My grandfather was fond of saying that gages and inspection equipment were like fine pieces of jewelry. I first heard him use that term while instructing me on the use of a dial indicator. It soon came to encompass everything we used to check parts, whether it be a bore gage, micrometer, or caliper.
What he meant was these items are designed and built to very accurately check precision machined features. Their accuracy depends on clean, cautious, and careful use. They should never be bumped, dropped, or left in areas around the machine where they could easily become damaged. Never allow chips, coolant, or any other matter or debris to be near them or blown on them with an air hose. Gages should always be set in a safe place in your work area.
Take care of your inspection tools and they will take care of you!
