Gauging system

A gauging system is disclosed. The gauging system is adapted to determine the dimensions of an elongate workpiece. A movement assembly is provided for effecting relative longitudinal movement between the gauging device and the elongate workpiece so that the gauging device can repeatedly detect the diameter of the workpiece relative to reference positions along the length of the workpiece. This enables the profile of the workpiece to be accurately determined. The gauging device may comprise a laser gauge, or other non-contact gauge. Alternatively, the gauging device may comprise a contact gauge.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pertains to a gauging device. More particularly, the 
present invention pertains to a gauging device which may be used to detect 
the diametrical dimensions of elongate workpieces relative to detected 
positions along the length thereof. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Gauging devices for determining dimensions at known locations on a 
workpiece are commonly used to verify compliance with manufacturing 
specifications. Such gauging devices may be contact devices such as 
mechanical micrometers and electronic LVDT devices. Non-contact gauging 
devices also exist in the prior art such as laser gauges. 
Notwithstanding the various uses of prior art gauges, a need has heretofore 
existed for a system which can be used to accurately determine the profile 
of elongate workpieces machined on centerless grinder assemblies, as well 
as other elongate workpieces. One such system is disclosed in related U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,674,106, which is assigned to the common assignee of the 
present invention, Royal Master Grinders, Inc. of Oakland, N.J. 
A prior art system which utilizes a gauge to take post-manufacturing 
measurements is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,126 which issued to 
Pozzetti. The gauging system disclosed in the -126 patent has various 
shortcomings. For example, it would require two or more gauge heads to 
determine the diameter at different sections of an elongate workpiece. In 
this regard, the workpiece machined by the grinder disclosed in the -126 
patent is longitudinally fixed during grinding operations. The gauging 
device 12 disclosed therein is mounted on a slide 11 which moves the 
gauging device toward or away from the fixed workpiece perpendicularly to 
the longitudinal axis of the workpiece. There is no disclosure, teaching 
or suggestion whatsoever to use the gauging device disclosed in the -126 
patent by continuously detecting dimensions of an elongate workpiece and 
effecting relative longitudinal movement between the workpiece and the 
gauging device. 
The gauging system of the present invention is particularly efficient for 
determining the profile of elongate workpieces machined on centerless 
grinder assemblies. However, it may be also be used to determine the 
profile of workpieces machined or manufactured on various other apparatus. 
A centerless grinder is a manufacturing machine tool which can be used to 
grind elongate cylindrical workpieces such as wires, rods, pins, golf club 
shafts and the like. Workpieces machined on centerless grinder may have a 
constant cross-sectional diameter or may have various tapered sections 
including slight tapered sections and abrupt diametrical changes. The 
process of using a centerless grinder to machine such workpieces is also 
known as grinding the workpieces or removing stock from the workpiece to 
obtain the desired configuration. Centerless grinders are particularly 
useful where precision tolerances are required and where particularly 
accurate profiles are desirable. 
Centerless grinders include three main components. A work wheel, which is 
also known in the art as a grinding wheel, a regulating wheel and a work 
rest blade. The work wheel is the machine component that usually performs 
the actual removal of stock from the workpiece. The work wheel thus 
determines the surface finish and the overall configuration of the 
workpiece. The surface texture of the work wheel can be varied depending 
upon the particular grinding operation desired. 
The regulating wheel is the machine component which directs and guides the 
workpiece to the work wheel. The regulating wheel is also responsible for 
driving the workpiece and causing rotation thereof during the grinding 
process. 
The work rest blade is the machine component which provides support for the 
workpiece during machining (i.e., grinding) operations. The regulating 
wheel will cause the workpiece to rotate on the work rest blade while the 
work wheel remove an amount of stock required to obtain the desired 
diameter or taper of the associated workpiece. Prior art work rest blades 
include horizontal or angled support surfaces. The particular orientation 
of the work rest blade surface may be selected in accordance with the 
required configuration of the completed workpiece. 
Royal Master Grinders, Inc. of Oakland, N.J. developed and manufacture a 
centerless grinder assembly which has photoelectric sensors detecting the 
position of the trailing end of the workpiece during machining operations. 
