INU | Advanced Measurement System

Chapter 5 - Angular Measurement

Professor : Kim Kyeongtae

Student : Phan Van Han
INU | Advanced Measurement System
Agency
Session Contents – Angular Measurement
1 Introduction
2 Protractor
3 Sine Bar
4 Angle Gauge
5 Spirit Level
6 Optical Instruments For Angular Measurement

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Purpose of Chapter To:
• Understand the basic requirements of angular measurement.
• Elucidate the basic principle of a protractor.
• Measure angles using the sine principle.
• Use angle gauges to set them accurately to the required angle.
• Appreciate the importance of ‘bubble instruments’.
• Explain the principles of optical measurement instruments.
Goal:
• Better understanding of current lesson with a broader view.

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 PROTRACTOR

A simple An universal bevel protractor A precision angle dekkor

protractor

A Sine bar An Autocollimator

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Protractor | Universal Bevel Protractor

A universal bevel protractor

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 Protractor | Universal Bevel Protractor
• The main scale on the dial is divided
into four quadrants, each measuring
90°. Each division on this scale reads
1°. The degrees are numbered from 0
to 90 on either side of the zeroth
division. The vernier scale has 24
divisions, which correspond to 46
divisions on the main scale.

• The least count is the difference

between one Vernier division and two
main scale divisions, which is 1/12° or
5'.

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Protractor | Universal Bevel Protractor

A universal beve protractor

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 Protractor | Universal Bevel Protractor
 To ensure an accurate measurement, one should follow these guidelines:

• The instrument should be thoroughly cleaned before use.

• One should ensure proper and intimate contact between the protractor and the features of
the part.

• An easy method to determine if the blade is in contact with the work part is to place a light
behind it and adjust the blade so that no light leaks between the two.

• It should always be ensured that the instrument is in a plane parallel to the plane of the
angle.

• The accuracy of measurement also depends on the surface quality of the work part.

• One should be careful to not slide the instrument over hard or abrasive surfaces, and not
over-tighten clamps.

• Before replacing the instrument in its case, it has to be wiped with a clean and dry cloth.

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Protractor | Sine Bar

A Sine bar

• A sine bar is used to measure angles based on the sine principle.

• The sine of angle q formed between the upper surface of a sine bar and the surface
plate (datum) is given by : Sin(q)= h/L.
• where h is the height difference between the two rollers and L is the distance between the centers
of the rollers. Therefore, h = L .Sin (q)

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 Protractor | Sine Bar – Setting sine bars to a desired angles

• By building slip gauges to height h and placing the

sine bar on a surface plate with one roller on top of
the slip gauges, the upper surface can be set to a
desired angle with respect to the surface plate.
• At height angle, The error of Sine Bar caused by the distance
between the center of rollers and gauge block get
magnified.

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 Protractor | Sine Bar – Measuring unknown angles

• A sine bar can also be used to measure

unknown angles with a high degree of
precision.
• Guidelines should be followed to ensure proper
usage of the instrument:
o It is not recommended to use sine bars for
angles greater than 45°.
o Sine bars provide the most reliable
measurements for angles less than 15°.
o The longer the sine bar, the better the
measurement accuracy.
o It is preferable to use the sine bar at a temperature recommended by the supplier.
o It is recommended to clamp the sine bar and the work part against an angle plate.
o One should always keep in mind that the sine principle can be put to use provided the sine
bar is used along with a high-quality surface plate and set of slip gauges.

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 Protractor | Angle Gauge

• Angle gauges, which are made of high-grade wear-

resistant steel, work on a principle similar to slip
gauges.
• However, angle blocks have a special feature that is impossible
in slip gauges—the former can be subtracted as well as added.

Angle Gauge Block Set

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 Protractor | Angle Gauge
• Angle gauges are made of hardened steel, which is lapped and polished to a high
degree of accuracy and flatness.
• The gauges are about 75mm long and 15mm wide, and the two surfaces that generate the angles
are accurate up to ±2"
• Most angles can be combined in several ways. However, in order to minimize error, which gets
compounded if the number of gauges used is increased, it is preferable to use the least number
of angle gauge blocks.

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 Protractor | Angle Gauge
• It may be noted that each angle gauge is
engraved with the symbol ‘<’, which indicates the
direction of the included angle. Obviously, when
the angles of the gauges need to be added up, the
symbol < of all gauges should be in line. On the
other hand, whenever an angle gauge is required
to be subtracted from the combination, the gauge
should be wrung such that the symbol < is in the
other direction.

