starrett parts breakdown
Some of the jobs that we hear about occasionally are actually quite poorly understood. This is plainly evident in the town where I personally live. This town is inhabited by employees of an Ivy League University and a world-renowned hospital, so you can imagine most people rarely think about precision measurement tools!
There is virtually no manufacturing, except for one very good company. This has the effect of making the metal working industry one of those things that happen in other places. For this reason, as well as other ones, manufacturing is quite misunderstood and somewhat looked down upon.
Very often, when I am asked what I do for a living, which is injection mold making, I tell them something else. I do this because I have learned that almost nobody has any idea what I am talking about. It is not worth it to explain, unless they are truly interested, because they just don't have the background to understand. So, I often just say I'm an Industrial Engineer, and they nod their head and are happy that I am a professional, like them!
So, who uses these precision measurement tools? A good beginning list would include tool and die makers, injection mold makers, aerospace machining experts, micro precision, medical precision and CNC machining shops.
Here is a very brief list of some precision tools used:
- Dial indicators
- Gage blocks
- Precision micrometers
- Granite surface plates
- Pin gages
- Optical comparators
- Coordinate measuring machines
These tools are basic to modern industry and our society would come to a screeching halt if we went without them. Such tools are taken for granted and rarely even considered for the amazing work they do.
One remarkable feature of each of these tools is that they have changed very little since they were invented. The design is so basic and efficient, that the improvements are really only refinements. For example: instead of using steel, they use carbide for the measuring surfaces.
Think of the granite surface plate: it is just a very, very flat rock! Yet it is the most fundamental piece of equipment found in any manufacturing shop!
There are many excellent companies that supply these tools. A partial list would include: Starrett, Mitutoyo, Brown and Sharpe, Scherr-Tumico, Tesa, Meyer, Interapid, Do-All, CEJohannson, Webber, Etalon, Zeiss, OGP and many, many more.
The main countries that supply these tools are: USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, and Japan. Of course, there are other countries as well, but they are more or less second tier suppliers.
So, when you are typing with your keyboard, stop for a moment and consider that some very skilled craftsmen are responsible for the manufacturing of this.
Randy Hough has a website that talks about precision measurement tools Find out more at http://precisionmeasurementtools.com
"You know Dad, I've been thinkin', one is a lot more than zero!" my son, Thomas, age 5.
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