Cylindricity measurement by the V-block method – Theoretical and practical problems

The most popular methods applied to measure cylindricity are the radial methods. These methods are characterized by a high metrological level. The disadvantage, however, is that they can be used mainly for objects with small dimensions, and the measurement is carried out under laboratory conditions. Producers need methods that would enable in situ measurement of form profiles of an element during the manufacturing process and exploitation. In authors’s opinion solution of this problem can be application of the V-block method. In the paper the concept of using the V-block method for accurate cylindricity measurements, the mathematical model of and results of computer simulations are presented. Important part of the paper is description of practical problems that occurred during the experimental verification of the concept. In the summary problems that should be considered when designing and constructing the measuring system based on the V-block method are given.