The CMM he is using is from the 70’s and still running and working. Where will that digital height gage made in China be in 40 years? Mitutoyo also makes height gages. Don’t let a vendor dictate what you need for metrology because that is all he sells.
With all due respect, that Trimos height gage is manufactured entirely in Switzerland. Mitutoyo does make height gages as well, but will you get one made in Japan...or Brazil? It shouldn't matter, if their quality control is robust, but the last Mitutoyo height gage I worked with developed about .100" 'backlash' in the plastic rack/pinion elevation adjustment in less than six months. Scale still read accurately, but the lack of quality was a huge disappointment as I prefer Mitutoyo for most other tools. I totally agree with what you said about not letting a vendor dictate what you need because that's what they sell. I have seen that a lot, especially with cutting tools, unfortunately.
one of these isn't for me and my shop (at least not right now) but cool to see one being used and just someone trying to sell one. I am really thinking of getting a VMM for the fast inspections those things can do
I wish this came out just a couple days earlier, I'm right in the midst of this debate for my shop right now and have been doing some deep dives on these linear height gages.
@@PracticalMachinist I am a one man shop. With that in mind, these were my big bullet points. Price - this varies a ton. Height gage is relatively set, whereas used CMMs vary as to what is available, and vary even more with hidden repairs Serviceability - height gage is large, but possible to ship to factory for service. Cmm is essentially field service only. Ease of use - height gage relatively quick and easy to learn, cmm depends on software. Capabilities - cmm in theory wins here, with the ability to measure things like hole intersection on double compound angles, etc. Biggest thing for me, was, assuming a hole was 100% concentric, accuracy of measuring a hole. To me, it seems like the height gage wins here as the used cmm market has a ton of variables. My experience leads me to believe most used CMMs are not as repeatable as I would like. Support equipment - height gage needs power, blocks and accessories for stabilizing part, and a surface plate. Cmm will need ultra clean air, possibly equipment to write inspection programs. Height gage seems somewhat resilient to shop floor conditions, some CMMs are designed with shop floor on mind. Reports - CMMs will have programs where they can fill in many fields,often in one setup. Height gage will need multiple setups to measure in different planes. Height gage is more tedious to do same measurements like positional. To me, it seems like unless you are large enough to have a dedicated cmm employee, the height gage seems like the better option.
On a height gage that size, I'm really surprised Fowler/Trimos are not using the 'paddle' style motorized movement of the probe, as they've used on the Z_Cal and Hi_Cal gages. Cranking that little wheel back and forth all day would be a drag!
the v5 is also motorized, you pull the crank handle out to engage it, and there are 2 buttons behind it for up/down. It's up to the operators preference, measurement accuracy doesn't seem to be affected on ours.
If you can get by with 1 of these you must make the most basic of components…Okay but limiting your work envelope …and from a quality point of view…waste of time
Or your customers actually calculate stack up and aren't trying to make things to the tightest possible tolerance for absolute no reason. I've seen thousands of parts that are dimension way too tight for zero functional advantage.
The CMM he is using is from the 70’s and still running and working. Where will that digital height gage made in China be in 40 years? Mitutoyo also makes height gages. Don’t let a vendor dictate what you need for metrology because that is all he sells.
With all due respect, that Trimos height gage is manufactured entirely in Switzerland. Mitutoyo does make height gages as well, but will you get one made in Japan...or Brazil? It shouldn't matter, if their quality control is robust, but the last Mitutoyo height gage I worked with developed about .100" 'backlash' in the plastic rack/pinion elevation adjustment in less than six months. Scale still read accurately, but the lack of quality was a huge disappointment as I prefer Mitutoyo for most other tools. I totally agree with what you said about not letting a vendor dictate what you need because that's what they sell. I have seen that a lot, especially with cutting tools, unfortunately.
one of these isn't for me and my shop (at least not right now) but cool to see one being used and just someone trying to sell one. I am really thinking of getting a VMM for the fast inspections those things can do
Nice ! Factories are still making CMM's he can buy one later if the need arises. I applaud his KISS methods.
I wish this came out just a couple days earlier, I'm right in the midst of this debate for my shop right now and have been doing some deep dives on these linear height gages.
What are some of the different perspectives/ sides of the debate?
@@PracticalMachinist I am a one man shop. With that in mind, these were my big bullet points.
Price - this varies a ton. Height gage is relatively set, whereas used CMMs vary as to what is available, and vary even more with hidden repairs
Serviceability - height gage is large, but possible to ship to factory for service. Cmm is essentially field service only.
Ease of use - height gage relatively quick and easy to learn, cmm depends on software.
Capabilities - cmm in theory wins here, with the ability to measure things like hole intersection on double compound angles, etc. Biggest thing for me, was, assuming a hole was 100% concentric, accuracy of measuring a hole. To me, it seems like the height gage wins here as the used cmm market has a ton of variables. My experience leads me to believe most used CMMs are not as repeatable as I would like.
Support equipment - height gage needs power, blocks and accessories for stabilizing part, and a surface plate. Cmm will need ultra clean air, possibly equipment to write inspection programs. Height gage seems somewhat resilient to shop floor conditions, some CMMs are designed with shop floor on mind.
Reports - CMMs will have programs where they can fill in many fields,often in one setup. Height gage will need multiple setups to measure in different planes. Height gage is more tedious to do same measurements like positional.
To me, it seems like unless you are large enough to have a dedicated cmm employee, the height gage seems like the better option.
I would love one like this for my shop one day
Interesting stuff
On a height gage that size, I'm really surprised Fowler/Trimos are not using the 'paddle' style motorized movement of the probe, as they've used on the Z_Cal and Hi_Cal gages. Cranking that little wheel back and forth all day would be a drag!
the v5 is also motorized, you pull the crank handle out to engage it, and there are 2 buttons behind it for up/down. It's up to the operators preference, measurement accuracy doesn't seem to be affected on ours.
@@Fr4g4lot Ahh, okay. So that makes more sense, sounds like the 'best of both worlds.'
Perfect example of a owner cheaping out
If you can get by with 1 of these you must make the most basic of components…Okay but limiting your work envelope …and from a quality point of view…waste of time
Or your customers actually calculate stack up and aren't trying to make things to the tightest possible tolerance for absolute no reason. I've seen thousands of parts that are dimension way too tight for zero functional advantage.