Air Flow Rate as a Test For Gage Block Wringing.

Area of Science:

• Metrology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Gage blocks are precision instruments used for calibration.
• Hoke gage blocks feature square gaging surfaces with a central hole.
• Achieving vacuum-tight joints is crucial for certain metrology applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a method for assessing the quality of vacuum-tight joints formed by Hoke gage blocks.
• To develop a quantitative model for vacuum leak rates between joined gage blocks.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing Hoke gage blocks with a central hole for vacuum leak detection.
• Measuring vacuum leak rates by quantifying the pressure increase in a defined chamber volume.
• Analyzing the relationship between the tilt angle of joined blocks and the measured leak rate.

Main Results:

• Vacuum leak rates through joints between Hoke gage blocks can be accurately measured.
• A polynomial equation was derived to represent the rate of pressure increase as a function of the tilt angle (in μrad).
• The study demonstrates that blocks suitable for wringing can also form joints via alignment and evacuation.

Conclusions:

• Vacuum leak rate measurement is a viable method for evaluating the quality of joints between Hoke gage blocks.
• The derived polynomial provides a predictive model for joint performance under specific conditions.
• Proper alignment and evacuation can ensure joint integrity for Hoke gage blocks.