Gauging 101

To be honest, we tried really hard to avoid writing anything about gauging.  It is a controversial topic that most people completely misunderstand, misrepresent, or misappreciate.  We don’t feel like dealing with whiney people who don’t know what they are talking about, but we also want to get the information out to those who are interested in learning.

We are students of Chad Albrecht at School of the American Rifle (SOTAR).  We also happen to have backgrounds in science, manufacturing, metrology, and quality, in highly regulated industries.  So we understand and appreciate the concepts and value of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and quality control.

The simple truth is that standardization relies on specifications.  Specifications are designed into manufacturing process controls in order to attempt to make something that conforms to a standard.  Specifications are checked by gauging, measurement, and inspection.  If you don’t appreciate this today, you don’t understand manufacturing and quality control.  And that is fine.  We hope we can help build your appreciation.

If you do understand this and still dismiss the importance of gauging, 1) you really don’t understand, and 2) you don’t realize that, unless you buy something that was manufactured for the government, you are the only thing holding the manufacturer accountable.  We hope we can change your mind.

For those who fully appreciate the value of quality control, we humbly submit to you our take on the technical inspection of the AR.  We hope that it compliments your current understanding and appreciation.

Note that this series is no substitute for hands on training by someone who knows what they are doing.  You will find no better AR armorer and gunsmithing course than Chad’s SOTAR AR-15 Master Armorer course.