If you are a manufacturer or planning to open an industrial plant, the process of product development is one of the most important because it defines what will finally go into the market. Therefore, a lot of work has to go into it, and this involves marking out how everything will unfold during the production stage. This is why you require the right marking tools.

If you get it wrong at the development stage, there is a risk of everything falling apart in later stages, forcing you back to the drawing board, or incurring a lot of waste. Indeed, marking tools are not just used in product development. You will require them when doing repairs to equipment such as conveyors, checking parts to ensure they align with your machines and reviewing results. So, what are the marking tools should you have? Here are the main ones and their applications.

Marking Gauges

A marking gauge is a type of marking-out hand tool for scribbling lines that are parallel to the edges so that excess wastes can be nipped off. For instance, if a workpiece for a wooden project needs to be cut off, the marking gauge helps to scribe out the part not required so that it is chiseled away. It is used in all stages of product development, maintenance, and repairs.

Try Square

If you want to draw lines that are perpendicular on a workpiece, a try square will come in handy. It helps to ensure that paths, lines, or targeted edges are parallel to each other. In addition, you can use it to easily check whether corners and edges are perpendicular to a defined line.

Sliding Bevel

While a try square is used to draw perpendicular lines, a sliding bevel is the best tool for angled lines. It is used in woodwork and machining projects to define the correct angle for cuts, joints, or guiding other materials. To mark lines with a sliding bevel, you also need other marking tools, such as pencils or knives.

Spring Dividers

Does part of your work involve making bores on workpieces, perhaps to fit shafts for motor or create ventilation? The best tool for the job is a spring divider. This hand tool is used to scribe an arc or draw a complete circle on the workpiece. It is designed with two legs, making it look like the standard compass. When using the divider, one of the legs is held firmly on a specific point, and the other rotated freely to create an arc or circle.

Steel Rules

Many industrial projects entail joining two or more materials. No matter the project at hand, you need to ensure that every cut is made at the right place so that the joints, hinges, or opening takes the expected shape. Steel rules are best used flat against the bottom edges or sides.

The tools we have listed in this post are the most crucial or to get you started. Others that you might need to include in your tools are center punches, odd-leg calipers, mortise gauges, and engineer's square. Remember always to ensure the tools are maintained in top condition for better performance.