ME254

Measurements and Metrology

Lecture 4 Linear Measurements

B Santhi
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
NIT-Goa
Linear Measurements – Introduction

Linear measurement means measuring with a steel rule or a tape measure

But, today we have wide range wide range of instruments to choose from right from purely mechanically operated
instruments to digital electronics instruments

One has to only consider the nature of application and cost of measurement
to decide which instrument is the best for an application
Linear Measurements – Introduction
• Linear measurement includes the measurement of lengths, diameters, heights and thickness.

• The basic principle of linear measurement (mechanical type) is that of comparison with
standard dimensions on a suitably engraved instrument or device

• Linear measuring instruments are categorized depending upon their accuracy.

- Low resolution devices (up to 0.25mm)
Steel rule
Steel rule with assistance of Calipers Dividers
Surface gauges
Thickness gauges
- Medium resolution devices (up to 0.0025mm)
Micrometer
Micrometer with assistance of Telescoping Extendable ball gauges
Vernier calipers
Dial indicators
Microscope
- High resolution devices (less than microns)
Gauge blocks
Gauge block with assistance of
Mechanical comparator ,Electronic comparator, Pneumatic comparator, Optical flats
Steel Rule
• It is the simplest and most common measuring instruments in inspection.

• The principle behind steel rule is of comparing an unknown length to the one previously calibrated.

• The rule must be graduated uniformly throughout its length.

• Rules are made in 150, 300,500 and 1000 mm length.

• There are rules that have got some attachment and special features with them to make their use more versatile.

• They may be made in folded form so that they can be kept in pockets.

• The degree of accuracy when measurements are made by a steel rule depends upon the quality of the rule,
and the skill of the user in estimating part of a millimeter
Calipers
• Calipers are used for measurement of the parts, which cannot be measured directly with the scale.
Thus, they are accessories to scales.

• The calipers consist of two legs hinged at top, and the ends of legs span part to be inspected.
This span is maintained and transferred to the scale.

• Even though calipers are hardly used in production inspection, they are widely used in tool room and related work

• Calipers are of two types

• Firm joint can hold the position of two legs opened out to a particular degree unless moved by certain force. This is
possible because of higher friction in the joint formed between the two legs of the calliper. A locknut is needed to
lock the calliper in a particular position. Available nominal size of calipers are 100, 150, 200 and 300 mm.

• Spring calliper can hold a particular position to the spring pressure acting against an adjusting nut.
This permits very careful control and no lock is needed.
Vernier Calipers
• Vernier calipers are precision measuring instruments that give an accuracy of 0.1 mm to 0.01 mm.

• The principle of vernier is that when two scales or divisions slightly different in size are used,
the difference between them can be utilized to enhance the accuracy of measurement.

• The main scale carries the fixed graduations, one of two measuring jaws, a vernier head having a vernier scale engraved on.
The vernier head carries the other jaw and slides on main scale.
The vernier head can be locked to the main scale by the knurled screw attached to its head

• Vernier are available in various size 0–125, 0–200, 0–250, 0–300, 0–500, 0–750, 0–1000, 750–1500, and 750– 2000mm. The
selection of the size depends on the measurements to be taken.

• The minimum length or thickness that can be measured with a vernier scale is called the least count(LC).
main scale division MSD in vernier decides the LC

• For example, if the vernier scale has got 20 divisions which equals to 19 divisions of the main scale and
the smallest unit of the main scale be 1 mm then LC=0.05mm .

Check what will be the value of LC, if the smallest unit of the main scale be 0.5 mm and other remains same
Also check if the no of divisions is 50, then what will be LC if the smallest unit of the main scale be 1 mm
Types of vernier callipers

Type A Vernier Calliper Type B Vernier Calliper Type C Vernier Calliper

Vernier Depth Gauge
• A vernier depth is very commonly used precision instrument for measuring depth of holes recesses, slot and
step.

• Its construction and method of reading are similar to those of a vernier calliper.

• The beam is perpendicular to the base in both directions and its ends square and flat.

• The end of the sliding head can be set at any point with fine adjustment mechanism locked and read from the
vernier provided on it, while using the instrument, the base is held firmly on the reference surface and lowers
the beam into the hole until it contacts the bottom surface of the hole.

• The final adjustment depending upon the sense of correct feel is made by the fine adjustment screw.

• The clamping screw is then tightened and the instrument is removed from the hole and reading taken in the
same way as the vernier calliper.

• While using the instrument it should be ensured that the reference surface on which the depth gauge base is
rested is satisfactorily true, flat arid square.
Micrometer
• A micro meter is a precision instrument used to measure a job, generally within an accuracy of 0.01mm.

• Generally Micrometers are used to take the outside measurements are know as outside micrometer.
• Some of other types include
Inside Micrometer Calliper, Stick Micrometerss,
Screw Thread Micrometer Calliper, Inside Micrometer, digital micrometer
• Construction
The frame is made of steel, malleable cast iron or light alloy.
The anvil shall protrude from the frame for a distance of at least 3-mm in order to permit
the attachment of measuring wire support.
The spindle does the actual measuring and possesses the threads of 0.5 mm pitch.
The barrel has datum and fixed graduations Thimble is tubular cover fastened with the spindle.
The beveled edge of the spindle is divided into 50 equal parts, every fifth being numbered.
The ratchet is a small extension to the thimble. It slips when the pressure on the screw exceeds a certain amount.
It produces uniform reading and prevents damage or distortion of the instruments.
The spindle clamp is used to lock the instrument at any desired setting.
Inside Micrometer Caliper
• The measuring tips of inside micrometer are constituted by jaws with contact surface, which
are hardened and ground to a radius.

• Unlike the conventional micrometer, an inside micrometer does not have any U-shape frame and spindle.

• One of the jaws is held stationary at the end and second one moves by the movement of the thimble.

• A locknut is provided to check the movement of the movable jaw.

This facilitates the inspection of small internal dimension.

Inside micrometer
• The inside micrometer is intended for internal measurement to an accuracy of 0.001 mm.
In principle, it is similar to an external micrometer and is used for measuring holes with a diameter over 50 cm
Feeler gauge
A feeler gauge (also known as a thickness gauge) is an accurately manufactured strip of metal
that is used to determine the gap or clearance between two components.

A feeler gauge can be used to check the following:

Piston ring gap Piston ring side clearance Connecting rod side clearance

Thread Pitch Gauge

It used to quickly determine the pitch of various threads by matching the teeth
on the leaves with teeth on the work.
Task to do:

1. A Vernier caliper main scale division (49mm) are divided in to 50 equal part in the Vernier scale.
Main scale reading =35mm .The vernier division coinciding with the main scale is the 20th division.
Find the Lc of the vernier and observed reading for the above condition

2. Read on radius gauge, Vernier height gauge, Anvil micrometer, Screw thread micrometer

Try this problem on errors, in next PPT I will provide details

1. A workpiece is measured with a scale having accuracy of 0.2cm. The length and breadth are measured as 45.4
cm and 28.4 cm respectively. Find the relative error and percentage error of the area calculated.

2. A particular part measured from the lot of 1000 has the following values 10.29, 10.33, 10.34, 10.35, 10.32,
10.36, 10.30 and 10.33. Calculate the mean value, absolute error, the relative error and the percentage error.

3. In a series of successive measurements in an experiment, the readings of the period of oscillation of a simple
pendulum were found to be 2.63s, 2.56 s, 2.42s, 2.71s and 2.80s. Calculate (i) the mean value of the period of
oscillation (ii) the absolute error in each measurement (iii) the mean absolute error (iv) the relative error (v) the
percentage error.
Thank You