BRITISH STANDARD BS 3064:1978

Specification for

Metric sine bars and

sine tables (excluding
compound tables)

Confirmed
February 2012
UDC 621.753:531.745
BS 3064:1978

Cooperating organizations

The Mechanical Engineering Standards Committee, under whose direction

this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives from the
following Government departments and scientific and industrial
organizations:

Associated Offices Technical Committee

Association of Consulting Engineers
Association of Hydraulic Equipment Manufacturers
Association of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
British Compressed Air Society
British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association (BEAMA)
British Gas Corporation
British Gear Manufacturers’ Association
British Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturers’ Association
British Pump Manufacturers’ Association
British Steel Corporation
Chartered Institution of Building Services
Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations
Department of the Environment
Department of Industry (Mechanical Engineering)
Department of Industry (National Engineering Laboratory)
Department of Trade (Marine Division)
Department of Transport
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales
Engineering Equipment Users’ Association
Federation of Manufacturers of Construction Equipment and Cranes
Health and Safety Executive
Institution of Gas Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Plant Engineers
Institution of Production Engineers*
London Transport Executive
Machine Tool Trades Association
Ministry of Defence*
National Coal Board
Process Plant Association
Railway Industry Association of Great Britain
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited
Telecommunication Engineering & Manufacturing Association (TEMA)
Water-tube Boilermakers’ Association

The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the
This British Standard, having
been prepared under the following, were directly represented on the committee entrusted with the
direction of the Mechanical preparation of this British Standard:
Engineering Standards
Committee, was published Department of Industry (National Physical Laboratory)
under the authority of the
Department of Prices and Consumer Protection (British Calibration Service)
Executive Board on
31 January 1978 Gauge and Tool Makers’ Association

© BSI 08-1999
Amendments issued since publication
First published February 1959
First revision January 1978 Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference MEE/59
Draft for comment 73/30909 DC

ISBN 0 580 09577 0

 BS 3064:1978

Contents

Page
Cooperating organizations Inside front cover
Foreword ii
Section 1. General
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
3 Nomenclature and definitions 1
Section 2. Sine bars
4 General design 1
5 Material and manufacture 1
6 Finish 1
7 Accuracy 1
8 Protection 3
9 Marking 3
Section 3. Sine tables inclinable about a single axis
10 General design 3
11 Material and manufacture 4
12 Finish 4
13 Rigidity 4
14 Base 4
15 Accuracy 4
16 Protection 5
17 Marking 5
Figure 1 — Sine bars: types and nomenclature 2
Figure 2 — Sine table: nomenclature 3
Table 1 — Angular deflection 4
Table 2 — Parallelism of gauge block platform 4
Table 3 — Parallelism of upper surface 4
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 08-1999 i
BS 3064:1978

Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Mechanical
Engineering Standards Committee and was first published in 1959 in response to
requests from the National Physical Laboratory and from users.
The original edition showed both metric and imperial dimensions but, as part of
the BSI policy of producing purely metric standards, this new edition of the
standard has been published.
It provides for sine bars and for sine tables inclinable about a single axis; design
requirements are confined to essentials, but the desired accuracy of manufacture
is fully specified in order to ensure the suitability of the sine bars and tables for
use as precision measuring equipment.
Inspection and certification of sine bars may be undertaken by laboratories
approved by the British Calibration Service; addresses can be obtained on
application to the Superintendent, British Calibration Service, National Physical
Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 08-1999
 BS 3064:1978