The detected signal is processed and causes the regulating wheel to change 
its position with respect to the work wheel so that the configuration of 
the workpiece is modified. As the trailing end of the workpiece is 
detected by additional sensors, further signals are generated and 
processed which may cause the regulating wheel to again change its 
position with respect to the work wheel. Accordingly, the machined 
workpiece may include one or more tapered sections. The tapered sections 
may be gradual, or abrupt, depending upon the desired configuration of the 
workpiece. Royal Master's aforementioned prior art centerless grinder is 
widely used in commercial practice and is further described in its -106 
patent. 
The gauging system of the present invention may be used in conjunction with 
centerless grinder assemblies. It overcomes the shortcomings of the prior 
art by providing a system where the profile of a machined workpiece can be 
accurately determined by effecting relative longitudinal movement between 
a gauging device and the elongate machined workpiece. 
Although the present invention is particularly effective when used in 
conjunction with centerless grinder assemblies, it may also be used to 
determine the dimensions or profile of various types of elongate 
workpieces such as wires, rods, pins, shafts, etc. as well as optical 
fibers and the like. 
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
The gauging system of the present invention comprises a gauging device 
adapted to determine the diametrical dimensions of an elongate workpiece 
and a movement assembly for effecting relative longitudinal movement 
between the gauging device and the elongate workpiece such that the 
gauging device repeatedly detects the diameter of the elongate workpiece 
relative to reference positions along the length of the workpiece. In a 
preferred embodiment, the gauging device may comprise a non-contact device 
such as a laser gauge or the like. Alternatively, the gauging device may 
comprise a contact device such as mechanical micrometers, LVDT gauges, 
etc. 
Preferably, the gauging system includes a track on which the movement 
assembly is slidably mounted. The movement assembly may comprise a 
carriage mounted for controlled slidable movement along the track, and a 
motor assembly for effecting the controlled slidable movement of the 
carriage. The structure and operation of the components of the movement 
assembly may vary in alternate embodiments of the present invention. In 
this regard, other movement means may be provided in lieu of, or in 
addition to, the components of the movement assembly discussed above. 
The gauging system of the present invention may also comprise a clamping 
mechanism for clamping the elongate workpiece in a fixed position with 
respect to the carriage. Further, position determination means may be 
provided as part of the gauging system for repeatedly detecting the 
relative position of the elongate workpiece with respect to detected 
diametrical dimensions of the workpiece over substantially the entire 
length thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the position determination 
means works in conjunction with a computer which coordinates substantially 
simultaneous detection of the workpiece diameter and position by the 
gauging device and the position determination means. The computer may 
register a zero reference location of the workpiece and compile workpiece 
profile data based on the substantially simultaneous detection of the 
workpiece diameter and position with respect to the zero reference 
location. 
In this preferred embodiment, the position determination means may comprise 
an encoded information strip arranged substantially parallel to the track. 
The position determination means may also comprise a sensor head arranged 
on and in association with the slidable carriage where the sensor head is 
adapted to read position data stored on the encoded information strip as 
the carriage slides along the track so that substantially continuous 
calculations of the relative workpiece position can be performed. 
In another preferred embodiment, the encoded information strip may comprise 
magnetically encoded position information, and the sensor head is adapted 
to read the magnetically encoded information. In alternate embodiments, 
various types of encoded information may be arranged on the information 
strip to be read by a corresponding sensor head. For example, optical 
information may be encoded on the sensor strip and an optical reading 
sensor head may also be used to read the optically encoded information. 
Elongate workpieces used with the gauging system of the present invention 
may have a profile including a non-uniform diameter along the length 
thereof. Such a workpiece may have been machined on a centerless grinder 
assembly or may have been manufactured by other apparatus. Elongate 
workpieces having a constant diameter profile may also be used in 
conjunction with the present gauging system. 
In yet another preferred embodiment, the gauging system may include a 
computer system arranged to receive the detected dimensional and relative 
position data of the workpiece, and to graphically display such data as a 
workpiece profile. The computer system may comprise a monitor where the 
detected dimensional and relative position data of a gauged workpiece is 
displayed on the monitor. The monitor may also graphically display ideal 
profile data so that the detected workpiece data and the ideal profile 
data are superimposed on the monitor. 
In yet another preferred embodiment, the detected profile data may be 
displayed on the monitor in a first color and the ideal profile data may 
be displayed on the monitor in a second color so that the detected profile 
data and the ideal profile data can be easily visually distinguished. 
