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Gage blocks - Gauge blocks
NIST
Certified gage blocks for calibration of micrometers, indicators, calipers etc.

 

Each rectangular steel or ceramic gage block comes with a serial number engraved and a certificate of accuracy traceable to NIST. These have a tolerance grade ASME 0, ideally suited for shop calibration as well as the inspection room.

They can be wrung together to create a larger span, 6" for calibrating a caliper, for instance. In fact, you can take any combination of blocks and put them end-to-end to create your desired length. For example, combining a 25 mm block with a 30 mm block will result in the equivalent of a 55 mm block.

A word of warning: it can be very tricky to handle more than two blocks at a time, so think carefully about which blocks you'll need to buy.

For ISO purposes, keep track of these serial numbers and keep a copy of the certificate with your calibration records. When you calibrate your instrument make note of the instrument's serial number and the serial numbers of the gage blocks which you used to calibrate it. Additionally, have the gage blocks certified by a local calibration lab on an annual basis and then keep the current certificate of calibration with your records.

These gage blocks are ideal for any micrometer or dial indicator having up to .0001" discrimination. If you don't need that kind of accuracy, consider getting a complete gage block set shown further down this page.

Instead of buying individual blocks for micrometer calibration you may want to look at the Micrometer Calibration Set on page 7.


1" rectangular steel gage block shown with an Etalon indicating micrometer

High quality rectangular steel gauge blocks - NIST certified

.005"†

±.000006"

611305-531

116.00

.010"

±.000006"

611310-531

94.60

.020"

±.000006"

611320-531

51.30

.025"

±.000006"

611325-531

51.30

.05"

±.000006"

611105-531

38.55

.1"

±.000005"

611191-531

31.50

.2"

±.000005"

611192-531

31.50

.25"

±.000005"

611212-531

36.40

.3"

±.000005"

611193-531

36.40

.4"

±.000005"

611194-531

36.40

.5"

±.000006"

611195-531

41.95

1"

±.000006"

611201-531

49.65

2"

±.000010"

611202-531

63.90

3"

±.000012"

611203-531

69.90

4"

±.000016"

611204-531

79.80

longer than 4"

...a measuring rod may be suitable. See page 58

 

Calibration certificate is included. All gage blocks are calibrated by the factory to NIST or International Standards on the date of manufacture. Please read further information below.

Gage block source: blocks marked RS are American made (while they last), blocks starting with the number 6 are Japanese.

† The .005" block is well suited for calibration of paper and film thickness gages. It will be necessary to handle this gage block with extreme care because of its thickness (or lack thereof).

High quality rectangular metric ceramic gauge blocks - NIST certified

 

Except where noted, these Grade 0 metric gage blocks are high quality ceramic. Why aren't they all made of ceramic? Because some sizes are too small and ceramic would be too brittle; some sizes are too large and the gage block would be too expensive.

metricgageblocks

You will have no trouble combining ceramic with steel blocks. For example, you can safely combine the 0.5 mm steel block with the 1 mm ceramic block to achieve the equivalent of a 1.5 mm block. They are fully compatible.

Take a closer look at some of the reasons to go ceramic:

  • Corrosion resistant (it's okay to handle these with your bare hands)
  • No burrs because it will not scratch. If dented, any resulting burrs can be removed with a ceramic stone
  • Abrasion resistance is 10 times that of steel gage blocks
  • Will not change dimension over time
  • Black printing makes it easy to see the dimensions of these blocks
  • Non magnetic which means it won't attract metal chips
  • High wringing force due to the density of the ceramic
  • Much harder than steel (1350 HV)
  • Thermal expansion coefficient is quite similar to that of steel so they can safely be combined
  • CERA is one of the toughest ceramics available and is extremely difficult to crack under normal use.

     

0.2 mm (steel)

±0.00012 mm

611823-531

100.10

0.5 mm (steel)

±0.00012 mm

611506-531

81.45

1 mm

±0.00012 mm

613611-531

58.95

2 mm

±0.00012 mm

613612-531

58.95

3 mm

±0.00012 mm

613613-531

62.75

4 mm

±0.00012 mm

613614-531

64.40

5 mm

±0.00012 mm

613615-531

64.40

10 mm

±0.00012 mm

613671-531

68.85

15 mm

±0.00014 mm

613625-531

82.50

20 mm

±0.00014 mm

613672-531

101.25

25 mm

±0.00014 mm

613635-531

115.00

30 mm

±0.00020 mm

613673-531

123.00

50 mm

±0.00020 mm

613675-531

163.00

100 mm (steel)

±0.00030 mm

611681-531

79.80

 

Calibration certificate is included. All gage blocks are calibrated by the factory to NIST or International Standards on the date of manufacture. All blocks can be combined to create larger dimensions. Please read further information below.

High quality ceramic rectangular gage blocks - NIST certified

 

Whether ceramic or steel, both serve the same function. Ceramic doesn't expand as much as steel does, so the blocks are accurate over a wider temperature range. Ceramic (CERA) blocks have the added advantage of never getting rusty (cleaning is easier) and of resisting scratches (which can ruin a gauge block in short order). You can handle these without any special precautions since fingerprints won't affect the blocks. Also, the size may be easier to read because it's printed in black on a white surface. These are inspection grade blocks which conform to ASME Grade 0.