Section 1. General 4.2 Precautions should be taken in the design to

ensure that the method of attachment of the rollers
1 Scope does not distort the sine bar or rollers in any way.
NOTE When sine bars are provided with tapped holes, it is
This British Standard specifies requirements for recommended that they be of M6 size.
metric sine bars and sine tables, excluding
compound tables. 5 Material and manufacture
Section 2 provides for four types of sine bar,
Sine bars, including rollers and hinge blocks, shall
illustrated in Figure 1, made in sizes
be made of high quality steel. Their surfaces shall
of 100 mm, 200 mm and 300 mm.
have a hardness of not less than 750HV, when
NOTE Bars of 50 mm width and over are often referred to as tested in accordance with BS 427-1. The various
sine plates.
items shall be given an adequate stabilizing
Section 3 provides for sine tables inclinable about a
treatment.
single axis in sizes of 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm
and 500 mm.
6 Finish
2 References All working surfaces of the items of the sine bar
shall have a finely ground, or preferably lapped,
The titles of the standards publications referred to
finish in keeping with the tolerances specified in
in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.
clause 7. Non-working surfaces shall be clearly and
permanently distinguishable by their type of finish.
3 Nomenclature and definitions
The rollers should be ground on centres to ensure
For the purposes of this British Standard the freedom from lobbing.
nomenclature given in Figure 1 and Figure 2 has
been adopted and the following definitions apply. 7 Accuracy
3.1 7.1 Upper and lower surface
designating size
7.1.1 The whole of the upper surface of the bar and
the center distances between the rollers its lower surface, if a working surface, shall be flat
3.2 within
flatness tolerance 0.0015 mm for 100 mm bars
the maximum distance between two parallel planes 0.002 mm for 200 mm bars
within which the surface under consideration shall 0.003 mm for 300 mm bars
lie
7.1.2 The lower surface, if a working surface, shall
3.3 be parallel to the upper surface to within
squareness tolerance of surfaces
0.0015 mm for 100 mm bars
the distance between two parallel planes that are 0.002 mm for 200 mm bars
perpendicular to the plane in contact with the
datum surface and within which the surface under 0.003 mm for 300 mm bars
consideration shall lie 7.2 Side faces. The side faces of the bars shall be:
3.4 a) flat within
parallelism tolerance of surfaces 0.004 mm for 100 mm bars
the distance between two planes that are parallel to 0.005 mm for 200 mm bars
the plane in contact with the datum surface and 0.006 mm for 300 mm bars;
within which the surface under consideration shall
b) square to the upper surface of the bar
lie
within 0.0025 mm per 25 mm;
Section 2. Sine bars c) square to the axis of the hinge roller
within 0.013 mm per 25 mm measured in the
4 General design plane common to the axes of the rollers.
NOTE In the case of type 1 bars, requirement c) applies to both
4.1 The general form of the sine bars shall be rollers.
basically in accordance with that shown for any one 7.3 End faces. The end faces, when intended as
of the four types illustrated in Figure 1. working surfaces, shall be:
a) flat within 0.0025 mm;

© BSI 08-1999 1
BS 3064:1978

b) square to the upper surface of the bar c) parallel to the axis of the hinge roller
within 0.0025 mm per 25 mm; within 0.013 mm per 25 mm.

Figure 1 — Sine bars: types and nomenclature

2 © BSI 08-1999
 BS 3064:1978

Figure 2 — Sine table: nomenclature

7.4 Setting and hinge rollers 7.6 End and side fences. Sine bars may be
7.4.1 Individual rollers shall be uniform in radius supplied with end and side fences. The working
within 0.002 mm and straight over their length to surfaces of end and side fences shall be flat
the same accuracy. within 0.005 mm, when attached.
7.4.2 The mean diameters of the rollers on bars of 8 Protection
types 1, 2 and 4 shall be equal to each other
within 0.0025 min. 8.1 Each sine bar shall be supplied in a suitable
case, strongly constructed and designed to protect
7.5 Roller axes
the working surface and prevent the ingress of dust.
7.5.1 The distance between the roller axes shall 8.2 All surfaces of the sine bar shall be protected
everywhere agree with the designating size of the against climatic conditions by being covered with a
bars within suitable corrosion preventive preparation.
0.0025 mm for 100 mm bars
0.005 mm for 200 mm bars 9 Marking
0.008 mm for 300 mm bars Each bar shall have legibly and permanently
7.5.2 For all sizes of bars, the roller axes shall lie in marked upon it the following particulars:
a common plane within 0.002 mm over the length of a) designating size of bar;
either roller. b) the number of this British Standard
7.5.3 The upper surface, and the lower, if a working (i.e. BS 3064);
surface, shall be parallel to the plane tangent to the c) an identification number;
lower surface of the rollers within 0.002 mm.
d) the manufacturer’s name or trade mark.
7.5.4 In addition to complying with the foregoing
NOTE The mark BS 3064 on the product is an indication by the
requirements, a type 3 sine bar shall also comply manufacturer that the goods purport to comply with the
with the following requirements. requirements of this British Standard.
a) The bearing surface of the setting foot and the
hinge block shall be flat within 0.0025 mm. Section 3. Sine tables inclinable about
b) When a type 3 bar is placed on a flat datum
a single axis
surface, it shall be free from rock and its upper
surface, and lower surface, if a working surface,
10 General design
shall be parallel to the datum surface within 10.1 The essential features of a sine table inclinable
0.0015 mm for 100 mm bars about a single axis, as illustrated in Figure 2, are a
base, provided with a slip gauge platform, and a
0.0020 mm for 200 mm bars
work table having a setting roller at one end and a
0.0030 mm for 300 mm bars hinge roller at the other. At least one end and one
side fence shall be provided.

