When precision cylindrical parts come off the manufacturing line, many quality managers' instinct is to send them straight to the Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) room. While CMMs are undeniably powerful tools for complex geometric analysis, relying on them for simple runout checks creates a massive, unnecessary inspection bottleneck.
Accuracy is the most important measurement metric in metrology, but efficiency and usability are almost as critical. Facilities need a gage that is straightforward for operators of all skill levels to use. Dedicated inspection gages—specifically the ABTech FormCheck™ MicroTIR Gages—are quicker to set up and easier to use than a CMM, focusing on maximizing your shop-floor throughput without sacrificing lab-grade precision.
Using a 5-axis CMM for basic Total Indicator Reading (TIR) on the OD, ID, or faces of cylindrical parts comes with a heavy "setup tax." Complex metrology suites require meticulous alignment, custom part fixturing, and dedicated programming.
This leads to wasted capability and a severe ROI problem. Highly skilled CMM programmers should be spending their time measuring complex, multi-axis Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) features. Tying up a $200,000+ machine to verify the TIR of a gear or piston is an inefficient use of specialized resources. Furthermore, with an industry-wide shortage of trained metrologists, quality labs need solutions that bridge the skills gap, allowing standard operators to perform highly accurate checks without writing complex measurement code.
Unlike component suppliers that force buyers to spend months integrating raw air bearings, sourcing indicator stands, and wiring custom encoders, the FormCheck™ system is built for immediate throughput. It is a true "walk-up and measure" turnkey system.
The basic configuration includes everything required for high-precision inspection: a single precision lever-type electronic indicator, probe fine adjust, rigid gage stand, and an air-bearing rotary table with a tilt-and-center worktable—all mounted to an inspection-grade granite surface plate.
Most importantly, this speed does not compromise accuracy. The friction-free, ultra-precise air-bearing rotary table provides a stable, robust, and maintenance-free reference axis with certified system accuracy better than 10 millionths of an inch (10μ” or 0.25μm).
On a traditional CMM, compensating for a slightly misaligned cylindrical part often requires tedious manual shimming or writing complex software error-mapping routines.
FormCheck™ gages solve this mechanically with a standard Tilt & Center Worktable. Utilizing an intuitive 4 or 8-knob adjustment configuration (centering and leveling set at 90°), operators can physically center and level parts to the bearing’s axis of rotation in a matter of minutes. This mechanical alignment drastically reduces eccentricity before the probe ever touches the part, allowing for rapid in-house inspection of gears, pistons, and aerospace components.
Traditional analog-style dial indicators rely on the operator’s eyesight, introducing subjectivity. Conversely, proprietary CMM software requires extensive coding knowledge. The FormCheck™ system bridges this gap perfectly with an easily readable 10” wide-format color touch screen and highly intuitive software that requires zero coding.
The user interface displays results in both a traditional analog-style needle and a clear digital format. The software automatically captures the maximum reading, minimum reading, and total TIR. By digitizing the exact sweep of the part, the system entirely removes potential operator error and user subjectivity, guaranteeing that every shift produces the exact same reliable results.
Many high-end, ultra-precision metrology systems are environmentally sensitive, carry astronomical price tags, and cap out at very low weight limits. They are designed for delicate optics, not heavy manufacturing.
The MicroTIR series offers massive industrial scalability. While the high-capacity MTIR400 is only a mid-size model in our lineup, it natively handles parts up to a 32” (813 mm) swing diameter, a 36” (1,220 mm) maximum part height, and an impressive 2,000 lbs (998 Kg) of axial load. For even more demanding applications, we also offer systems engineered to accommodate significantly larger and heavier parts. It is the perfect run-out measurement tool for massive industrial and jet-engine components that cannot fit on standard lab equipment, delivering frictionless precision in heavy-duty applications.
Once a measurement is taken, the data needs to be logged. Relying on manual data entry slows down throughput and introduces the risk of typos, complicating vendor compliance.
The MicroTIR software features robust Enterprise Connectivity. Operators can input part numbers and descriptions directly into the touchscreen. Utilizing the "Stackable" TIR results feature, multiple measurements can be combined into a single comprehensive, exportable report (PDF, CSV, Excel). These results can be saved instantly or printed for customer verification, serving as an immutable digital record of the part.
You shouldn’t replace your CMM; you should free it up. By offloading cylindrical TIR checks to a dedicated FormCheck™ MicroTIR gage, you instantly increase throughput, reduce wait times, and empower operators of all skill levels to capture perfect, certified data.
Every product ABTech sells exemplifies a company-wide commitment to "Pride in Precision" craftsmanship. Designed to offer higher accuracy with more reliable results than complex alternatives, FormCheck™ is the ultimate run-out measurement tool for standardizing quality control.
Ready to eliminate your CMM bottleneck and maximize throughput? Explore the intuitive, turnkey ABTech FormCheck™ MicroTIR series and bring certified 10-microinch accuracy to your shop floor today.
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