FAST, ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DIAMETERS

The well-known Kenard Engineering Group is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the provision of complete manufacturing solutions to a range of diverse market sectors and international markets. The principal areas served by the company are the demanding Aerospace, Oil & Gas, Defence, and Communications industries.

Kenard’s two high-tech manufacturing divisions, based in Dartford and Tewksbury, provide an extensive range of in-house capabilities and offer a complete manufacturing service, along with integrated support facilities. Boasting a corporate culture dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement, Kenard Engineering is able to service the demands of modern industry, based on the skills and knowledge of its dedicated employees, and also through the company’s ongoing investment in the latest manufacturing and quality control technology. Between both manufacturing sites, Kenard has a comprehensive inventory of 32 high-quality CNC machine tools, with a maximum turning capacity of 930mm diameter, to a length of 3000mm, in addition to both vertical and horizontal multi pallet machining centres with 5 axis capability.

Kenard Engineering's reputation for product value and customer satisfaction is sustained by the high-quality of the products it delivers to its diverse customer base. Operating within the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 and AS 9100, outgoing company quality levels are maintained by assurance and certification techniques based upon experience and customer feedback. An example of Kenard Engineering’s quest for excellence and the pursuit of continual improvements in their quality control techniques is the company’s recent purchase of an advanced Universal Gauge from Bowers Metrology.

“Recently we were faced with the need to find a shop-floor proof, in-process gauge that would enable the fast, yet accurate, measurement of both internal and external diameters located on critical jet engine parts being manufactured within our grinding cell.” explains Gerry Palmer, Kenard’s Quality Manager.

Having considered the available gauging options from a range of suppliers, Kenard purchased a Universal Gauge from Bowers Metrology. The ingenious modular format of Bowers’ flexible gauge enables it to be quickly configured to suit almost any measuring challenge. Whether measuring internally or externally, the Universal’s clever constant pressure device ensures high accuracy and consistency of reading, whilst the gauge’s findings are displayed on its built-in, hi-resolution digital readout. 

Gerry Palmer continued. “As the easy to use Bowers Universal Gauge is able to accommodate every internal and external diameter within our manufacturing capacity, it has proven to be extremely popular with our operators. After traversing the part, the gauge’s digital readout has a unique ability to’ freeze’ and display the required diameter. As in-process measurements are taken, whilst parts are located in the machine tool, the gauge’s diameter ‘freeze’ facility helps to make, what could be an extremely awkward measurement, relatively simple.”

“The modular nature of our new Bowers gauge enables us to quickly assemble it to accommodate a large variety of measuring tasks. By mastering the Universal Gauge and periodically checking the gauge’s readings against slips held captive in a slip-cage, we are able to check the gauge’s readings throughout its time in use.” 

For more information on the Bowers Universal Gauge, click here.

Updated on February 22, 2011 15:28