Future gages may address this issue, however, as discussed below. Further promoting the shift, electronic indicators already are cost-competitive with mechanicals. That in itself might be enough impetus to effect a large-scale conversion. Perhaps the greatest advantage of electronic indicators is their ability to output data to data loggers or directly into PCs running SPC software. With more gages tied to PCs in one way or another, we'll see an increase in gage results networked plantwide, as well as a trend toward centrally processing that data and generating feedback to the production process.
Preliminary work is underway to establish a standardized file transfer format for measurement data.
For example, an inspector who currently uses four indicator gages and masters to measure four different dimensions on a workpiece may soon be able to use a single indicator gage and no master. More powerful microprocessors may permit users to program multiple presets to accommodate a series of different dimensions, but this may require additional improvements in the user interface. Some advanced laboratory gages incorporate nondimensional transducers and associated software to counter environmental effects on measuring. This concept will work its way into simpler instruments intended for shop-floor use, where environmental variation effects are greater. Indicator gages will have built-in sensors to measure the gage's temperature itself as well as the workpiece.