As a precision measuring tool, external thread addendum gages need to be avoided from wear and tear during use from many aspects such as operating specifications, environmental control, and maintenance awareness to ensure their accuracy and service life. The wear of external thread addendum gages often comes from improper use habits or maintenance processes that ignore details, so it is crucial to establish a systematic protection concept.
Correct operation techniques are the first step to avoid wear and tear. When using external thread addendum gages, keep your hands stable, handle them gently, and avoid violent collisions with the workpiece. When the external thread addendum gages are put on the external thread, they should be pushed slowly along the axis of the thread instead of forcibly squeezing or rotating them, otherwise the measuring surface of the external thread addendum gages is very likely to produce hard friction with the thread crest, which will cause surface wear over time. This is just like when cutting objects with a precision tool, if too much force is used or the angle is deviated, the blade will be easily damaged, and the same is true for the measuring surface of the external thread addendum gages.
The control of the measurement environment should not be ignored either. If impurities such as dust and metal debris adhere to the surface of the external thread addendum gages, they will form abrasive particles during the measurement process, aggravating wear. Therefore, before use, make sure the work surface is clean, and wipe the measuring surface of the external thread addendum gages with a soft cloth if necessary to remove potential contaminants. In a humid or corrosive gas environment, the metal surface of the external thread addendum gages may rust, resulting in a rough measuring surface, in which case wear will occur faster. Therefore, keeping the measuring environment dry and tidy is equivalent to putting a layer of "protective clothing" on the tool.
Reasonable control of measuring force is the key to reducing wear. During measurement, the contact between the external thread addendum gages and the thread top should maintain moderate pressure, neither too light to cause inaccurate measurement, nor too heavy to cause excessive extrusion of the measuring surface. Many wear cases have shown that frequently pushing the external thread addendum gages with excessive force will gradually deform or peel off the metal material of the measuring surface. This is just like writing with a pencil. If you use too much force, the tip of the pen will not only break easily, but also the handwriting will be blurred. The same is true for the control of measuring force. You need to develop a feel through repeated practice to avoid brute force operation.
Immediate cleaning and maintenance after use are important steps to delay wear. After each measurement, you should promptly wipe off the oil, metal powder and other residues on the surface of the external thread addendum gages with a clean soft cloth. If these substances adhere for a long time, they will form tiny corrosion points on the surface of the external thread addendum gages, accelerating the wear process. When wiping, pay attention to the direction of the texture of the measuring surface to avoid new scratches caused by back and forth friction. After cleaning, you can apply a thin layer of anti-rust oil on the measuring surface, which can not only prevent rust, but also form a protective film on the surface to reduce direct friction during the next use.
Standardized storage methods can effectively reduce the risk of wear when not in use. External thread addendum gages should not be placed in the same container with other tools to avoid collision and damage. Instead, they should be placed in a dedicated packaging box or flannel cover to ensure that the measuring surface is not squeezed or scratched. The storage environment should be kept dry and avoid direct sunlight or contact with heat sources to prevent deformation of external thread addendum gages due to temperature changes, and avoid humid air causing metal oxidation. Just as precious knives need special scabbards for protection, the storage of external thread addendum gages also requires a dedicated "safe space".
Regular maintenance inspections and professional calibration are necessary measures to prevent wear accumulation. Even if the usage specifications are strictly followed, external thread addendum gages will inevitably produce minor wear and tear during long-term use. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct precision inspections by professionals regularly. Once scratches, deformations, etc. are found on the measuring surface, they should be repaired or replaced in time. This is just like a car that needs regular maintenance. Potential problems must be discovered and dealt with in time to prevent small wear and tear from turning into major failures and affecting the measurement accuracy of external thread addendum gages.
The professional training and sense of responsibility of operators are the core throughout the entire use process. Only by allowing users to fully understand the structural principles and wear mechanisms of external thread addendum gages can wear caused by negligent operation be fundamentally eliminated. Through training, operators will understand the potential impact of each improper action on external thread addendum gages, so as to develop the habit of light operation and careful maintenance in daily work, and integrate the awareness of avoiding wear into every measurement link. This is the most lasting and effective way to protect external thread addendum gages.
