Air Gaging

Air Gaging is the ideal solution for delivering accurate and precise measurements, even in difficult industrial conditions.


Thanks to its flexibility with air flow volumes and pressures, it can measure sub micron tolerances alongside complex geometric characteristics such as squareness, parallelism, taper, straightness or ovality – all over a working range of 0.003"/0.08mm!

Air gaging is a reliable, non-contact measurement method ideal for high-volume production and precision applications. It's great for measuring hard-to-reach dimensions and delicate materials—such as soft, polished, or thin-walled components—without risk of damage.

Its user-friendly design ensures consistent results across operators, eliminating the variability often seen with contact gauges. Rely on air gaging for efficient, repeatable accuracy in industrial quality control.

Top 4 Reasons to Consider Air Gaging for Measurement & Inspection

1

High Accuracy

Achieves precise measurements for critical tolerances in production environments.

2

Consistent Repeatability

Delivers uniform results, minimizing variability across high-volume production runs.

3

Rugged Durability

Engineered to withstand harsh industrial conditions with minimal maintenance.

4

Fast Measurement

Provides rapid, real-time inspection to keep pace with production speeds.

Air Gaging Tooling Applications 

The following are some examples of how Air Gage tooling can be configured.
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Air tools can gage a part for roundness. For two-point out-of-round conditions, a standard two-nozzle air tool can be used. If lobing exists in the part, an odd number of nozzles must be used, depending on the number of lobes.

Inspecting Out-of-Roundness
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A common application of Air Gaging is to dynamically measure the straightness or “bow” of an inside or outside diameter. In this case, a custom designed air plug makes verifying a part’s straightness simple and fast. (A straightness air plug cannot be used to measure diameter).

Inspecting Straightness with Air Gaging
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Multiple nozzles are equally located about the circumference of the air tool to allow for average size measurement. Commonly used for thin-walled or out-of-round parts - four, six, or more nozzles are utilizing, depending on the tool size.

Averaging with Air Gaging
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The measurement of grooves is conveniently achieved with flat, blade-type air tools. Air Gaging not only determines groove size, but with exploration around the workpiece, parallelism of the groove faces can also be determined.

Measuring Groove Width with Air Gaging
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To determine squareness of a part, for example a bore to a face, air nozzles configured as a “z” are used with dynamic measurement to change the back pressure from square to out of square conditions.

Measuring Squareness Width with Air Gaging
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Air Gages are most commonly used for measuring the size and form of inside diameters and outside diameters. Two-nozzle air plugs, with nozzles diametrically opposed, are used for internal measuring, and two-nozzle air rings are used for external dimensions.

Measuring Inside & Outside Diameters with Air Gaging
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Angle variation of tapered surfaces can be checked, with air gaging by comparing the difference of two diameters. The Bowers Air2 (Firmware 1.2 or newer) has DMS (Degree-Minute-Second) capability built in.

Measuring Taper with Air Gaging
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A specified clearance between two mating parts is often required to assure proper part operation. The Fowler Bowers Air2 allows for the individual display of the bore size, or shaft size and the clearance between the two parts. Operators need only observe the clearance display to determine if the two components have the required match dimension.

Matching Features with Air Gaging

The Fowler Bowers Air Gaging Line-up

Each environment is different and may require differing methods of air gaging. Fowler Bowers offers single and multichannel options, Air1 & Air2, a multi-function touch screen Air Gage Display. The Air3 is a multi channel display which is easily expanded to 99 connected devices.

Air1 - Single Channel

  • TFT color touchscreen display 4.3", resolution 480 x 272
  • Static or dynamic measurements (Max, Min, Max-Min, Average, Median)
  • Analog or digital display
  • 1 or 2 measurement configurations (2 characteristics)
  • Relative or absolute display • Display resolution (up to 0.1μm)
  • Metric (mm or μm) or Imperial (inches) measurement or DMS
  • Classification/Grading: Up to 16 classes with color representation
  • RS232 port for communication with a PC
  • USB port for communication and/or power supply
  • USB stick for data saving on a CSV file
Shop the Air1

Air2 - Twin Channel

  • TFT color touchscreen display 4.3", resolution 480 x 272
  • Static or dynamic measurements (Max, Min, Max-Min, Average, Median)
  • Analog or digital display
  • 1 or 2 measurement configurations (2 characteristics)
  • Relative or absolute display • Display resolution (up to 0.1μm)
  • Metric (mm or μm) or Imperial (inches) measurement or DMS
  • Classification/Grading: Up to 16 classes with color representation
  • RS232 port for communication with a PC
  • USB port for communication and/or power supply
  • USB stick for data saving on a CSV file
Shop the Air2

Air3 - Multichannel

  • 7" touch screen display and customizable display interface • Bench stand or panel mount
  • Aluminum body
  • 12VDC/30VDC Power supply
  • RJ-45 Ethernet TCP4 for Network Interface
  • USB host (for USB key) and USB device (virtual keyboard)
  • Up to 99 devices connection
  • Footswitch
  • M-BUS Module Connection
  • RS232
  • Static and dynamic (Mini, Maxi, Maxi-mini, Average, Median)
  • Trigonometrical measurements
  • Analogical and digital display
  • Manage up to 32 fixtures with automatic fixture detection by probe motion
  • Up to 32 characteristics by fixture
  • Displays resolution up to 5 decimals
  • SPC functions
  • Upgradeable, Non-Windows Firmware
  • Measurement transfer by USB or RS232
  • PLC programming
  • QR Reader Compatible
  • ECO Mode Compatible with energy saving, Air Bypass Filtration Kit
  • On board measurement storage of up to 30,000 measurements
Shop the Air3

Combine with Sylcom software for effortless air gaging data collection

  • Bluetooth compatible, export data to Microsoft Excel 
  • Software compatible with Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 Display values in different modes
  • Upload parts drawing in the background 
  • Classify results from tolerances
  • Multigages and sequence mode
  • Sylcom Advanced Package allowing to connect many probes and instruments through M-BUS modules, including Air Gage modules
  • Free Sylcom Lite version with 1 instrument connection, free 30 days trial for Sylcom Standard, not compatible with MB-AG modules

Air Gage Accessories

1

QR Code Scanner

Add a QR scanner to your air gaging application to streamline production workflow

2

Printer

Opt for a printer to put in the production environment to keep on top of labeling and documentation

Shop the Fowler Bowers Air Gage Solutions