Module No.

16 : Basic hand tools

Unit No. 3- Measurement

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UNITS IN THIS COURSE

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 UNIT 4 UNIT 5 WORKSHOP SAFETY CRAFT HAND TOOLS MEASUREMENT MARKING OUT TASK #1 - WORKSHOP PRACTICAL

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Module No. 16 : Basic hand tools

Unit No. 3- Measurement

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Para 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 OBJECTIVES INTRODUCTION ENGLISH SYSTEM METRIC SYSTEM TYPES OF MEASUREMENT BASIC MEASURING TOOLS Page 3 4 4 5 6 6

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Unit No. 3- Measurement

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3.0

OBJECTIVES The trainee will be able to: Name two major systems of measurement of length. List common units of measurement for both systems. Identify various basic measuring tools.

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Unit No. 3- Measurement

3.1

INTRODUCTION

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There are two systems used to measure length world-wide, they are the Symmetric, and the imperial systems. The metric system is the one that is used by most countries. The imperial, often called the English or inch system, is used in the United States and Canada. This unit deals with basic measurement. This is defined as measurement taken with a rule or any other non-precision measuring tool. The sizes taken can be in metric or imperial units. 3.2 ENGLISH SYSTEM

The unit of length in the Imperial system is the inch. The inch can be divided into decimal or fractional divisions. The common units and their abbreviations are as follows: Inch: in. Foot: ft. Yard: yd. Mile: mi. The conversions from one unit to another are as follows: 12 inches 3 feet 5280 feet 1 foot. 1 yard. 1 mile.

If an object measures 14" long it can also be called 1 foot plus two inches. This can be shown as 1 ft. 2in. or 1'2" ( means ft. " means inches). Measurements below one inch are usually shown as fractions of one inch. Common fractions are halves (112), fourths or quarters (1/4), eighths (1/8), sixteenths (1/16), thirty-seconds (1/32), sixty-fourths ( 1 1/64) If an object measures one foot plus three inches plus five eighths of an inch it would be written as 'I ft. 3 5 5/8 in., or 1' 3 5/8.

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Unit No. 3- Measurement

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3.3

METRIC SYSTEM The unit of length in the Metric system is the metre. The metric system is based on multiples of ten. The common units and their abbreviations are as follows: Millimetre: Centimetre: Decimetre: Metre: Kilometre: mm. cm. dm. M. km.

The conversions from one unit to another are as follows: 10 mm 10 cm 100 cm 10 dm 1000M = = = = = 1 cm. 1 dm. m. m. 1 km.

Parts of a metre are as follows: Micro Milli Centi Deci 1/1000000 (millionth). 1000 (thousandth). 1/100 (hundredth). 1/10 (tenth).

Unity:Metro - Litre - Gram. Deka x 10 (ten). Hecto x 100 (hundred). Kilo x 1000 (thousand). Mega x 1000000 (million). Basic conversions from imperial to metric are as follows: 1 mile 1 kilometre 1 yard 1 metre 1 foot 1 metre 1 inch 1 centimetre = = = = = = = = 1.61 kilometre. 0.62 miles. 0.91 metre 1.09 yards 0.30 metres 3.54 feet. 2.54 0.39 in centimetres

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Unit No. 3- Measurement

3.4

TYPES OF MEASUREMENT

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In engineering accurate measurement is very important. This is why we use a precision steel rule, while other trades use wooden ones. We must have international standards of length so that we can have interchangeability. A component made in one country to certain dimensions, must be the same as one made in another country to the same dimensions. A standard 8 mm bolt, made in Germany, should match a standard 8 mm nut, made in Japan. Measuring tools can be grouped into either direct or indirect measuring tools. With a direct measuring tool the size can be taken directly from the tool itself. An engineer's rule is a direct measuring tool. Indirect measuring tools, sometimes called transfer instruments, need a direct measuring tool to read the size taken. Calipers are indirect measuring tools. Sometimes distances have to be measured between two lines, or two surfaces or a combination of both. When the size has been measured between two lines it is called "line measurement". When a length is measured between two surfaces this is called end measurement. 3.5 BASIC MEASURING TOOLS Engineer's Rule Accurate measurement of length is an important part of almost all workshop tasks. The engineer's precision steel rule is one of the most frequently used measuring tools in the workshop. They can be engraved with either imperial or metric graduations, or both. They are made from hardened and tempered spring steel. A workman should take care of his rule. The end, or datum face, must never get damaged or the rule is useless. It should never be used as a scraper, a screwdriver, or for removing swarf from a machine surfaces. After use it should be wiped clean and lightly oiled to prevent rusting. The accuracy of a rule depends largely on the skill of the craftsman. The way the eye sights the line will affect the accuracy of the reading. (See Figure 3.1).