The computer system may also comprise a printer for providing a print-out 
of the detected diameter and relative position data. The printer may also 
graphically display ideal profile data so that the detected workpiece data 
and the ideal profile data are superimposed on a print-out generated by 
the printer. The detected profile data may be displayed in a first color 
and the ideal profile data may be displayed in a second color so that the 
superimposed detected and ideal profiles can be easily visually 
distinguished on the printout. 
Preferably, the gauging system of the present invention is used in 
conjunction with a workpiece which has been machined on a centerless 
grinder assembly. However, it should be appreciated that the gauging 
system of the present invention may also be used to detect the dimensions 
and profile of workpieces machined or manufactured by apparatus other than 
centerless grinder assemblies. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gauging system where 
the profile of the elongate workpiece can be detected by effecting 
relative movement between a gauging device and a workpiece. It is another 
object of the present invention to provide a system where the 
configuration and dimensions of a machined workpiece can be visually 
appreciated by an operator of the system after the workpiece profile is 
detected as it is gauged by a gauging device. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a user 
friendly gauging system where the operator can readily determine where a 
machined workpiece is within specified tolerances. 
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention 
will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the 
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present gauging system 40 will be described herein for use in 
determining the dimensions and profile of an elongate workpiece, such as 
non-uniform workpiece 28. However, it should be appreciated that the 
gauging system 40 can be effectively used with uniform workpieces (i.e., 
workpieces having a constant diameter along the entire length thereof) as 
well as non-uniform workpieces. As used herein, the term "non-uniform" 
refers to the profile of a workpiece which does not consist only of a 
constant diameter along the length thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, workpiece 
28 is an example of a non-uniform workpiece which includes both constant 
diameter sections and tapered sections. 
Gauging system 40 can be used to determine the profile or diameter at 
various locations on elongate objects such as wires, pins, rods, shafts, 
etc. regardless of the type of machines used to manufacture the elongate 
object. A preferred use of the gauging system 40 relates to gauging of 
elongate workpieces manufactured on centerless grinder assemblies. Thus, a 
discussion of how the gauging system 40 can effectively gauge an elongate 
workpiece 28 manufactured on a centerless grinder assembly is set forth 
below. However, it should be appreciated that the gauging system 40 can be 
used to determine the dimensions and profile of substantially any elongate 
cylindrical object such as optical fibers, etc. 
A centerless grinder assembly 10 which is described in related U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,674,106, the subject matter of which is incorporated by reference 
herein, is illustrated in FIG. 1. The centerless grinder assembly 10 
generally includes a computer system 12 for controlling the operation 
thereof, a grinding assembly 14 and a slidable sensor bank assembly 26. 
The computer system 12 should not be confused with the computer 66, 
control box 74 and related system components associated with the gauging 
system 40 of the present invention. As described in the related -106 
patent, the computer system 12 may be a general purpose computer such as a 
personal computer having a state of the art microprocessor and sufficient 
memory to permit operation of associated software programs. 
The centerless grinder assembly 10 is preferably used to grind elongate 
workpieces. By way of example, in describing the structure and operation 
of the centerless grinder assembly 10, a wire workpiece 28 is discussed 
herein as a preferred elongate workpiece. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the grinding assembly 14 includes a work wheel 
16 and a regulating wheel 18. The work wheel 16 is known in the art, and, 
in a preferred embodiment, may comprise a twelve inch diameter. The 
regulating wheel 18 is also known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, 
it may have a diameter of about six inches. However, it should be 
understood that the above dimensions of the work wheel 16 and the 
regulating wheel are by way of example only, as the dimensions thereof can 
vary greatly in alternate embodiments. A lead screw 22 and a precision 
stepping motor 20 may be used to selectively drive the regulating wheel 18 
toward or away from the work wheel 16. 
A work rest blade 24 is arranged between the work wheel 16 and the 
regulating wheel 18 for supporting a workpiece 28 during machining 
operations. The support surface of the work rest blade 24 may be 
horizontally oriented, or may be oriented at an angle with respect to a 
horizontal plane. The angle of the work rest blade support surface will 
affect the overall orientation of the machined workpiece 28. 
