Producing and maintaining plastic parts to a tolerance is quit difficult. To ensure parts are consistently good the parts are measured periodically. Measuring plastic parts are done with various tools. Smaller parts can be measured by hand using calipers. Calipers are used to measure from one point to another and can measure to within .0001" These are used by hand so accuracy can sometimes be off.






Another measuring device is the CMM or Coordinate Measuring Machine is used to measure a tight tolerance on the part. It can also give surface readings and the dimensions inside of parts. The CMM is programmed by a trained CMM programmer to set points that need be inspected. CMM machines use these precise data points to give critical read outs of the part dimensions. These can find fractional molding errors and the potential to stop the release of bad product.










CMM in action......