(Heidenhain: Schaumburg, Illinois) -- Combining a highly accurate CERTO length gauge with an ND 287 digital readout (DRO) equipped with statistical process control ( SPC) enables Heidenhain Corp. to offer a powerful new inspection system. The new universal HEIDENHAIN ND 287 has an interface card for connecting to gauges and other sensors, allowing it to connect with CERTO, an established gauge capable of a large measuring range, including high-accuracy nanometer-level measurements. Common applications for this system are inspection of parts with tight tolerances and gauge-block calibration.

The length gauges of the HEIDENHAIN-CERTO program measure ranges of 0-25 mm at ±0.1 µm accuracy/±0.03 µm after error compensation, and 0-60 mm at ±0.01 µm accuracy/±0.05 µm after error compensation. Error compensation is handled and stored by the ND287 in conjunction with manual input of values from the accuracy chart included with each CERTO length gauge. The CERTO is comprised of an ultra-low thermal growth material, ZERODUR, for the glass scale and an invar shaft in order to significantly decrease thermal effects. Since a graduation and reference mark are imprinted onto the glass scale, drifting, as seen in LVDT technology, is nearly nonexistent and difficult to measure.

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