PowerPoint to accompany

Technology of Machine Tools

6th Edition

Krar • Gill • Smid

Measurement
Section 5

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Permission required for reproduction or display.
 History
• Egyptians used length called cubit
– Equal to length of forearm (middle finger to
elbow)
• James Watt measured tolerances of steam
engine with thickness of thin shilling
• International System of Units (SI)
developed in 1960
• Two major systems of measurement
– Inch system in US and Canada
– Metric system for 90% of world
 Metric (Decimal) Systems
• Jan 16, 1970, Canada adopted SI for
implementation throughout Canada by 1980
• Dec 8, 1975, US Senate passed Metric Bill
• Will take long time to convert
– All machine tools and measuring devices will
have to be redesigned
– Long life expectancy of costly machine tools
– People resistant to change
 Inch/Metric Dimensioning
1994 ANSI Standards
• Inch Dimensions
– Zero not used before decimal point for values
less than 1 inch
– Dimension expressed to same number of
decimal places as its tolerance
• Metric Dimensions
– Zero used before decimal point if < 1 millimeter
– Whole number uses no decimal point nor zero
– Decimal fraction of a millimeter – last digit to
right of decimal point not followed by zero
 Fractional/Inch System

• Increased use of CNC and digital data

make fractional sizes impractical
– ANSI recommends decimal dimensions
• Fractional dimensions still used to identify
sizes of holes produced by drills, standard
taps, and screw thread sizes
 Symbols for Use with SI
Following is list of some common SI quantities,
names, and symbols you are likely to encounter
when working in the machine shop.

Quantity Name Symbol

length meter m
volume liter 
and l
mass gram g
time minute min
second s
Quantity Name Symbol
force newton N
pressure, stress pascal Pa
temperature degree Celsius °C
area square meter m2
velocity (speed) meters per minute m/min
meters per second m/s
angles degrees °
minutes '
seconds ''
electric potential volt V
electric current ampere A
frequency hertz Hz
electric capacitance farad F
 Symbols for Use with SI
These prefixes often used with quantities:
length, volume, mass, pressure, stress, area

Prefix Meaning Multiplier Symbol

micro one-millionth .000 001 µ
milli one-thousandth .001 m
centi one-hundredth .01 c
deci one-tenth .1 d
deka ten 10 da
hecto one hundred 100 h
kilo one thousand 1 000 k
mega one million 1 000 000 M
 PowerPoint to accompany

Technology of Machine Tools

6th Edition

Krar • Gill • Smid

Basic Measurement
UNIT 7

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Permission required for reproduction or display.
 Objectives

• Identify several types of steel rules

• Measure round and flat work to 1/64-in.
accuracy with a rule
• Measure with spring calipers and a rule
 Inch System
• Unit of length is the inch
– May be divided into fractional or decimal
fractions
– Fractional system based on binary system
• Common fractions: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64
– Decimal-fraction system uses base 10
• Number written as product of 10 or fraction of 10
 Inch System
Value Fraction Decimal
one-tenth 1⁄10 .1
one-hundredth 1⁄100 .01
one-thousandth 1⁄1000 .001
one ten-thousandth 1⁄10,000 .0001
one hundred-thousandth 1⁄100,000 .00001
one millionth 1⁄1,000,000 .000001
 Metric System
• Linear dimensions expressed in multiples and
submultiples of meter
• Millimeter most common
• Fractions of millimeter expressed in decimals
• Brief comparison of common inch and metric

1 yd 36 in. 1 km 0.621 mi
1m 39.37 in. 1 mi 1.609 km
1000 m 1 km
 Inch/Metric Conversion
Metric Size
mm cm dm m
1 in. 25.4 2.54 0.254 0.0254
1 ft 304.8 30.48 3.048 0.3048
1 yd 914.4 91.44 9.144 0.9144
 Fractional Measurement
• Measured with rulers or calipers
• Steel rules graduated
– Binary-fractional divisions
• 1, ½, ¼, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64
– Decimal fractional divisions
• decimeters, centimeters, millimeters, half-millimeters
– 1/64 in. or 0.50 mm. smallest used
• Precision instruments
– Micrometers and verniers used for dimensions
of less than 0.50 mm
 Steel Rules
• Metric steel rules graduated in millimeters
and half-millimeters
– Linear measurement without great accuracy
– Lengths from 15 c. to 1 m.
• Factional steel rules graduated in common
binary fractions (1/8 – 1/64 in.)
– Several varieties (spring-tempered, flexible,
narrow, and hook)
– Lengths range from 1 to 72 in.
 Fractional Steel Rules
• Spring-tempered quick reading 6 in. rules
– Most frequently used in shop work
• Hook rules
– Used to make accurate measurements from edge
of workpiece and also flanges and circular pieces
– Use for setting inside calipers to a dimension
• Decimal rules
– Used for linear measurements smaller
than 1/64 in.
 Fractional Steel Rules
• Short-length rules
– Used to measure small openings and hard-to-reach
locations
– Five small rules in set: range between ¼ and 1 in.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
 Measuring Lengths
• Fairly accurate measure with steel rules
– Butt end of rule against shoulder or step
• Steel rules become worn with constant use
– Can make measurements taken from end inaccurate
– Compensate by measuring from 1-in or 1-cm mark and
subtracting 1 from measurement
• Keep edge of rule parallel to edge of work
• Rule used as straightedge to test flatness of
workpieces
– Edges ground flat: place, hold to light and view
 Outside Calipers
• Not precision tools
• Used to approximately measure outside
surface of either round or flat work
• Several styles
– spring joint
– firm joint
• Do not use when accuracy < .015 in.needed

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 Using Outside Calipers
• Hold both legs of caliper parallel to edge of rule.
Turn adjusting nut until end of lower leg just splits
desired graduation line on rule
• Place caliper on work
with both legs of caliper
at right angles to
centerline of the work
• Diameter correct when
caliper just slides over
work by own weight
 Inside Calipers
• Used to measure diameter of holes or width
of keyways and slots
• Several styles
– Spring joint
– Firm Joint

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Measuring An Inside Diameter
• Place 1 leg of caliper near hole's bottom edge
• Hold caliper leg in position with finger
• Keep caliper legs vertical or parallel to hole
• Move top leg in direction of arrows and turn
adjusting nut until slight drag felt on leg
• Find size of setting by placing end of rule and
one leg against flat surface
• Hold legs of caliper parallel to edge of rule
and note reading
 Transferring Measurements
• Check caliper setting with outside micrometer
for accurate measurement
– Hold micrometer in right hand
– Place one leg of caliper
on micrometer anvil
and hold position
– Rock top leg of caliper
in direction of arrows
– Adjust thimble until
slight drag felt as caliper leg passed over
measuring face
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Permission required for reproduction or display.