ABTech (www.abtechmfg.com) has introduced its latest air bearing, the µFG150 model MicroForm Gage. It is designed with the state-of-the-art electronics and proven air bearing technologies that automatically delivers reliable ultra-precision results.

The company’s latest gage system features the most common form measurements, such as flatness, roundness, concentricity (in and out of plane), squareness and parallelism. For fast in-process shop floor TIR checks, a “live runout” feature has also been integrated. The gage system also offers an optional Wedge (or “Edge Thickness Variation” or ETV) measurement module, which can extend the analysis and automated measurement capabilities of the system for applications of the optics industry.

Featuring advanced technologies, the metrology platform of the gage system seamlessly blends maintenance-free, ultra-smooth rotary air bearing with a direct drive as the reference axis fitted in a cast iron base.

Through the innovative articulating gage arm design of the system, infinite flexibility in head orientation of the gage is now possible. Aside from providing unlimited positioning options for the gage stand, the system’s T-slot plate also allows users to utilize multiple stands.

ABTech’s MicroForm measurement software provides full function analysis for quality control labs and intuitive navigation for shop floor use. To assist novice operators, the system also offers on screen “step-by-step” instructions that do not affect the efficiency of experienced users. To meet the varying demands of users, the display and output options of the system can also be customized.

Using Ethernet network connections, users can easily save, convert to PDF, print, or export and share graphical charts and measurement results for traceability and statistical process control (SPC).

The gage system offers almost perfect linearity over the probe measurement range (correlation coefficient of 1) with a resolution of 0.1 µ”or 2.5 nm and overall system accuracy of below 5.0 micro-inches or 0.125 micron.