This section provides an overview for height gages as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 23 height gage manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked height gage companies as of November, 2024: 1.Suburban Tool, Inc., 2.Fowler High Precision, 3.TESA Technology.
Table of Contents
A height gauge is a measuring instrument used to measure the distance in the direction of height from a certain reference plane for machined parts.
Height gauges not only measure the height of the object to be measured, but can also be used for marking. The base point is the horizontal surface on which the height gauge is placed, such as on a surface plate, and the height from this reference point is measured.
When measuring, a sub-measure called a vernier is used to precisely measure the height. Height gauges also use a measuring tool called a scriber. The scriber is made of hard material and has a pointed tip, so it can be used to mark a line parallel to the surface plate on the object to be measured at a precise height.
Height gauges are mainly used to check the manufacturing quality of processed metal products and in product development. For example, height gauges are used to check whether the height of a fabricated metal product is within the drawing specifications.
Height gauges can be used to measure the height from a flat surface accurately, such as a surface plate. The height can be measured in increments of 0.01 mm by using a vernier scale to read the scale. It features easy operation and precise height measurement, and can be used in a wide range of situations, from the measurement room to the lineside.
Height gauges are also made of a hard, sharp material at the tip, which can be used to scrape lines in the direction of height. It is important to perform the staking by securing the slider with a set screw firmly tightened to prevent the tip from moving.
A height gauge consists of a main body base, a main scale with a scale on it, a column on which the main scale is mounted, a vernier that takes minute readings, a slider that is moved up and down for height measurement, and a scriber that serves as the measuring tool.
The height gauge is a measuring instrument that is placed on a surface plate together with the object to be measured. In measurement, the slider is lowered from the top and the bottom of the scriber is brought into contact with the object to be measured. This height is the measurement value. The reading is taken at the point where the main scale and vernier scale overlap.
For accurate measurement, it is important not to apply more measuring force than necessary to the scriber and to read the scale from the front. Also, the scriber must be parallel to the bottom of the base. If the scriber is not adequately secured, or if the flatness of the base plate or other surface is not ensured, stable measurement will not be possible.
After many years of use, the height gauge may tilt over the column due to aging or other factors. Attach a lever-type dial gauge or the like to the point where the scriber is mounted, and while holding it against the side of a straightedge or the like, move the slider part up and down to see how the value changes. If the pillar is tilted, it needs to be adjusted or repaired.
Height gauge measurements can be subject to measurement error due to a variety of reasons. For example, excessive measuring force, thermal effects due to the temperature difference between the object to be measured and the measuring instrument, and parallax effects due to the angle at which the scale is read. It is particularly important to note that errors due to the structure of the measuring instrument are unavoidable.
The main sources of error arising from the structure of the measuring instrument are those arising from the bending of the column and the tilt of the scriber. Scriber inclination is unavoidable due to its measurement method and construction. Because the height gauge has a scriber extending from a slider mounted on the column, not only does the scriber tilt when it is mounted, but over time, gaps and rattles in the parts can cause the scriber to tilt.
Deflection due to the weight of the scriber and mounting parts can also cause the scriber to tilt. A certain amount of these structural errors occur even in new products. If the error is smaller than the resolution of the measuring instrument, there is little need to be concerned, but if the error becomes larger over time, caution is required.
Therefore, in addition to daily inspections, it is essential to perform periodic management such as calibration at a certified calibration laboratory.
The bottom surfaces of the main scale and base must be cleaned before and after use to prevent scratches, rust, and oil from deteriorating the sliding action. Some manufacturers and products specify the parallelism between the measuring surface of the scriber and the base bottom surface of the height gauge. Dust, chips, etc., on the surface plate during use or in storage can cause scratches or chipping on the base bottom surface, resulting in deterioration of parallelism.
Storage in locations subject to rapid temperature changes is also undesirable. Repeated expansion and contraction due to thermal effects will not only deteriorate the accuracy, but also cause deformation of the measuring instrument itself.
If the instrument is located near a window or wall with inadequate insulation, it will be subject to thermal effects from temperature differences. Even if the instrument is located indoors and not exposed to direct sunlight, it is still a good idea to be cautious.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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TESA Technology established in Switzerland, in 1941, is a manufacturer of sensors, software and autonomous solutions. Their product range include calipers, micrometers, dial gauges, lever-type dial test indicators and inductive probes. The company has a global distribution network, and their products are used in industries such as mechanical engineering, micromechanical, automotive, aerospace, watchmaking and medical. The company also provides training for the product installation, product customization for special requirements and customer support.
Larson Systems Inc., established in 1979 and headquartered in Ham Lake, MN, United States, is a manufacturer of spring testing equipment and machines. The company's products are motorized spring testers, torsion spring testers, and calibration equipment. It also offers accessories, including spring data collection software. These products are used in various industries, including aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and medical equipment manufacturing. The company's services include torque wrench calibration, the supply of replacement parts, and volume order discounts.
Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer of ultra-precision metrology products and solutions. Established in 1860, the company is headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, USA. Its main activities revolve around designing, and manufacturing advanced metrology solutions, including Universal (ID/OD) Measuring Instruments and Long Length Universal (ID/OD) Measuring Instruments. The company offers a range of high-precision products, such as gages, calipers, and micrometers, catering to industries like aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing. Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems provides comprehensive calibration and certification services, ensuring accurate measurements. The company serves applications like dimensional inspection, quality control, and process optimization, supporting various industries.
L.S. Starrett Company is a manufacturer of precision tools and instruments established in 1880 and based in Massachusetts, United States. It specializes in manufacturing precision measuring tools like micrometres, callipers, bevel vernier protractors, dial indicators, and granite surface plates. The company is in compliance with the RoHS standards and has acquired several certifications, including ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, and ANSI/NCSL Z540.1-1994. Its manufactured products are utilized for metalworking, automotive, aviation, marine, and farm industries across America.
Gagemaker is a manufacturer of industrial-grade measurement devices and inspection equipment that was established in Pasadena, Texas, USA, in 1979. The company primarily produces taper gages, thread height gages, and lead gages for large-diameter measurement or API thread inspection. It also offers indicators, cases, and calibration equipment for its portfolio products. The company is ISO 9001-certified, and provides custom design, part measurement, and inspection services to its clients. It chiefly serves the oil and gas, mining, and machine shop industries.
Suburban Tool, Inc., situated at AuBum Hills, Michigan, is a manufacturer and supplier of workholding products and inspection equipment. The company’s products include but aren’t limited to gage pin sets, angle blocks, index fixtures, lapping plates, and height gages. They also provide customized products for clients tailormade for the client’s specific needs. The Company is registered with CCR and is a supplier to military bases and government organizations under government contracts..
General Tools, founded in 1922, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision measurement and inspection tools based in the United States. The company has a wide network and offers a range of products for industries such as construction, woodworking, and engineering. They provide tradesmen, craftsmen and DIYers around the world with a broad assortment of specialized tools that enhance productivity, inspire creativity, accelerate a side hustle or simply help check items off the task list around the house. Their tools can be found in hardware, mass retail, farm/ag and specialty stores, as well as online.
Fowler High Precision (FHP) is an American manufacturer of quality control and calibration equipment that was established in Canton, Massachusetts in 1946. From its main 78,000 sq ft manufacturing facility, the company produces various quality inspection devices including coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), micrometers, bore gauges, and optical measurement systems. Their facility compound includes a calibration laboratory and warehouse, which also stocks products from other brands such as Bowers and Baty and Sylvac. FHP products are primarily used by clients in the medical, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing automation sectors.
Flexbar Machine Corporation, founded in 1965 and located in Islandia, New York, is a Manufacturer and distributor of metrology-grade replicas, casting materials, and precision measuring instruments. Its diverse range of products includes video and optical inspection devices, gages, borescopes, gage stands, and machine tool accessories. The company's products are used in quality control, metrology, and precision measurement applications across various industries. Flexbar's products cater to industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics, and other sectors where precise measurement and inspection are essential for maintaining product performance. The company also holds ISO 9001 certification.
Electronica Mechatronics Pvt. Ltd. is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of electronics and telecommunication products established in 1980 as a division of Electronica Group in Pune, India. The company primarily produces encoders for precision positioning or motion control operations, meteorology equipment, and inspection machinery. These include magnetic rotary encoder systems, 1D and 2D height gauges, and line laser sensors. The company’s products are used in medical device production, machine tool manufacturing, and the aerospace industry. It also offers custom product design and integration services, along with onsite installation for customers needing additional assistance.
Baker Gauges India Private Limited, founded in Pune, Maharashtra, in 1972 is a manufacturer of Gauges and Precision Measuring Instruments. The company's product portfolio includes electronic gauges, customized gauging solutions, coordinate measuring machines, profile projectors and data acquisition & spc software. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and Construction. They also offer custom packaging, warehousing, customer and technical support and distribution services.
CARMAR ACCURACY CO., LTD, established in 1987 and based in Taichung, Taiwan, is a manufacturer and designer of non-contact and contact measurement systems. The company produces products such as linear scale, profile projectors, video measuring systems and machines, coordinate measuring machines, and white light scanners. All the measuring systems made by the company will inspect the metal, plastic, and rubber components like wafers and PCBs and supply them to different customers in Southeast Asia, China, Europe, America, and Japan.
Hedue GmbH is a German manufacturer and supplier of measuring tools for the trade founded in Viersen in 1983. The company’s products include laser levels, rotary lasers, plumb bobs, optical levels, and other measuring tools. It has five areas of production: plastic injection molding, toolmaking, metal processing, carpentry, and assembly, utilizing renewable energy sources. The company also offers a range of accessories and services, such as calibration and repair. Serving over 600 sales partners worldwide, it develops and produces measuring tools for numerous private-label brands.
