12-Senior High School

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC II

First Semester (Quarter 1) Module 1

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 COMMON COMPETENCY
MODULE 1: PERFORM INDUSTRY CALCULATIONS

Welding Measurements
Accurate measurement is the basis of good engineering and welding practice.
The accuracy of any measuring device depends on the user as much as on the
design of the tool. Measuring tools are also used for inspecting a finished or partly
finished product. Measurement is a technique in which properties of an object are
determined by comparing them to a standard.

Measurement is perhaps one of the most fundamental concepts in welding.

Without the ability to measure, it would be difficult for welders to fabricate and build
structures. Measurement is also more important in science and the chemical

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industry, as well as in farming, engineering, construction, manufacturing,
commerce, and numerous other occupations and activities.

Measurements Perform in Arc Welding

The following are the measurements perform in arc welding:

1. Measurements on length, width, and height in welding fabrication:

Among the skills employers look for in their welders is the ability to read a tape
measure correctly. Surprisingly, not everyone can do so.

2. Measurements on current, voltage, and arc power

3. Measurements on the quality of welds and its structure

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Importance of Welding Measurements on length, width, and height
in welding fabrication
Measurement is a technique in which properties of an object are determined
by comparing them to a standard.

Measurement is perhaps one of the most fundamental concepts in welding.

Without the ability to measure, it would be difficult for welders to fabricate and build
structures. Measurement is also more important in science and the chemical
industry, as well as in farming, engineering, construction, manufacturing,
commerce, and numerous other occupations and activities.

System of Measurement

1. The Metric system is an internationally agreed decimal system of

measurement created in France in 1799. The International System of Units
(SI), the official system of measurement in almost every country in the world,
is based upon the metric system.

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 2. While the metric system was lawfully accepted for use in the United States in
1866, the US has not adopted the metric system as its "official" system of
measurement. The US English System of measurement grew out of the
manner in which people secured measurements using body parts and familiar
objects. 

Length: Weight: Capacity:

1 foot (ft) = 12 inches 1 pound (lb) = 16 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3
(in) ounces (oz) teasponns (tsp)
1 yard (yd) = 3 feet 1 ton = 2000 pounds 1 cup (c) = 16 tablespoons
1 mile (mi) = 5280 feet 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces (oz)
1 mile = 1760 yards 1 pint (pt) = 2 cups
1 quart (qt) = 2 pints
1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts

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Kinds of Measuring Instruments
1. Non-Precision Measuring Instruments

Non-precision instruments are limited to the measurement of parts to a visible

line graduation on the instrument used. There are several non-precision measuring
devices. They are used where high measurement accuracy is not required. It is the
simplest and most common measuring instruments in inspection. The degree of
accuracy when measurements are made depends upon the quality of the instrument,
and the skill of the user in estimating the measured part (as in inch or millimeter).

A. Retractable Measuring Tape (Steel Tape Measure)

A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler used

to measure size or distance. It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic,
fibre glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement markings.

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 B. Steel Rule

The steel rule is a basic measuring tool. When used correctly, a

good steel rule is a surprisingly accurate measuring device.

C. Try Square

An instrument consisting of two straightedges fixed at right angles to

each other and used for laying off right angles and testing whether
work is square.

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 D. Steel Square

An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight
edges; used by carpenters for testing the accuracy of right angles and
for laying out work.

2. Precision Measuring Instruments

Precision Measuring Instruments are tools or devices used for

directly measuring physical quantities or obtaining measurements indirectly by
making calculations on real-world objects in such a manner that one can
get precise values.

A. Weld Gauge

The gauge consists of main scale, slide gauge and bevel gauge and

is specially used for the measurement of the bevel angle of weldment,
the width and height of weld.

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 B. Vernier Caliper

A Vernier Caliper is a measuring device that consists of a main scale

with a fixed jaw and a sliding jaw with an attached vernier scale.

C. Micrometer Caliper

A micrometer caliper is an instrument for making precise linear

measurements of dimensions such as diameters, thicknesses, and
lengths of solid bodies.

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How To Read Measuring Tape in English System:

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 In reading English System for us WELDERS, we only focus on finding the
LENGTH, WIDTH, and HEIGHT of a structures or parts we are going to weld.
Remember these facts on the construction of the measuring tape, the tool that is
available in the workshop:

1. In every final reading in the English System, the answer should be in reduced
form. It will be in reduced form, if the numerator is in odd number, not even
number.

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 2. If an inch is divided into 32 divisions, each division reads 1/32 of an inch. In
actual measuring tape, these can be found between 0 – 6 inches.

