Usually, one tends to ignore the simple things in life. Similarly, you could see many people not giving much attention to the affixing of the appropriate kinds of screws in the important parts of the machinery. Naturally, this could be serving an invitation to disaster.

1. ACME thread Gauges are essential for ensuring incident free functioning
Introduction:
Usually, one tends to ignore the simple things in life. Similarly, you could see many people
not giving much attention to the affixing of the appropriate kinds of screws in the
important parts of the machinery. Naturally, this could be serving an invitation to disaster.
People might argue as to what a simple screw can do. You should send these people on an
airplane with a couple of ill-fitting screws. They would never make such silly statements
again in their lives. That is if they manage to return in one piece. Jokes apart, we are trying
to imbibe the importance of the most humble screw and the nut in the role of the
functioning of any kind of machinery. This makes it imperative that the industry demand
for checking each screw for its tolerance level before stepping out of the industrial
compound. The best instruments that can measure and check the tolerance levels are the
ACME thread gauges. The Whitworth thread gauges are useful for select machineries in
the UK and other parts of the world except the US and Canada. They use the UN System.
Different kinds of gauges
The thread gauges are two types in general. They are the thread ring gauges and the thread
plug gauges. Both these gauges have their own use and importance. We shall see them during
the course of this article. It is logical that there have to be two kinds of threads, the external

2. one, and the internal one to ensure a perfect fit. Even if one of the two does not fit properly,
you would end up with a malfunction.
The Ring gauges
These UN thread gauges would be the perfect tool for measuring the pitch and the tolerance
levels of the screws. The industry makes use of two kinds of ring gauges. They have very apt
names such as the Go ring and the No Go ring. Their functions are obvious as well. The name
suggests that the screw should easily pass through the Go Ring while failing to do so with the
No Go ring. This is the fitness test for these screws. Every screw has to pass this test invariably
before gaining an entry into the market.
The Plug gauges
Just as there are instruments with external threads, there are instruments having internal
threads as well. They also require passing the quality checks. You have the thread plug gauges
to do so. Here also, you have the Go and the No Go concept, but with a difference. In the earlier
instance, you had the screw going through the rings. Here you have the Go side of the plug
thread gauge going through the instrument. Similarly, the No Go side should not do so. This is
the simple test for every threaded instrument for determining its tolerance levels.
The advantages:
The advantage of this test is that you get screws and other instruments with good quality and
working threads in the market. This would ensure a correct fit. The second advantage of this
method is that it is very easy for one to conduct these tests. Even an engineering apprentice
worker can do it. However, the industries have mechanized these options today thereby
reducing the need for human labor. This can increase the productivity as well.