Tag Archives: Thread Checking

Powered Thread Gaging: At Your Fingertips

The New Vista Handheld RT Thread Unit being held by our very own Jim Audette.

The trend to replace hand gaging with powered thread verification is a prime example of technology making manufacturing safer & more efficient. Gaging threaded features has traditionally been done by hand, however, this is often tedious and allows room for operator error or injury. That’s where the New Vista Handheld RT Thread Unit comes in. The RT Thread Unit allows an operator to quickly power a thread gage into (or onto) and back out of (or off of) a thread to ensure assemblability. Not only will you find that your inspection time is greatly reduced, but the risk of repetitive motion injuries is all but eliminated when using the RT. The RT Thread Unit Kit contains everything that you will need to start verifying your threads with your standard taper shank gages.

The RT Thread Unit Kit includes:

  • One RT Thread Unit equipped with a Type FP Chuck
  • Three tool adapters for taper shank gages (handle size 0, 1, and 2)
  • One torque adjustment tool
  • Two 14.4v rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
  • One battery charger

To order your Handheld RT Kit today, click here.

Contact vs Non-Contact Thread Gaging

           What is the best way to guarantee that a glove fits? You could measure every feature of the glove, but you will only be confident in the fit when you try it on.

Graphic illustrating contact vs non-contact thread verification. Featuring a camera system and a New Vista RTU Thread Unit.

           The same considerations must be made when choosing between contact and non-contact thread verification methods. In the example above, contact gaging is simply putting your hand into the glove, whereas non-contact inspection involves using a camera system to measure threaded features. While New Vista offers solutions for both methods, manufacturers tend to prefer contact verification.

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Hand Gaging of NPT (American Pipe) Threads

Illustration to show what gages are necessary to verify NPT threads.

            There are two kinds of American pipe thread, NPT and NPTF.  Both of these are tapered threads, but when screwed together tightly, the NPT, and NPTF Class 1, leaves voids at the root and crest of the threads, which, to prevent spiral leakage, need to be filled with a sealing compound at assembly.  The NPTF Class 2 (Dryseal) presumably leaves no voids, and consequently requires no sealer. NPTF threads come in two classes: Class 1 & Class 2.

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