scope:

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose of this handbook is to assist personnel involved in the design, procurement, or production of materiel for the Department of the Army (DA) with the selection or design of inspection equipment for dimensional characteristics. The handbook covers three main topic areas: (1) measuring equipment and methods, (2) gage design and use, and (3) automated and computer-aided inspection techniques.

In the area of measuring equipment and methods, a discussion of the principles and applications of basic instruments includes descriptions of currently available general-purpose measuring equipment. This discussion is intended to provide some background information for personnel who may be involved in selecting measuring equipment, either for a specific purpose or for a number of different purposes.

A significant portion of the handbookdeals with gage design. This discussion is intended to serve as aprimer and as a policy document for personnel involved in gage selection or design. The intent of including gage design policy in this handbook is to provide designers, manufacturers, and inspectors with a common reference point that will result in greater uniformity of design practice.

The chapters that deal with automated and computer-aided inspection equipment are intended to identify. considerations in the design and selection of such equipment. Although it would be nearly impossible to prescribe the appropriateequipment to be used in any particular set of circumstances, the criteria set forth will save time and perhaps allow the purchaser to avoid some mistake that might have been made because an important consideration had been overlooked. This is an area in which changes in technology should be expected.