© BSI 08-1999 3
BS 3064:1978

10.2 The height of the slip gauge platform shall be 13 Rigidity

such as to require the insertion of a setting slip
In the horizontal position, the construction of the
gauge in order to bring the upper surface of the work
table shall be such that the deflection of the upper
table parallel with the base. The size of the setting
surface shall be not greater than the amount shown
slip gauge shall be indicated and shall be not less
than 3 mm. in Table 1 when the load shown is carried.
10.3 The provision of tapped holes or tee slots in the Table 1 — Angular deflection
work table for clamping purposes is an optional Designating size Load Angular deflection
requirement. mm kg ¾
10.4 When tapped holes are provided it is 100 5 4
recommended that they be M6 for tables up to and 200 10 4
including 300 mm and M10 for the 500 mm table. 300 15 4
The drilling and tapping operations should be 500 25 4
carried out before the surface of the table is finished
and the holes should be countersunk. 14 Base
10.5 Where tee slots are provided, these should be in
The under surface of the base shall have not less
accordance with BS 2485 to take M6 bolt sizes for
tables up to 300 mm and M10 bolt sizes for 500 mm than 20 % bearing area, evenly distributed, as
tables. shown by a rubbing test. When the base is placed on
a grade A surface plate, the sine table shall not rock.
11 Material and manufacture
15 Accuracy
11.1 General. The base, work table and fences shall
be of close-grained plain, or alloy cast iron, in 15.1 Gauge block platforms. The flatness of the
gauge block platform and its parallelism to the
accordance with BS 1452, grade 180 or higher, or of
under surface of the base shall lie within two
steel. The material shall be sound and free from
parallel planes, as shown in Table 2.
defects and the parts in question shall be given a
suitable heat treatment to relieve internal stresses, Table 2 — Parallelism of gauge block platform
or to harden and stabilize them, as appropriate. Designating size Tolerance on parallelism
11.2 Cast iron. Good quality close-grained plain, or mm mm
alloy cast iron shall be used, sound and free from
blow holes and porous patches. Minor defects in the 100 0.001
top surface should be repaired by plugging with 200 0.002
material of composition similar to the plate. 300 0.003
500 0.005
11.3 Steel. If made of steel, the base, work table and
fences shall be hardened and stabilized; when When two gauge platforms are provided they shall
finished, the working surfaces shall have a hardness be co-planar within 0.001 mm.
of not less than 750HV, when tested in accordance
15.2 Upper surface of the work table. The
with BS 427-1.
tolerances on flatness of the upper surface and its
11.4 Hinge and setting rollers. The hinge and parallelism to the plane on which the sine table
setting rollers shall be of high quality steel. They rests are given in Table 3.
shall be hardened and, when finished, shall have a
Table 3 — Parallelism of upper surface
hardness of not less than 750HV, when tested in
accordance with BS 427-1. Designating size Tolerance on flatness and parallelism

mm mm
12 Finish
100 0.004
The quality of the workmanship and finish shall 200 0.004
conform to that customary for precision instruments 300 0.005
of this class and shall conform to the tolerances 400 0.006
shown in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3. All working
surfaces shall be finely ground or scraped; the hinge 15.3 End and side faces. At least two adjacent
and setting rollers, after hardening, shall have a faces of the table shall be:
finely ground, or preferably lapped, finish. a) flat within 0.005 mm for 100, 200 and 300 mm
Non-working surfaces shall be clearly and tables; 0.006 mm for 500 mm tables;
permanently distinguishable by their type of finish.

4 © BSI 08-1999
 BS 3064:1978

b) mutually square and square to the upper 16 Protection

surface of the work table within 0.0025 mm
16.1 A suitable case or protective cover shall be
per 25 mm;
provided.
c) square or parallel to the axis of the hinge roller
16.2 All surfaces of the sine table shall be protected
within 0.013 mm over the length of the roller.
against climatic conditions by being covered with a
15.4 Setting and hinge rollers. Individual rollers suitable corrosion preventive preparation.
shall be uniform in radius within 0.002 mm and
straight over their length to the same accuracy. 17 Marking
15.5 Roller axes Each sine table shall have legibly and permanently
15.5.1 The distance between the roller axes shall marked upon it the following particulars:
everywhere agree with the designating size of the a) designating size of table;
tables within
b) the number of this British Standard
0.0025 mm for 100 mm tables (i.e. BS 3064);
0.005 mm for 200 mm tables c) an identification number;
0.006 mm for 300 mm tables d) the manufacturer’s name or trade mark.
0.013 mm for 500 mm tables NOTE The mark BS 3064 on the product is an indication by the
15.5.2 The roller axes shall be in a common plane manufacturer that the goods purport to comply with the
requirements of this British Standard.
within 0.001 mm per 25 mm length over the length
of either roller.
15.5.3 The roller axes shall be parallel to, and
equidistant from, the upper surface of the work
table to within 0.001 mm per 25 mm length of
roller.
15.6 End and side fences. The working surfaces of
end and side fences, when attached, shall be flat
within 0.005 mm.

© BSI 08-1999 5
6 blank
 BS 3064:1978

Publications referred to

BS 427, Method for Vickers hardness test.

BS 427-1, Testing of metals.
BS 1452, Grey iron castings.
BS 2485, Tee slots, tee bolts, tee nuts and tenons.

© BSI 08-1999
BS 3064:1978

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