Cylindrical plug gages come in different designs based on size and
application. The following is a discussion of the different designs.
The taperlock gage is so-called because of the tapered shank, which
locks into the tapered hole in the end of the handle. It is the time
honored standard of the American Gage Design Committee, for gages up to
1 ½ inches in diameter.
There is an advantage in the fact that these gages have the size and
tolerance marked on the shank of the members. If or when they are
removed from the handles there is no confusion as to what they are. As
a further aid in identification, the Go and NoGo members have a
different length of gaging surface. It is permissible to make the NoGo
gage shorter because it is not supposed to enter the part.
In some special cases, a little gaging time can be saved by putting the
Go and NoGo diameters on a single gage member. A progressive plug, for
example, is suitable for checking a short hole, which is open at both
ends. Obviously, the hole cannot be deeper than the Go section of the
plug.
Progressive style gages are usually in the taperlock style, but any of the designs can be made progressive.
Now, let us look at the alternate design for cylindrical plug gages.
The reversible plug gage was more recently introduced and standardized,
after it became possible to reach the necessary precision with
centerless grinding and lapping techniques. It has the advantage that
it can be reversed and used at the opposite end when one end becomes
worn and goes out of tolerance.
The gaging members are simple pins that can be removed from the handle
by loosening the collet nuts at the ends. Larger gage members can be
identified by marking the size and tolerance on the ends. When the gage
is too small to permit this, it is not possible to distinguish between
the Go and NoGo members without resorting to measuring instruments. The
collet nuts at the ends of the handle are different colors – green for
Go and red for NoGo. This traffic light system is often used in
attribute gaging.
The taperlock and pin (reversible) type designs are not well suited for
large, heavy gages. The trilock design has been found best suited for
gages between 1 ½ and 8 inches in diameter. The trilock feature is the
source for the name of this design. The handle has three prongs on the
ends, which fit into three grooves equally spaced around the central
hole of the gage members. A bolt holds the member to the handle and the
trilock grooves and prongs stabilize the member.
Like the pin (reversible) type, trilocks are reversible, since either
face can be locked to the handle. Thus, if the reversibility feature,
allowing double the use, is important to the user, he or she can order
reversible gages for all size ranges.
Military standards, which military contractors are generally required
to follow, call for pin type reversible gages from the smallest sizes
up to .510 inches and for taperlocks from .510 to 1.510 inches.
Trilocks are recommended for the sizes from 1.510 to 8.010 inches.
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