Saturday, January 19, 2013

Brief History of Mitutoyo and the Micrometer

By Marty Bellehumeur


In 1934 the largest metrology company in the world was started with just one product: the Micrometer. The founder Yehan Numata had a vision to create the most effective micrometer in the industry at a price that was accessible to the mass market.

After beginning with the micrometer, Mitutoyo expanded its product selection to include several other precise measurement tools such as indicators and calipers.

The demand for measuring tools which meet the demands of modern products continues to increase. As a result of this demand, Mitutoyo has continually developed its current products further while also expanding their product lines to include new instruments. This new demand is driven largely by the progression of electronics. Some examples of products Mitutoyo produced to meet this demand include: Form Measuring Equipment, Optical Comparators, and Coordinate Measuring Machines.

This new world marketplace evolved even further with the invention of Statistical Process Control, otherwise known as SPC. Data Collectors, gages, interfaces and analysis software products were next in the queue for development following this new trend.

With the increasing demand by end users of the product line such as engineers and machinists, Mitutoyo has further enhanced many of it's products to measure into the sub-micron range. This ensures that the products can be used by even the most demanding users.

The Micrometer, a Brief History

Prior to expanding into several manufacturing operations, the micrometer was designed to manufacture watches. The capability of the product to meet very demanding engineering designs drove the demand for the product in other manufacturing sectors.

James Watt is often believed to be the first designer of the original micrometer, and therefore the original micrometer is known as the Watt's Tabletop Micrometer. This design was so bulky that it had to be attached to a "table top" hence the name. The magnification of threads was a key component to the original design, which had two graduated discs to measure its movement. Prior to the micrometer, Watt was recognized for his contributions in steam engine engineering.

Many accredit a gentlemen by the name of Sir Joseph Whitworth with the invention of the millionth of an inch model of the micrometer. This new version of the traditional micrometer led to the commercialization of the product in the mid nineteenth century.

The product however exploded commercially after it's potential was realized in manufacturing operations across America. This didn't happen however until the device was further refined into a hand held model, which many believe was designed in France.

The tool was further developed in Japan following the invention of statistical control manufacturing. This created a need for an electronic version of the micrometer, which was capable of measuring with accuracy beyond anyone's original expectation.




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