RSF Elektronik is a manufacturer of electronic linear measuring systems, high-precision and resistant graduations, and customized cable systems. Their lineup comprises electronic linear measuring systems that offer resolutions from a few micrometers to the nanometer range, as well as high-precision and durable graduations produced using thin-layer technology on glass or other substrates. Additionally, they design tailor-made cable systems to cater to various sectors and applications, encompassing automation, robotics, automotive, aerospace, and medical technology. The company holds certifications in accordance with EN ISO 9001 and EN ISO 14001.
Mahr Inc., founded in 1861 and located in Rhode Island, United States, is a supplier of production metrology, rotary stroke bearings, gear metering pumps, and meter mix dispense technology. The company offers a range of products, including handheld gages, stereo-zoom microscopes, planetary spinning pumps, spin finish metering pumps, and the N500 ball cage, that cater to various industries including automotive, aerospace, medical, and energy. Mahr Inc.'s metrology systems include coordinate measuring machines, optical measuring machines, contour measuring machines, and gear measurement systems to meet the stringent requirements of industries.
BOCCHI Srl, established in 1950 and based in Italy, is a manufacturer and distributor of measuring instruments. The company's products are used in the naval sector, railway sector, medical sector, and mechanical sector. It is specialised in callipers, protractors, height gauges, spirit levels, and micrometres. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality and management systems. The company’s portable percussion hardness gauge is suitable for checking large pieces of cast metal, pieces in production, and sheet metal. It assures complete adherence to national and international laws governing the properties and calibration of devices.
echoENG s.r.l. is an Italian manufacturer and distributor of machine tools and related accessories that was established in Cormano, Milan in 2003. The company’s product lineup includes a wide range of drilling machines, grinding machines, and shearing machines. It also offers press brakes, hydraulic presses, and belt sanding machines, along with technical assistance and personnel training services. The company’s products are commonly used by clients in the construction, aerospace, and woodworking industries.
Metrica, founded in 1949 and headquartered in San Donato, Italy, is a manufacturer and distributor of professional measuring tools, offering a broad spectrum of traditional and instruments. Its product catalog encompasses Angled Gauges for measuring angles, Length Measures for measuring distances, advanced Laser Measuring Tools for precise measurements, Levels for establishing the horizontal plane, and robust Telefix Telescopic Poles used in height measurements for buildings, awnings, doors, and trees. These tools cater to the construction and mechanical industries, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
RIFTEK LLC, a company established in 1993, based in Minsk, Belarus, is a manufacturer and supplier of optoelectronic instruments for measuring geometrical quantities. The company provides various products such as laser triangulation sensors, 2D and 3D laser scanners, absolute linear encoders, optical micrometers, and specialized systems for measuring dimensions, displacements, thickness, and diameter. These products are used for various applications such as power generation, distribution, industrial automation, railway transport, machine vision, and others. The company also offers engineering, installation, testing, and maintenance services for its customers.
Bowers Group is a manufacturer and distributor of metrology instruments established in 1915 in Camberley, England, United Kingdom before its acquisition by Spear & Jackson. The company specializes in producing bore gauges for measuring the diameter of pipes, holes, or cylinders in routine or preventative maintenance operations. It also stocks various metrology instruments from brands such as Wyler, Gagemaker, and Sylvac. The company provides additional product customization services for its clients in the automotive, aerospace, and machine tool industries.
Swiss Instruments Limited, founded in 1952 and located in Quebec, Canada, is a distributor of metrology, storage solutions, and machine tool accessories. The company offers a broad range of products that include bore gages, calipers, cabinets, lockers, and clamping equipment. These tools find specific applications in various industries, including manufacturing and engineering, for accurate dimensional measurements, tool storage, and securing workpieces during machining processes. These products are used to measure diameters and lengths accurately, ensuring organization and easy access in workshops and industrial settings, and secure work pieces during machining processes, enabling precision and consistency in manufacturing operations.
United Scale and Engineering Corp., started in 1962 and based in New Berlin, Wisconsin, is a supplier of weighing systems, scales, and balances and is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. Its products include truck scales, axle weighers, and crane scales, and it stocks products from manufacturers such as A&D Company Limited., Doran Scales Inc., and Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Company. The company offers standard and custom solutions for any weighing need and provides rentals for many sizes and types of scales for short-term project needs. It has full-service centers in Madison, New Berlin, and Green Bay and offers 24/7 emergency services.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Suburban Tool, Inc. |
9.6%
|
2 | Fowler High Precision |
6.8%
|
3 | TESA Technology |
6.8%
|
4 | Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems, Inc. |
5.9%
|
5 | Reid Supply |
5.9%
|
6 | CARMAR ACCURACY CO., LTD |
5.5%
|
7 | General Tools & Instruments LLC. |
5.5%
|
8 | Gagemaker |
4.6%
|
9 | hedue |
4.6%
|
10 | Electronica Mechatronic Systems I Pvt. Ltd. |
4.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the height gage page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 10 | 50.0% |
Italy | 3 | 15.0% |
India | 2 | 10.0% |
China | 1 | 5.0% |
Germany | 1 | 5.0% |
Austria | 1 | 5.0% |
Belarus | 1 | 5.0% |
Canada | 1 | 5.0% |