For more information on ceramic blocks, take a look at the section directly above.

If you don't have a preference, we'd suggest getting the ceramic CERA block. Even though they may cost more, they're also hassle-free. NIST certificate included. Furthermore, you can easily combine the steel and the CERA blocks. They will "wring" together with no trouble. Very small sizes will not be available in ceramic and you will have to resort to steel in those cases.


 

.05"

±0.000006 inch

613105-531

49.85

.1"

±0.000005 inch

613191-531

44.45

.25"

±0.000005 inch

613212-531

65.30

.5"

±0.000006 inch

613195-531

65.30

1"

±0.000006 inch

613201-531

117.00

Tolerances ASME 0 / Grade A1

 

ASME 0 is the same as Grade A1. These gauge blocks offered above have tolerances which have the broadest range of use suitable for the inspection room as well as for shop set-ups. The tolerances which we show are the deviation of length at any point from nominal length. For a 1-inch gage block with ±.000006" tolerance, this means that at any point the gauge block may be as long as 1.000006" or as short as .999994". For all practical purposes, this is as close to 1" as you're likely to want to get.

Complete Gage Block Set - NIST certified

 

A complete Grade B 81 piece gage block set made of rectangular steel blocks may save you money. The accuracy of these gage blocks is only ±.000050 inches (compared to the individual blocks sold above). This makes them suitable for most calibrations, certainly for any tools with .001" or .0005" discrimination.

Each set comes with a certificate of calibration traceable to NIST and each gage block is etched with a unique serial number. The certificate was issued by the factory at the time of manufacture. It will be valid for one year after the date you put the gage block set into service. Having them re-calibrated will probably be futile, since the cost of calibration is likely to cost as much as a new set. You should consider these as "throw-aways."

Among the 81 pieces you'll find 1", 2", 3" and 4" blocks. Nine blocks have .0001" increments starting at .1001", 49 blocks have .001" increments and 19 blocks have .05" increments. These can be combined to create any conceivable interval from .1001" upwards. Measurements below .1001" will not be possible with this gage block set. If you are intent on measuring .1000" then you will have to purchase a separate .1000" block which you can find listed above.

These Chinese steel gage blocks can be combined with ceramic blocks without any hassles.

We offer two versions of the same gage block set. The one is factory calibrated to NIST standards but is not certified by an accredited laboratory and the date of calibration can be many months—even several years—old; the other is NIST traceable with a current calibration date (within 30 days) issued by an accredited laboratory.

This is one of the few Chinese items we're willing to sell. We may change our minds.

  • NIST Certificate Inch Gage block set (factory date) no. RS81.W ... $395.00
  • NIST Certificate Inch Gage block set (current date) no. RS81.B ... $425.00 (allow 3 weeks)

Are you curious about the price of American-made commercial grade gage blocks? An equivalent 81-piece set would run you about $4800. We'll be happy to supply this if you're interested.

 

Metric gage block set - NIST certified

Metric version with 88 pieces (tolerance ±1.25µm):

  • NIST Certificate Metric Gage block set (factory date) no. RS88.MW ... $375.00
  • NIST Certificate Metric Gage block set (current date) no. RS88.MB ... $530.00 (allow 3 weeks)

The metric gage block set includes the following 88 pieces:

  • .5 mm
  • 1.0005 mm
  • 1.001, 1.002, 1.003, 1.004, 1.005, 1.006, 1.007, 1.008, 1.009
  • 1.01 through 1.49 in steps of .01 mm
  • 1 mm, 1.5 mm to 9.5 mm in steps of .5 mm
  • 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm

     

B&S metric gage block set - carbide

 

Brown & Sharpe tungsten carbide deluxe 112 piece metric gage block set meets or exceeds Federal specification GGG-G-15c. These blocks are Grade 2 (A+) suitable as working standards in inspection rooms to set and calibrate measuring instruments and other equipment. Every block is certified, with serial number, and each set includes a certificate of calibration and traceability. Housed in a sturdy and well laid-out wooden box.

This deluxe 112 piece set includes the following blocks:

0.5 mm, 1.00 mm, 1.0005 mm, 1.001 mm through 1.009 mm, 1.01 through 1.49 mm, 1.5 through 24.5 mm, 25 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm and 100 mm.

  • Deluxe 112 piece tungsten carbide, rectangular metric gage block set #43009 ... $3,519.00

Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Calibration will have been made at time of manufacture and may not have a current date. This does not affect the validity of the certificate. Please read section below.

Calibration certificate included

 

You will receive a certificate which is NIST traceable. But, take note: gage blocks are calibrated by the factory on the date of manufacture. Thus, the gage blocks you receive may have calibration dates many months old.

