On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:24:06 +0000, Ray Field wrote:

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

Cutting it into sections and laying them on end to get your Z-axis
measure is a good second best to smashing them. You'll still save the
neighbor's ears, but you won't have the satisfaction of generating shards
with each hammer blow.

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