KEVOS® MAKEOS · Quality
Vee Groove Pin Inspection (Pin Height at Nominal and Limits, Groove Width from the Reading)
For a vee groove checked with a pin, what height should the pin stand above the surface, and what groove width does my measured height give?
Inspection of a vee groove (or dovetail-like vee slot) by a gauge pin: the distance from the top surface to the pin centre, the depth to the vee apex and the pin height above the surface at the nominal width (as the vee groove pin tool), the readings at the width limits, and the groove width worked back from a measured pin height, with the check that the pin touches the flanks below the top edges.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Included groove angle | ° | Included angle of the vee. |
| Nominal groove width at the top surface | mm | Width of the groove at the top surface on the drawing. |
| Width tolerance (±) | mm | Plus-or-minus tolerance on the width. |
| Pin diameter | mm | Diameter of the gauge pin. |
| Measured pin height above the surface | mm | Height of the top of the pin above the surface (negative if below). |
Method and formulas
- Pin centre above the apex = (d ÷ 2) ÷ sin (A ÷ 2); apex depth = (W ÷ 2) ÷ tan (A ÷ 2); height above surface = d ÷ 2 + centre − depth (as the vee groove pin tool).
- Readings at the limits use W ± tolerance.
- Width from a reading = 2 tan (A ÷ 2) × (d ÷ 2 + centre − measured height).
- Example: the pin should stand 2.2426 mm above the surface; 2.25 mm gives a width of 9.9853 mm.
Limitations
- Sharp vee with straight flanks; a rounded apex does not matter as long as the pin touches the flanks.
- The angle is taken as correct; check it separately, as an angle error looks like a width error.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Inspect a vee groove width with a pin and height gauge
- Choose a pin that touches the flanks properly
- Set the readings for a vee slot on a fixture
Who it is for
- Inspectors
- Machinists
- Toolmakers
What you get
- Pin centre, apex depth and height at nominal
- Readings at the width limits
- Width from the reading and the decision
Interpreting the result
- A pin that sits about half its diameter above the surface gives a good reading; one that rests on the edges reads nothing useful.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 682–691. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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