Your certificate will be valid for one year after you put the gage blocks into service. For instance: the gage block is factory certified in January 2007 and you place the gage block into service on August 2007. You should then create a calibration cycle wherein the gage block will need re-certification on August 2008, one year later, unless your quality manager has established a different length calibration cycle.

On rare occasions, a customer may need date-current certificates. You must place a request for them. It will involve 3-4 weeks of delivery time and there will be a charge for this calibration. It may be to your advantage to have them calibrated at a local lab. This will certainly save you time and money.

If your customer, or your quality manual has different requirements, then disregard all of this information and follow your customer's or manual's instructions.

Best Quality Starrett-Webber Croblox® gage blocks - NIST certified

 

We are now offering a limited number of the American made Croblox gage block. Croblox gage blocks are made of chromium carbide by Starrett-Webber. They are considered the top of the line—the finest heavy duty non-ceramic gage block available. They outwear regular steel blocks. They will not corrode (don't worry about fingerprints), are highly stable (don't worry about normal heat fluctuations) and offer superior accuracy. They wring perfectly with each other and with other blocks which you may already own. They're more expensive but they'll last for years. Rectangular shape for easy handling. Calibration Grade A1 with maximum plus and minus errors as shown below. Please inquire about specific sizes not shown below.

 

.05"

±.000004"

RC .050 A1

59.00*

.1"

±.000004"

RC .100 A1

59.00*

.5"

±.000004"

RC .500 A1

89.00*

 

*special price, while supply lasts
Other Croblox sizes are no longer available. Consider using ceramic CERA blocks instead

How do I take care of my blocks?

 

Handle these with kid gloves. No kidding. They're your length masters and have to maintain their pristine condition in order to remain reliable. Scratches, dents and dings will all alter the dimension of your block rendering its usefulness questionable.

Use an optical flat from time to time to check the gage block's flatness (see page 7 for a relatively inexpensive set). Scratches or dents will show up as distortions in the light bands of the optical flat (you may want to research how optical flats work, if you're not yet familiar). At this point you can use a gage block stone (sometimes called "Arkansas Stone") to gently remove any burrs or high spots caused by the scratches. The procedure requires some skill and practice and may be best left to someone who's familiar with the process.

  • Arkansas stone (black granite) gage block stone GS13 ... $95.00

How-To: Lay the stone on the table and slide the gage block along the stone surface - not the other way around! Done correctly, you won't be changing the gage block's dimensions, but you will get rid of the burrs.

Steel blocks can get rusty, so coat them with a bit of oil whenever they're being stored. Then clean the oil off before using them. At this point, don't touch the bare metal with your hands. Pros use a pair of tongs, but we'd suggest you leave this to the pros. You'll probably only prove that you're all thumbs and consequently drop the gage block. Instead, use some lint-free tissue paper or clean cloth to pick up and maneuver the blocks.

If you get finger prints on them, clean with alcohol and then coat with good, clean oil. For long term storage, a bit of Vaseline works well. Put the blocks in a labeled, clean plastic bag and in a safe, sturdy container when you're done. You don't want the blocks to bang against each other. If any block isn't shiny, smooth and scratch free, have it examined and certified by a gage lab.

Ceramic gage blocks have fewer issues. No need to worry about finger prints, or rust. You should still treat them with respect, since they're quite costly to replace.

If you're a neat freak, or otherwise retentive, working with gauge blocks should be right up your alley. Enjoy!

Gage vs. Gauge

 

In American manufacturing circles, gage is the preferred spelling.

When we first incorporated our business we had to give our attorney a number of alternate business names and one of them included the word gage. He took an irate stance and with his pen in hand jabbed at the dictionary page where gauge was given in definition. "No!" we insisted, "machinists and manufacturers beg to differ." Even such a venerable American manufacturer as Federal Gage uses this spelling. He shook his head in disbelief so we thought it best to avoid the word altogether.

Because many people from different disciplines google for gauge, we thought it wise to include both spellings on the same page. We've also rather arbitrarily decided that gage would suit the inch product and gauge would be linked to the metric.

Guage

As long as we don't misspell it, and that happens easily. Guage is not a word in the English language... yet. Here's a cute story told us by a generous friend of Long Island Indicator and we hope he won't mind us retelling it here:

One of our teams made a poster with stick-on letters summarizing their goals. One goal referred to "Guages." I took my razor and carefully began peeling off the letters U and A so that I could switch them on the poster.

As I was doing so, one team member indignantly informed me, "You know, that is an alternate spelling of gage."

I replied, "Actually, G-A-U-G-E is an alternate spelling of gage. What you have here is G-U-A-G-E which spells 'goo-wahj' which I guess would be where Elmer Fudd parks his car."

(with thanks to Lemar Luke of Mechanical Calibration Laboratory, Ogden UT)

Footnote of interest: Lee Hawkins, Observatory Engineer at Appalachian State University tells us that—in his field—gauges measure an environmental effect such as a pressure gauge or force gauge, whereas "gage is reserved for an instrument which measures a dimension of some sort."

 

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14 Sarah Drive — Hauppauge NY 11788 — USA
 


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This page's most recent revision: 13 August 2010
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