Have the need for a low cost CMM or equivalent. The requirement is to measure bagpipe chanter reed blades (made with metal machinery!). Reeds are of shaped bamboo slips one and one half inches long by three quarter inches wide and sixty thou thick (that is the envelope dimensions). Accuracy plus/minus half a thou. Blades are tapered in length and width, variably. Have considered a micrometer stage microscope, my eyes are getting weaker but could probably manage with average of several readings. This method would be OK for X & Y axes but what about Z? Could the focussing mechanism provide accurate measurement? Ideal would be a computerized laser measuring machine but definitely far too costly. Micrometers although very accurate are difficult to apply to the varying thickness of the blades and angular geometry. Anyone with experience measuring small parts in a quality control environment. Any suggestions on suitable and available tools? (A hammer to smash the reed and render the pipes inoperable is not an acceptable reply!) Has anyone homebuilt a CMM equivalent? Any leads on cheap components and plans for building one? All help appreciated, and I promise that the reeds produced will make 'pipe music better. Ray
- posted
14 years ago