A surface plate, also known as a surface table or a granite surface plate, is a precision measurement tool used in manufacturing and metrology (the science of measurement). It is a flat, solid, and highly polished plate typically made of granite or another stable material with low thermal expansion.
The surface plate provides a reference surface that is extremely flat, making it ideal for accurate and precise measurements. It is commonly used to manipulate and inspect workpieces, such as checking the flatness, squareness, or parallelism of surfaces, layouts, and setups.
Surface plates are available in various sizes and grades, with larger plates typically used for industrial applications and smaller plates for laboratory or workshop use. They are often equipped with threaded inserts or holes for mounting fixtures, dial indicators, or clamps.
The flatness of a surface plate is typically specified in a measurement standard, such as DIN 876 or Federal Specification GGG-P-463c in the United States. To ensure accuracy, surface plates need to be periodically cleaned and calibrated to maintain their precision.
Surface plates are commonly used in industries like manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and engineering, where precision and accuracy are critical. They play an essential role in quality control, inspecting machined parts, aligning and setting up machinery, and ensuring the accuracy of measurement instruments and gauges.
Explain what a surface plate is.
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