Since 1845, Gurley has been a major designer and
producer of measuring instrumentation for a
variety of industries and applications. Our
areas of expertise include optical encoders for
the precise measurement of position or speed;
digital readout systems for retrofitting machine
tools; generation and replication of precise
patterns on glass and similar substrates;
physical properties test instruments for medical
tubing, paper, films, textiles, and other sheet
goods; mechanical components; and open-channel
flow meters to measure water velocity.
We received ISO-9001 certification in
January, 1996.
We offer
Optical Encoders
for both rotary and linear motion, in
conventional incremental and absolute
configurations and in GPI’s unique Virtual
Absolute™ technology. They are used to
measure or control position and/or speed in
medical instrumentation, electronic
manufacturing equipment, robotics, factory
automation, graphic arts and printing equipment,
machine tools, radar pedestals, and high speed
scanners.
Our self-contained rotary incremental encoders
are available in a variety of sizes, from 0.75"
dia with up to 40,960 counts/rev, to a 6" dia
model with 3,600,000 counts/rev. An
industrial-grade rotary absolute encoder offer
resolution up to 217 words/rev.
Modular rotary incremental encoders provide a
wide choice of size and resolution, while linear
encoders come in many mounting configurations,
lengths, and accuracy grades. Virtual
Absolute™ encoders are available as rotary
or linear encoders in both self-contained
(housed) and modular configurations.
Gurley specializes in providing customized
solutions to specific problems, whether the
answer is a low-cost encoder for high production
volumes or a very high performance encoder for
military or aerospace applications.
Digital Readout Systems
(DRO's) are an add on accessory for machine
tools to provide the machinist with information
regarding the position of the cutting tool on
the work piece. A system consists of linear
encoders which are attached to the machine tool
and a digital display unit which is connected to
the linear encoders. Systems are easily added to
milling machines, lathes, horizontal and
vertical boring mills, grinders, jig borers, or
any other type of machine tool.
We offer glass-scale encoders for lengths
up to 7 ft, and rack-and-pinion encoders for
virtually any length on large machines. We
provide resolutions as fine as 1µm (50µin). The
PointFinder DRO offers all the popular features
of CRT-based systems with the visibility,
reliability, and price of a standard LED
display.
Our
Optics and Optographics
product line comprises the generation and
replication of precision optical patterns and
parts such as reticles, resolution targets,
encoder discs and scales, prisms, mirrors, beam
splitters, filters, lenses and step wedges. The
patterns are most commonly vacuum deposited
chrome on glass; however, we also work with
other pattern materials such as silver, inconel,
aluminum, and photographic emulsion. Other
substrates include plastic, fused silica
(quartz), sapphire, mylar film, zinc selenide,
silicon, germanium, and zinc sulfide.
We have some catalog items, but over 90%
of our sales are items fabricated to meet
customer's drawings and specifications. The
products are used in fire-control systems,
optical encoders, guidance systems, and other
types of optical, electro-optical, and laser
based systems operating in either the visible,
infrared, or ultraviolet portion of the
spectrum.
Hydrological Instruments
are used to measure flow velocity in open
channels such as rivers, streams, tidal marshes,
sewers, flumes, conduits, etc. The product line
comprises two models of bucket-wheel flow meters
that cover the velocity range of 0.015 to 7 m/s.
There are two readouts available: an earphone
assembly that is used to count clicks over a
fixed period of time, and a completely automatic
hand held digital display.
Genuine GurleyTM
Film, Sheet, and
Paper Testing Instruments
have been the industry standards for decades for
measuring physical characteristics such as
stiffness, flexibility, softness, porosity,
air-permeability, and smoothness. Gurley
instruments are used extensively in the paper
manufacturing, paper board converting, printing,
medical product manufacturing, and
textile/non-woven industries. While used most
often to test thin flat materials, small
dimensional parts such a tubing can also be
tested.
To meet the needs of measuring those
characteristics over a wide range of parameters,
we offer three models of stiffness testers,
seven densometers, and a permeometer.
New for 2001 -
Mechanical Components and
Assemblies!
Gurley now offers precision mechanical parts and
assemblies. Please visit the web site for more
information and register for the chance to win a
Palm Handlheld.
Gurley Historical Sketch
Written by Bill Skerritt
The Gurley enterprise was established in
1845, first as the partnership of Phelps &
Gurley and in 1852 as W. & L. E.
Gurley. William Gurley and his younger brother
Lewis E. were both engineering alumni of
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, NY,
and brought to the business a hunger for
technical innovation and unrivaled marketing
skill. Exposure at the Centennial Exposition in
1876 launched the company into international
prominence from which it never fell. The
brothers built a factory in 1852 that operated
in departments, each department turning out
different components, which were then
assembled. This revolutionized the industry
which, to that time, operated as small shops
making, essentially, individual
instruments. Gurley was able to roughly halve
the price of their instruments over those of
their competition, while maintaining quality.
Throughout the 19th century Gurley
continued to expand its product line and
gradually moved into others. In 1885 Gurley
began making hydrologic equipment, like current
meters; in 1903 they opened a department of
Weights & Measures; in 1905 they acquired
Charles Wilder Thermometers and moved it to
Troy; in 1908 they opened Department P, making
mechanical, electrical, and scientific
apparatus; in 1923 they launched a line of paper
testing equipment; and in the 1950s moved into
applications of optical encoder technology.
Incorporated in 1900, Gurley responded to
the worldwide demand for their products by
opening the Seattle Factory Branch in 1909, to
serve the Pacific Rim and Asia. Gurley remained
highly visible to the engineering and surveying
professions by supplying instruments to major
engineering projects and to expeditions, like
Admiral Byrd's. During World War II, Gurley
distinguished itself by winning coveted
Army-Navy E Awards for outstanding contribution
to the war effort.
Teledyne Corporation purchased W. & L. E.
Gurley in 1968 and the company became Teledyne
Gurley. Production of surveying instruments
ceased in 1980 in the face of stiff foreign
competition and the technological shift away
from optical instruments. In 1993 Teledyne sold
Gurley and the company became Gurley Precision
Instruments, Inc.
Copyright © 1996-2006 Gurley Precision
Instruments, Inc. All Rights Reserved