The slidable sensor bank assembly 26 is described in detail in the related 
-106 patent. The various components of the slidable sensor bank assembly 
28 will not be discussed herein and thus, have not been afforded reference 
numerals. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the non-uniform workpiece 28 as it is supported on the 
work rest blade 24 which includes a top support surface (unnumbered). The 
work rest blade 24 supports the work piece 28 during the entire grinding 
process and permits the workpiece 28 to freely rotate on its top support 
surface during such grinding process. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the work wheel 16 and the regulating wheel 18 
have angled surfaces which enable the workpiece 28 to be precisely 
machined in accordance with a desired configuration. The regulating wheel 
18 is preferably arranged at a slightly offset angle with respect to a 
vertical plane (not shown). The offset relationship of the regulating 
wheel 18 with respect to the vertical plane is known in the art and 
permits the regulating wheel 18 to draw the workpiece 28 past the work 
wheel 16 while continuously spinning the workpiece 28. As is known in the 
art, the vertical component of the regulating wheel orientation is 
primarily responsible for causing the workpiece 28 to spin while the 
horizontal component of the regulating wheel orientation is primarily 
responsible for drawing the workpiece 28 past the work wheel 16. 
FIGS. 4-7 illustrate various views of the gauging system 40 of the present 
invention. As particularly shown in FIG. 4, the gauging system 40 may 
include a support stand 42, such as a table assembly or the like. A laser 
gauging device 44 is used to detect the workpiece diameter at various 
locations along the length of a machined workpiece 28. The laser gauging 
device 44 may be similar to known laser gauges with respect to the laser 
detecting mechanism. It should be appreciated that various other types of 
gauging devices may be used in connection with the present invention. 
Preferably, the gauging device is a non-contact gauge where the device can 
detect the diametrical dimensions of a workpiece without physically 
contacting the workpiece. However, contact gauging devices, such as LVDT 
type devices and mechanical micrometers may also be used in accordance 
with the present invention. 
It is preferable for the gauging device 44 to be a non-contact type in 
order to minimize risk of damage to relatively fragile workpieces during 
gauging procedures. To this end, it is not uncommon for workpieces, such 
as workpiece 28, to have sections with diameters of less than about 0.1 
mm. Of course, the dimensions of the various sections of a non-uniform 
workpiece, such as workpiece 28 may vary greatly as the present invention 
is not limited in any way to the size of the workpiece. 
As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the gauging device 44 includes a 
funnel-shaped entrance guide 46 and an exit guide 48 having a relatively 
small circular passageway through which workpiece 28 may extend during 
gauging operations. 
The workpiece 28 may be supported in a wire guide track 52, which appears 
in FIG. 6 as a substantially v-shaped trough. The wire guide track 52 
simply supports the wire 28 as it is pulled through the gauging device 44 
during gauging operations. 
A wire clamp 54 which is intended to gently, but securely, retain the 
workpiece 28 in a fixed position with respect to a slidable carriage 56 
during gauging operations is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8. The carriage 
56 is also illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8 and is mounted for controlled 
slidable movement on carriage track 58. The carriage 56 also supports a 
sensor head 60, which may comprise a magnetic sensor for reading encoded 
magnetic information retained on the encoded strip 62. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the encoded strip 62 is arranged to extend 
longitudinally parallel to the carriage track 58 and is mounted just below 
the carriage track. As discussed further below, the sensor head 60 should 
be positioned in close enough proximity to the encoded strip 62 so that 
accurate position information readings can be determined as the sensor 
head 60 slides along the encoded strip 62. The combination of the sensor 
head 60 and the encoded strip 62 may be considered position determination 
means for repeatedly detecting the relative position of the workpiece 28 
with respect to the detected diametrical dimensions of the workpiece 28 
obtained by the gauging device 44. This aspect of the present invention 
will also be discussed in more detail below. 
FIGS. 4, 5 and 8 also illustrate a linear stepper motor 64 which effects 
controlled slidable movement of the carriage 56 and the sensor head 60 
along the carriage track 58. In a preferred embodiment, the workpiece 28 
is secured to the carriage assembly 56 for slidable movement through the 
gauging device 44 where repeated diametrical readings are taken as the 
workpiece 28 is drawn through the gauging device 44. However, it should be 
appreciated that in alternate embodiments, the workpiece 28 may be secured 
in a fixed position and the gauging device 44 may be moved longitudinally 
along the workpiece 28. In either embodiment, the important concept is 
that there is relative longitudinal movement between the workpiece 28 and 
the gauging device 44. Since the gauging device 44 is preferably a 
non-contact device, such as a laser gauge, the workpiece 28 will not be 
damaged in any way during gauging operations. 