Figure 3-1

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A metric rule usually comes in lengths of 15 cm and 30 cm. The measuring Page 13/13

accuracy of a rule is up to 0.2 mm. On a metric rule the longest graduation lines represent centimetres. The centimetre lines are divided in to ten smaller graduations representing millimetres. Some rules have smaller 1/2 MM graduations between the mm graduations. (See Figure 3.2).

Figure 3-2 Steel rules in imperial units are usually either 6 or 12 inches long. The measuring accuracy of a imperial rule is up to 1/64th- It is common for imperial steel rules to have four different sets of graduations, one on each edge, front and back. (See Figure 3.3).

Figure 3-3. The main disadvantage of steel rules is that they are often too short. To measure longer lengths a tape rule is used. Tape rules are made of thin, flexible steel which can be rolled into a metal case. (See Figure 3.4).

Figure 3-4

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Calipers

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Calipers are indirect , or transfer instruments, because they do not have a scale to measure distances. Measurements are taken by transferring the distance between two faces of a component to a steel rule. There are two main types of measuring calipers, inside and outside callipers. (See Figure 3.5).

Figure 3-5. Calipers can be either firm or spring joint. Spring joint are usually for fine work, and firm joint for larger sizes. (See Figure 3.6).

Figure 3-6

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The accuracy of calipers depends on the operators sense of feel, this comes with Page 17/13

practice. The inside of a hole, or width of a slot, is measured with an inside caliper, by firstly placing the points inside the hole. Then setting the calipers with the thumb screw which holds the points in place. (See Figure 3.7).

Figure 3-7

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To check the size, the caliper is placed against a rule. There are two good ways to Page 19/13

read the size accurately. One is to line-up one of the caliper points with the ten centimetre line, and then read off the size. Remember to deduct 10 cm from the reading. The second way is to stand the rule on a good flat surface against a piece of metal 901 to the surface. Place the calliper points against the rule and read off the size. (See Figure 3.8).

Figure 3-8

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The method of using the inside caliper is important. As previously mentioned, it Page 21/13

takes a lot of care and practice to master the skill (become good at it). (See Figure 3.9).

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Figure 3-9

Outside calipers work the same way as inside calipers except they are used on outside dimensions of a piece of work. Outside calipers are also used to compare two pieces of work, to make sure that they are the same size. (See Figure 3.10).

Figure 3-10

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The outside caliper is used mainly for checking diameters and widths, etc. When Page 25/13

you are cutting a piece of material it is easier to set the caliper to the correct size on the rule first. Then check the cut with the pre-set calipers. Although skill is needed to read an outside caliper, it is easier to use that an inside caliper. When the size is checked against a rule one point can be placed against the end of the rule. (See Figure 3.11).

Figure 3-11 Gauges There are several types of special gauges used to measure or check component dimensions. Gauges are used to make fast, fairly accurate checks to see if a dimension is correct, or for high precision measurements. A depth gauge is an instrument used to measure depths, such as shoulders of a bore, or tee slot etc. It consists of three main parts, thin rule, a base (with datum face), and a adjusting screw. Feeler, or thickness gauges, consist of several thin metal leaves of different thickness'. Each leaf has a common pivot which holds all the leaves together. The thickness of each leaf is marked on the face. The pivot allows individual leaves, or a combination of leaves to be selected, to check a required thickness. (See Figure 3.12).

Figure 3-12

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Feeler gauges are used to measure gaps, such as the gap on a spark plug. (See Page 27/13

Figure 3.13).

Figure 3-13 Screw pitch gauges, discussed in unit 2, are used to determine the pitch or number of threads per inch of a screw or bolt. The gauge consists of several thin metal leaves. One edge of each leaf has teeth which matches the different screw threads. The pitch or T.P.I. is marked on each leaf.

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