Slip gauges:

 Slip gauges are used as standards of measurement in practically every precision engineering works.
These are invented by C.E. Johansen of Swedan and are also called Johansen gauges.

 These gauges are otherwise called as Gauge blocks or Block gauges and are universally accepted as end
standards of length in industry.
 Slip gauges are rectangular blocks of high grade steel (or tungsten carbide) with less co-efficient of
thermal expansion.
 These blocks are highly hardened (more than 800 HV) through out to ensure maximum resistance to

wear and are then stabilized by heating and cooling successively in stages so that the hardening stresses
are removed.
 After hardening, they are subjected to lapping to a high degree of finish, flatness and accuracy.
 The cross sections of these gauges are 9 x 30 mm for sizes up to 10 mm and 9 x 35 mm for larger sizes.
The dimension (height) is marked on one of the measuring faces of gauge blocks.

Wringing of Slip gauges:

 The slip gauges are wrung together by hand through a combined sliding and twisting motion.

 The air gap between the gauge faces is expelled out and the adhesion is caused partly by molecular
attraction and partly by atmospheric pressure.
The gap between the two wrung slip gauges is only of the order of 0.00635 micro meters which is
 negligible.

Selection of Slip gauges for required dimension:

 Always start with the last decimal place and deduct this from the required dimension.
 Select the next smallest figure in the same way, find the remainder and continue this until the required
dimension is completed. Minimum number of slip gauges should be selected to build up the given
dimension.

Indian standard on slip gauges

 Slip gauges are graded according to their accuracy as Grade 0, Grade I, And Grade II. Grade II is
intended for use in workshops during the actual production of components, tool and gauges.
 Grade I is of higher accuracy and used in inspection departments. Grade 0 is used in laboratories and
standard room which serves as standard for periodically checking the accuracy of Grade I and Grade II
gauges.
 Generally, two sets of slip gauges are used namely: (i) Normal set and (ii) special set are used. A set M
112 consists of the following gauges:
Range (mm) Steps(mm) No.of pieces
1.001 to 1.009 0.001 9
1.01 to 0.01 49
1.49 0.5 0.50 49
to 24.5 25 4
25, 50, 75, - 1
100 1.0005 Total 112

Important notes on building of Slip Gauges:

 Always start with the last decimal place.

 Then take the subsequent decimal places.

 Minimum number of slip gauges should be used by selecting the largest possible block in each step.

 If in case protector slips are used, first deduct their thickness from the required dimension then proceed
as per above order.

Numerical problem-1
Build the following dimensions using M-87 set. (i) 49.3825 mm (ii) 87.3215 mm
Solution:
(i) To build 49.3825 mm:

Combination of slips; 40+6+1.38+1.002+1.0005 = 49.3825 mm

(ii) To build 87.3215 mm:

Combination of slips; 80+4+1.32+1.001+1.0005 = 87.3215 mm