Linear Measurement

Module-2
 Surface Plate
• A surface plate is a hard, solid and horizontal flat
plate, which is used as the reference plane for
precision inspection, marking out and precision
tooling set up.
• It should be finished to a high degree of accuracy
• The surface plates are made either from cast iron or
granite.
• Granite has replaced cast iron as the preferred
material for surface plates.
• Glass is an alternative material for surface plates.
Glass can be suitably ground and has the benefit that
it chips rather than raising a burr, which is a problem
in cast iron surface plates

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 V ‐ Blocks
• V‐blocks are extensively used for inspection of jobs with circular cross‐section.
• The cylindrical surface rests firmly on the sides of the ‘V’ and the axis of the job will
be parallel to both the base and sides of the V‐block.
• Generally, the angle of the V is 90º, though 120º angle is preferred in some cases.
• It is made of high grade steel, hardened above 60 Rc and ground to a high degree
of precision.

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 V ‐ Blocks (Contd…)
• There are many variants in V‐blocks, such as, V‐blocks with clamp, magnetic V‐
block, cast iron V‐block, etc.
• Figures below illustrates a V‐block with stirrup clamp and Magnetic V‐block. While
the former is convenient for clamping the job onto the V‐block, so that
measurements can be made accurately, the latter has a magnetic base

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 Graduated Scales (Contd…)
• The use of steel rule requires consideration of the relationship between the
reference point and the measured point.

• A graduated line on the rule, rather than an edge of the rule is selected as the
reference point. This method considerably improves the accuracy of measurement

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 Depth Gauge
• Depth gauge is the preferred instrument for measuring holes,
grooves and recesses.
• It consists of a graduated rod or rule, which can slide in a T ‐head
or stock. The rule can be locked into position by operating a
screw clamp, which facilitates accurate reading of the scale.
• Figure illustrates a depth gauge, which has a graduated rule to
directly read‐ off the measurement. The head is used to span the
shoulder of a recess, thereby providing the reference point for
measurement.

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 Callipers
• Callipers are the original transfer instrument to transfer the measurements on to a
rule. They can easily capture the diameter of a job, which can be manually
identified as the maximum distance between the legs of the calliper that can just
slide over the diameter of the job.

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 Vernier Instruments
• Vernier instruments based on the vernier scale principle can measure up to much
finer degree of accuracy.

• A vernier scale provides least count up to 0.01 mm or less, which remarkably

improves the measurement accuracy of an instrument.

• The vernier caliper consists of two main parts; the main scale engraved on a solid
L‐shaped frame, and the vernier scale, which can slide along the main scale.

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 Vernier Instruments (Contd…)
• The main scale is graduated in millimetres, up to a least count of 1 mm. The vernier
also has engraved graduations, which is either a forward vernier or a backward
vernier. The vernier caliper is made of either stainless steel or tool steel, depending
on the nature and severity of application

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 Dial Caliper
• In a dial caliper, the reading can be read directly from a dial gauge, which is
attached to the caliper. A small but precise pair of rack and pinion drives a pointer
on a circular scale. This facilitates direct reading without the need to read a vernier
scale. Typically, the pointer undergoes one complete rotation per centimetre or
millimetre of linear measurement.
• Dial caliper also eliminates the parallax error, which is associated with a
conventional vernier caliper

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 Electronic Digital Caliper
• Electronic digital caliper is a battery operated instrument that displays the reading
on a LCD display screen. The digital display eliminates the need for calculations
and provides an easier way of taking readings.
• The two greatest advantages of an electronic digital caliper are the electronic
calculator functions and the capability to be interfaced with a computer. The digital
display can display either plus or minus deviations of the jaw from a reference
value. This enables the instrument to be used also as a limit gauge.

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 Vernier Depth Gauge
• Vernier depth gauge is a more versatile instrument, which
can measure up to 0.01 mm or finer accuracy.
• The vernier scale is stationary and screwed onto the slide,
whereas the main scale can slide up and down. The nut
on the slide has to be loosened to move the main scale.
Lower the main scale into the hole or recess, which is
being measured.
• A fine adjustment wheel will rotate the fine adjustment
screw which in turn will cause finer movement of the slide.
This ensures delicate contact with the surface of the job

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 Outside Micrometers
• It consists of a C‐shaped frame with a stationary anvil and a movable spindle. The
spindle movement is controlled by a precision ground screw.
• The spindle moves as it is rotated in the stationary spindle nut. Graduated scale is
engraved on the stationary sleeve and the rotating thimble. The 0th mark on the
thimble will coincide with the 0th division on the sleeve when the anvil and spindle
faces are brought together. The movement of the screw conforms with the sets of
graduations.
• The lock nut enables the locking of the spindle while taking a reading. The ratchet
ensures a ‘feel’ while taking a reading and prevents application of excessive force
on the job. The range of micrometers is normally 0‐25 mm, 25‐50 mm or 0‐50 mm.

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 Outside Micrometers (Contd…)

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 Types of Micrometers

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 Vernier Micrometer

• Placing a vernier scale on the micrometer permits to

make readings up to the next decimal place. In other
words, we can measure accurately up to 1 µm or
0.001 mm.

• In addition to the barrel scale and thimble scale, a

vernier scale is provided next to the barrel scale.
Divisions on this vernier scale have to be read in
conjunction with the barrel scale and provides the
next level of discrimination in readings

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 Vernier Scale Reading

• The thimble has crossed the 12.5 mm mark on the barrel

scale. None of the divisions on the thimble coincides with
the 0th line on the vernier scale. However, the reference
line is between 24th and 25th divisions on the thimble.

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 Inside Micrometer Caliper
• The inside micrometer caliper is useful for making small measurements from 5 mm
to 25 mm. In this instrument, the axis of the instrument does not coincide with the
line of measurement.
• The nibs, as the contacts are called are ground to a small radius.

• The movable jaw can be moved in and out

by the rotation of the thimble. One
complete rotation of the thimble moves it
by one division on the barrel scale. A
locknut can be operated to hold the
position of the movable jaw for ease of
noting down a reading.

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 Depth Micrometer

• The Depth micrometer reads in reverse from other

micrometers. Looking from the ratchet side, a
clockwise rotation moves the spindle downwards,
that is, into the depth of the job being measured.
• The entire barrel scale is visible when the tip of the
measuring rod is in line with the bottom surface of
the base.

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