The Boeing Company
Gauge tool for determining blind fastener length

Abstract:

Embodiments herein provide determining blind fastener length. One embodiment is a gauge tool that includes a base plate, and a nose piece including a hollow cylindrical member extending through the base plate and an expandable tip configured to radially expand to circumferentially contact a back rim of a hole. The nose piece is configured to slide with respect to the base plate to retract into the base plate until stopped by the expandable tip pressing the back rim of the hole. The gauge tool further includes a measurement device configured to detect a translating distance of a slidable member moving with retraction of the nose piece, and to display the translating distance for determining a fastener length for the hole.