What is the purpose of using a height gauge in milling?

A height gauge is primarily used in milling to measure the vertical height of workpieces and can help ensure that machined surfaces meet specific dimensional and flatness requirements. When a component is milled, maintaining flatness is crucial for its functionality and overall quality. A height gauge allows machinists to verify that surfaces have been machined to the correct flatness specifications by measuring the height at various points across the surface.

Measuring the temperature of the material is not a function of the height gauge; such tasks typically involve different types of measuring devices. While determining the depth of cut and calculating feed rate are important aspects of milling operations, a height gauge is not designed to perform these measurements. Depth of cut is usually set based on the tool and material properties, while feed rates are derived from various calculations based on tool specifications, material characteristics, and machine settings.