement of rough surfaces exhibiting different types of surface topography. For the purpose of this guide, the definition of a rough surface is one that has features with heights ranging from approximately 10 nm to less than 100 μm.

Good Practice Guides - Sub Distribution Centres

Several organisations have kindly agreed to act as local distribution centres for new NPL Good Practice Guides.

At the moment, this service is limited to guides GPG079 and GPG080, though it is hoped to expand the range available from these Centres in the future.

Below is a list of distribution centres where printed copies of Good Practice Guides can be collected by prior appointment in person:

Location	Leeds
Contact	Ronnie Magee or Roy Mackin
Address	Manufacturing Metrology Centre, Leeds College of Technology, South Leeds Centre, Westland Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS11 5SB
Contact details	Tel : 0113 297 9426 or 0113 297 9407 (direct lines) Fax: 0113 297 9401 E-mail: r.magee@lct.ac.uk

 

Location	Coventry
Contact	Derek Hall
Address	Coventry University Enterprises, The Techno Centre, Puma Way, Coventry CV1 2TT
Contact details	Tel: 024 7623 6843 Fax: 024 7623 6388 E-mail: d.hall@cad.coventry.ac.uk

 

Location	Leicester
Contact	Hetal Patel
Address	The Precise Group Ltd, 4 Vulcan Court, Hermitage Industrial Estate, Coalville, Leicester LE67 3FW
Contact details	Tel: 01530 519356 Fax: 01530 839631 E-mail: hetal.patel@theprecisegroup.com