For example,

a. 15/32 inch – this means upon counting from 0 inch, there are 15 divisions.
b. 2 8/32 inches – this means upon counting there are 8 divisions after 2
inches and can be reduced by dividing both the numerator and
denominator by 8, thus the final reading is 2 1/4 inches.

3. If an inch is divided into 16 divisions, each division reads 1/16 of an inch. In

actual measuring tape, these can be found from 6 inches onwards.

For example:

a. 25 15/16 inches – this means that upon counting there are 15 divisions
after 25 inches.
b. 60 5/8 inches – this means that upon counting there are 10 divisions after
60 inches, it reads 60 10/16 to reduce (see number 1) = 60 5/8.

How To Read Measuring Tape in Metric System:

Understand that a metric tape measures use centimeters instead of inches.

Each centimeter is divided into ten sections called millimeters. All you have to do
is read the larger lines (centimeters) and then number of millimeters of the last
centimeter if the object does not measure an exact number of centimeters.

For us welders, we only have to understand and remember millimeter (mm),

centimeter (cm) and meter (m) in measuring lengths, widths and heights in our
fabrication and installation work.

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 In reading metric tape measures, just remember the following:
a. 1 cm = 10 mm (there are 10 mm in 1 cm) therefore, 1 mm = 0.1 cm
Convert the following readings to millimeters (mm):
1. 13 cm = _________
2. 25.8 cm = __________

Convert the following readings to centimeters (cm):

1. 134 mm = _________
2. 567 mm = _________

b. 100 cm (centimeters) = 1,000 mm (millimeters) = 1 m (meter)

Convert the following readings:
1. 1783 mm = ________ cm = __________ m
2. 321.9 cm = ________ mm = __________ m
3. 5.375 m = ________ cm = __________ mm

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ACTIVITY NO. 1: PRACTICE MEASURING AT HOME (ACTUAL
MEASUREMENT)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Using a measuring steel tape or any available measuring instruments in your

home, measure any object that has a length (or depth), width, and height in
both English and Metric systems (see Example Figure below).
2. Take a photo of that object and in a short size bond paper, write the complete
measurements of that object (see Example Table below).
3. Submit your output in our group chat by section or in the school and it will be
graded to the following criteria;
a. Quality of the photo presentation – 30 points
b. Accurateness of the presented dimensions – 50 points
c. Clarity of the presentation – 20 points

NAME OF ENGLISH SYSTEM METRIC SYSTEM

THE OBJECT in inches in feet & inches in millimeters in centimeters
Length (L)
Width (W)
Height (H)

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Self-Assessment check:
Read the measuring tapes shown below. Write your answer with the corresponding
unit on the space provided. For English System, write your answer in reduced form.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

A. Nos. 1 – 5 in inches (“) and Nos. 6 – 10 in millimeters (mm)

1. 6.

2. 7.

3. 8.

4. 9.

5. 10.

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 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20

B. Nos. 11 – 15 in inches (“) and Nos. 16 – 20 in millimeters (mm)

11. 16.

12. 17.

13. 18.

14. 19.

15. 20.

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 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

C. Nos. 21 – 25 in inches (“) and Nos. 26 – 30 in centimeters (cm)

21. 26.

22. 27.

23. 28.

24. 29.

25. 30.

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 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39 40

D. Nos. 31 – 35 in feet and inches (ft and “) and Nos. 36 – 40 in meters (m)

31. 36.

32. 37.

33. 38.

34. 39.

35. 40.

Answer Key:

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 1. 2 3/32” 21. 118 1/4"

2. 2 31/32” 22. 119 1/16”

3. 3 13/16” 23. 120”

4. 4 5/8” 24. 120 7/8”

5. 5 1/4” 25. 121 11/16”

6. 54 mm 26. 300.2 cm

7. 76 mm 27. 302.3 cm

8. 95 mm 28. 304.7 cm

9. 113 mm 29. 307.0 cm

10. 130 mm 30. 309.5 cm

11. 22 5/8” 31. 13’ 3 1/16”

12. 23 9/16” 32. 13’ 3 5/8”

13. 24 1/2" 33. 13’ 4 1/4”

14. 25 5/16” 34. 13’ 4 13/16”

15. 25 7/8” 35. 13’ 5 7/16”

16. 573 mm 36. 4.043 m

17. 595 mm 37. 4.060 m

18. 620 mm 38. 4.075 m

19. 639 mm 39. 4.089 m

20. 657 mm 40. 4.104 m

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