• From the calibration point of view, it is

much easier to calibrate angle gauge
blocks compared
• to
Theslip gauges.of angle gauges
accuracy
is not as sensitive to temperature changes as that
of slip gauges.

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 Protractor | Angle Gauge-Uses, Manufacture and calibration
• Angle gauges are used for
measurement and calibration
purposes in tool rooms.

• Angle gauges are quite often used

as the standard for calibration
purpose, and therefore, should be
manufactured with a high degree
of accuracy and precision.

• A true square is used as a companion tool

along with an angle gauge block set. It is
available for both tool room and laboratory
master sets.

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 Protractor | Spirit Level

• A spirit level is a basic ‘bubble instrument’, which is

widely used in engineering metrology.
• Spirit level is an angular measuring device in which
the bubble always moves to the highest point of a
glass vial.
• Assuming that a level has graduations on the vial
with a least count of lmm and a radius of curvature,
R, as shown in Fig. 5.20, the angle q = l/R (since q
is very small).

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 Protractor | Spirit Level

• The main use of a spirit level is not for measuring

angles, but for measuring alignment of machine
parts and determining flatness and straightness.

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 Protractor | Spirit Level

• The following procedure is recommended while

using a spirit level for precision measurement:

o Take readings from both ends of the vial.

o Reverse the base of the spirit level.
o Repeat readings from both ends.
o Average the four readings.
o Repeat all steps for critical cases.

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 Protractor | Spirit Level -Clinometer
• A clinometer (Fig. 5.21) is a special case of a
spirit level.

• While the spirit level is restricted to relatively small

angles, clinometers can be used for much larger angles.

• Clinometers are used to determine straightness

and flatness of surfaces.

• They are also used for setting inclinable tables on jig

boring machines and angular jobs on surface grinding
machines.

• They provide superior accuracy compared to ordinary

spirit levels.

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 Protractor | Optical Instruments For Angular Measurement

• Optical instruments use applications of optics based on four

principles:

o Magnification

o Accuracy

o Alignment

o Interferometry A precision angle dekkor

• This section is devoted to two such

instruments, which are most popular in
angular measurement, namely the
autocollimator and the angle dekkor

An Autocollimator

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 Protractor | Optical Instruments - Autocollimator
• It is a special form of telescope that is used to measure small angles with a high
degree of resolution.
• It is used for various applications such as precision alignment, verification of angle standards, and
detection of angular movement.
• It projects a beam of collimated light onto a reflector, which is deflected by a small angle about the
vertical plane. The light reflected is magnified and focused on to an eyepiece or a photo detector.
The deflection between the beam and the reflected beam is a measure of the angular tilt of the
reflector. Figure 5.22 illustrates the working principle of an autocollimator.

 Autocollimators may be
classified into three types:
1. Visual or conventional
autocollimator
2. Digital autocollimator
3. Laser autocollimator

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 Protractor | Optical Instruments – Autocollimator-Applications
1. Visual or conventional autocollimator:
• Determination of angular measurements up to 3“
• Determination of straightness of machine guideways
• Determination of parallelism of slide movements with respect to guideways
• Flatness estimation of machine tables, surface plates, etc.
• Verification of right angle prisms for angular errors
• Angle comparisons of reflecting surfaces
2. Digital autocollimator
• Angular measurement of static as well as dynamic systems
• Alignment and monitoring of robotic axes
• Verification of angular errors of rotary tables, indexing heads, and platforms of machine
parts
•3. Laser
Remote monitoring of alignment of large mechanical systems
autocollimator
• It ideal for the measurement of angles of very small objects (1 mm in diameter) as
well as for long measuring ranges that extend to 15 m or more. Another marked
advantage is that a laser autocollimator can be used for the measurement of non-
mirror-quality surfaces. In addition, the high intensity of the laser beam creates
ultra-low noise measurements, thereby increasing the accuracy of measurement.

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 Protractor | Optical Instruments – Angle Dekkor
• An angle dekkor is a small variation of the autocollimator. This instrument is essentially used as a
comparator and measures the change in angular position of the reflector in two planes. It has an
illuminated scale, which receives light directed through a prism.
• The view through the eyepiece, which gives the point of intersection of the two scales, is shown in Fig.
5.27. The scales usually measure up to an accuracy of 1'.
 Some of the typical applications are as follows:
• Measurement of sloping angle of V-
blocks
• Calibration of taper gauges
• Measurement of angles of conical
parts
• Measurement of angles of work part
surfaces, which are simultaneously
inclined in two planes
• Determination of a precise angular
setting for machining operations,
for example, milling a slot at some
precise angle to a previously
machined datum surface.
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