DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION,

ANDHRA PRADESH.

Name : B.Ravikumar
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Mechanical Engg.
Institute : Government Polytechnic,Srikakulam
Year/Semester : III semester
Subject : Manufacturing Technology-1
Subject Code : M-305
Topic : Metrology
Duration : 50 Mins.
Sub Topic :Comparators / Optical Comparators
Teaching Aids : Diagrams

M305.51 1
 Recap

In the previous class we have discussed about the

topics of

• Principle of an optical comparator

• Advantages of optical comparators

M305.51 2
Objectives :

On completion of this period, you would be able

to know

• The working Principle of an optical comparator

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Optical Comparator Principal

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 Optical Comparator Principal

• This is the commercial measuring instrument

• This utilizes a plunger tilted mirror, objective lens,prism

and observing eye piece to provide a high degree of
magnification
• The mirror is mounted on a knife-edge

• It can be tilted about the fulcrum by any linear vertical

movement of the contact plunger

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 Optical Comparator Principal
• A beam of light passes through a graticule suitably
engraved with a linear scale
• The movement of mirror causes this scale to move up
(or) down past a translucent screen inside the observing
hood of the instrument
• The eye placed near the eye piece views the image of a
small scale engraved on scale after reflection from the
plunger actuated mirror
• The” plan” view for the mirror is shown in fig

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 Optical Comparator Principal
• In the focal plane of the eye piece , a fine reference line
( index 0) is provided

• The system of lenses is so arranged that the image of the

scale is projected in the same focal plane

• Thus with movement of scale the image can be measured

with reference to the fixed line

• The division of the scale image opposite the index line

indicates the amount of movement of contact plunger

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 Optical Comparator Principal
• The image of the scale and the index line could also

be viewed through a projection system

• The overall magnification of the comparator is given

by (2f/d)x eye-piece magnification

Where `f` is the focal length of the lens and `d`is the

distance between the knife-edge and the plunger

M305.51 8
 Summary
• This is the commercial measuring instrument

• This utilizes a plunger, tilted mirror,objective lens,prism and

observing eye-piece to provide a high degree of
magnification

• The overall magnification of the comparator is given by

(2f/d)x eye-piece magnification

Where `f` is the focal length of the lens and `d`is the
distance between the knife-edge and the plunger
M305.51 9
 Quiz
1. The overall magnification of the optical comparator is given by
A) (2d/f)x eye-piece magnification, where f = focal
length and d=distance
B) (2f/d)x eye-piece magnification, where f = focal
length and d=distance
C) (f/2d)x eye-piece magnification, where f = focal
length and d=distance
D) (f/d)x eye-piece magnification, where f = focal
length and d=distance

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the principle and operation of optical

comparator

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