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Questions about accuracy measuring a threaded hole diameter CMM versus tri-mic!

Okay, this is quickly becoming a hotly contested issue in our shop. We are making this aerospace part that has 2 threaded ID bores that are quite large. The tolerances on the part are all wonky because they are using normal dimensioning AND total positioning, and a whole slew of other headache-inducing stuff that has made this part something nice to cut my teeth on. These threaded ID bore locations and size have to be fairly accurate. We have a go/no go gauge out by the mill that the operator is using to check parts that are coming off. Still, the print is complicated and I have to check things on it (there is also a larger counterbore above the threaded portion). The threaded portion is fairly deep and wide, so lots of room to probe and lots of points that can be taken easily. The diameter that my machinist wants to keep is 2.418 from thread tip to thread tip. He insists that the tri-mic is reading the threaded portion at 2.418 almost exactly, maybe 2.4181 or 2.4182. My CMM is getting very repeatable and accurate results in my opinion. I'm using a 4mm ruby tip, and I do select the pitch option so that the circle is measured along the curve of the threads. I'm taking about 40 hits all the way around 360 degrees up the threads. , I read a thread from back in 2015, and you are where I get the idea from (management does not want to buy the location gauges at this time either and I can't really blame them seeing the price). I made it measure 8 different levels of the thread as 8 different circles on pitch. I could have gone down even further, the threads are deep. The CMM inspector from the shop that we sent them to said they are in tolerance, but slightly out of circularity, which I would expect when a circle is milled and then threadmilled instead of lathed and the threads cut on a lathe. I am def picking up on the circularity issues too, PC-DMIS is telling me that the circle has about .002" out of circle-ness. The number that I am picking up on my CMM, is anywhere from 2.4200 to 2.4204 depending on which thread I want to analyze. That number (2.4200 and larger) is technically out of spec even though the thread gauge says the Go goes and the no-go doesn't.... Our customers quality guys say it's okay. I'm a bit worried, and my machinist is worried about the numbers our cmm put out, but insists that the tri-mic is right anyways. I'm basically in CYA mode right now, and since I'm new at this, I want to know that our part is right. I'm guessing that this is either down to the circularity, possible probe deflection....chatter in the threads? The data I got back was: (Diameter of threaded bore going DOWN starting at the top) 2.4200, 2.4199, 2.4200, 2.4205, 2.4208, 2.4208, 2.4208, 2.4207. I can probably sit here all day and look closer in the threads, and there probably is some trash in them, I'll be honest, maybe some dust. But the average I'm getting is around 2.420, a hair above it really. Which, is not the 2.418 that my machinist is getting. I know it's only .002 difference. I know. And maybe some of you will say that is just going to be the battle between the CMM operator and the machinist until the end of time, idk. I've heard that this is where things can get crazy in a shop. I just want to know what the correct measurement is, not who gets a golden star. My data is just very similar and repeatable. And his tri-mic does read the 2.418 fairly clearly (it has a clicker thimble). There is no way I'm forcing that tri-mic .002 bigger in an honest manner. THANKS IN ADVANCE x100 FOR ANY HELP!!!
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  • Measuring threads with a CMM is a fun time, as I think you've picked up on elsewhere in the forum. Slight smile First off, what diameter are you in fact measuring? The tri-mike almost certainly has three cylindrical surfaces it's pushing against innermost surfaces of the threads - it will give you the minor diameter and nothing else. The CMM may give you the minor diameter, but only if the ball is landing on the thread peaks. If it's falling down between the thread peaks, you may still get an accurate-ish position if you have the pitch setting set correctly, but the diameter will be meaningless.

    I'm not familiar with the thread you mention - perhaps the way your multiple measurements are spaced out one of them is definitely on the minor. But I personally wouldn't count on it unless you get in there with an eye loop and look at it.

    Your threads are probably large enough you could get it lined up fairly well. Most of my threads are pretty small, and they're one of the few features where I will readily side with hard gauging over the CMM results. There's just too much inconsistency for it to be fully trusted.

    Also, the thread gauge results are totally different, since the thread gauge contacts the actual 60-degree angled surfaces of the thread. The tri-mike's not doing that, and neither (almost certainly) is your CMM ball. One could be OOT small while the other could be OOT big. Basically, the thread gauge will tell you what the D-comp on the thread mill needs to be, while the tri-mike and CMM (at best) will tell you what the D-comp of the end mill that cuts the hole needs to be.
  • Not sure why you think it weird that a Minor diameter gauge checks the part good against using the CMM and guessing the hits are exactly on the thread crest. A CMM check of an internal thread will almost always report big unless you have a large flat crest to aim for if you have a full form crest then forget using the CMM it can be done but takes way to much time.
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  • Not sure why you think it weird that a Minor diameter gauge checks the part good against using the CMM and guessing the hits are exactly on the thread crest. A CMM check of an internal thread will almost always report big unless you have a large flat crest to aim for if you have a full form crest then forget using the CMM it can be done but takes way to much time.
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