A computer 66 and a computerized control box 74 are illustrated in FIGS. 4 
and 8. These components of the gauging system 40 coordinate the 
substantially simultaneous detection of the diametrical readings of the 
workpiece 28 and the position thereof obtained by the gauging device 44 
and the position determination means (i.e., the sensor head 60 and the 
corresponding encoded strip 62). As shown in FIG. 4, the computer 66 may 
be a PC having a Pentium processor, or other state of the art processor 
capable of handling the required associated software and data 
calculations. 
A monitor 68 is also shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 for providing a user friendly 
interface to the system operator. An advantageous feature of the present 
invention is that the monitor 68 may be used to graphically depict the 
profile of a machined workpiece, such as workpiece 28. The monitor 68 may 
also be used to graphically depict the profile of an ideal workpiece 
configuration including a preset tolerance range. In a preferred 
embodiment, the monitor 68 may be used to superimpose the graphical 
display of a machined workpiece profile and an ideal workpiece profile so 
that a clear visual indication can be provided demonstrating whether the 
machined workpiece profile is within certain pre-selected tolerances. This 
aspect of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 15 and 16, and 
will be discussed further below. 
The gauging system 40 also includes a keyboard 70 and a mouse (unnumbered) 
which enables a system operator to input required information into the 
computer 66. Other state of the art input devices may also be used. A 
printer 72 is also shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 for providing a graphical 
print-out of the profile of the machined workpiece 28 after gauging 
operations. The printer 72 may also provide a graphical print-out of the 
configuration of an ideal workpiece in the same manner that the 
configuration of the ideal and machined workpieces can be displayed on the 
computer monitor 68. 
The computerized control box 74 includes the on/off power circuit and 
various hardware control circuits for controlling operation of the gauging 
system 40. 
A communication cable 76 is shown in FIG. 4, and is schematically 
illustrated in FIG. 8, for connecting the gauging system 40 to a 
centerless grinder assembly, such as centerless grinder assembly 10 shown 
in FIG. 1. The communication cable 76 is intended to permit feedback 
signals of the offset (i.e., the difference between the dimensions of a 
machined workpiece and the dimensions of an ideal workpiece) to the 
computer system 12 of the centerless grinder assembly 10 so that the next 
workpiece will be more accurately machined as discussed in copending 
patent application Ser. No. 08/799,399, the content of which is 
incorporated by reference herein. This related application also claims 
priority on the application which matured into applicant's related -106 
patent. 
The user-friendly operator interface of the gauging system which is 
displayed on monitor 68 in a universal WINDOWS format makes it 
particularly simple to operate the gauging system 40. All of the necessary 
information to gauge and evaluate the profile of the machined workpiece 28 
may be performed by simply clicking the mouse (unnumbered) at the proper 
user friendly prompts. 
In accordance with a preferred method of operating the present gauging 
system 40, an operator may begin entering data through the user friendly 
interface program by inputting the desired information in the wire 
specifications screen and the taper specifications screen as shown in 
FIGS. 9 and 10. Once all of the desired wire and taper information is 
inputted, the operator may return to the main screen and click on a prompt 
to send the carriage 56 to the starting position. This prompt may be a 
"home" carriage prompt which activates the stepper motor 64 to slide the 
carriage to its "home" position so that a workpiece having the desired 
length can be accommodated. 
The operator should place the machined workpiece 28 into the stationary 
v-shaped wire guide track 52. The workpiece 28 should then be fixed 
relative to the carriage 56 via clamp 54 at an end portion of the largest 
diameter section 38 of the workpiece 28. 
At this time, in order to activate the gauging system 40 to perform gauging 
operations, the operator need only click on the "gauge" prompt. The 
workpiece 28 is then advanced by controlled movement of the carriage 56 
through the channel of the gauging device 44 until a desired length of the 
workpiece 28 extends out of the small exit passageway 48. The gauging 
device 44 does not take any dimension readings as the workpiece 28 is 
advanced in a forward direction (i.e., from the entrance funnel 46 toward 
the exit passageway 48). After the workpiece 28 has been advanced to its 
forward starting position, it is then pulled backward (i.e., from the exit 
passageway 48 toward the entrance funnel 46) through the laser gauge 44 
where the laser gauging device 44 repeatedly detects the diameter of the 
workpiece 28 at a sampling speed set by hardware within the control box 
74. The sampling speed may be, for example, about 50 milliseconds. Of 
course, the sampling speed may vary greatly within the scope of the 
present invention. 
Simultaneous with the continuous taking of the diametrical dimension data 
by the gauging device 44, the position data of the workpiece 28 is also 
repeatedly detected by the combination of the sensor head 60 and the 
magnetically encoded information strip 62. To this end, the magnetically 
encoded information strip 62 includes a predetermined quantity of "ticks" 
per inch. For example, the magnetically encoded information strip may 
include 6,000 ticks per inch. The computer system of the gauging system 40 
coordinates the position data with the diametrical dimension data and 
stores the corresponding and continuously sampled data information in 
computer memory. As the workpiece is continuously drawn backwards through 
the entrance funnel 46 of the gauging device 44, the gauging device 44 
continues to detect the diameter while the cooperation between the sensor 
head 60 and the magnetically encoded strip 62 continues to take position 
data points corresponding to the detected diameter data. 
The carriage 56 completes its programmed travel at some point after the 
forward most tip of the workpiece 28 is pulled through the laser sensor of 
the gauging device 44. Once this occurs, the gauging device 44 provides 
"zero"readings. Thus, the computer calculates a zero length index at zero 
diameter and adjusts the length data to the forward most tip of the 
workpiece 28. Accordingly, the forward most tip of the workpiece 28 may be 
considered the zero reference point even though such zero reference point 
is not obtained until after the workpiece 28 has been pulled out of the 
sensing field of the gauging device 44. 
In determining the velocity at which the workpiece 28 will be drawn through 
the gauging device 44, the operator may opt to enter a constant velocity 
(typically in inches per second) or may opt to vary the velocity at 
different regions of the workpiece. It follows that when the workpiece is 
drawn through the gauging device 44 at a slower velocity, a greater number 
of sampling points will be determined. 
A "Set Draw Velocity" screen is shown in FIG. 11. By repeatedly detecting 
and coordinating the diameter of the workpiece with the position of the 
workpiece, the gauging system 40 may be used to determine a very accurate 
profile of the workpiece 28 including the smallest constant diameter 
section 30, the first tapered section 32, the central constant diameter 
section 34, the second tapered section 36 and the largest constant 
diameter section 38. This profile may be displayed in graphical form as 
diameter versus length in an x versus y format. In order to visually 
compare the profile of the machined workpiece with the profile of an ideal 
workpiece, the gauging system 40 includes a program for displaying the 
upper and lower ideal diameter limits for each length position along the 
ideal (i.e., nominal) workpiece. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a "Graph 
System Set-up" screen and an "Auto Graph Set-up" screen. 
FIG. 14 illustrates a summary of calculated intersection data for a 
workpiece having seven different tapered regions. This summary illustrates 
that precise start and end data of the workpiece can be determined at very 
precise positions along the entire length of a workpiece. FIG. 15 
illustrates an "Auto Graph" screen where ideal profile data and actual 
measured profile data are superimposed. 
The operator has the option of printing out various detailed profile graphs 
where the ideal workpiece profile including a set tolerance is 
superimposed with the profile of an actual machined workpiece so that a 
visual indication of an out of tolerance condition can be easily detected. 
For example, FIG. 16 illustrates a print-out of the graphical profile of 
top and bottom tolerances 78 and 80 of ideal profile data superimposed 
with a graph 82 of an actual machined workpiece profile. As evident from 
this superimposed print-out, it is clear that the actual workpiece data is 
well within tolerances at the left most constant diameter section while 
the actual workpiece was machined out of tolerance at the second constant 
diameter region (from the left side). 
An additional advantageous feature of the present invention relates to the 
ability to superimpose a display of ideal and actual workpiece profiles in 
different colors. For example, the ideal top and bottom profile 78 and 80 
of FIG. 16 may be shown as a red graph while the actual machined profile 
82 may be displayed in green. 
As a further aid to an operator of the gauging system 40, arrow indicators, 
such as those shown in FIG. 16, may be used as graphical interpretations 
of the beginning and end of tapers. If desired, a numerical summary chart, 
such as the chart of FIG. 14 can be generated showing the particular taper 
dimensions of selected position along the length of a machined workpiece. 
While the foregoing description and figures are directed toward preferred 
embodiments of the present invention, it should that be appreciated that 
numerous modifications can be made to various features of the present 
gauging system while remaining within the scope and spirit of the present 
invention. Indeed, such modifications are encouraged to be made to the 
present gauging system. Accordingly, the aforementioned detailed 
description of the present invention should be taken by way of 
illustration rather than by way of limitation as the present invention is 
defined by the claims set forth below.