UPC0LECES

Lakshmi Narain College of Technology (LNCT)Bhopal (MP)

"NORKING TOWAoS BEING TME S

EXPERIMENT NO. 3
3 Micrometre/ Screw Gauge
Micromeire/
Serew
Gauge To measure the diameter of a given wire specimen using micrometre.

APP.ARTUS
Micrometre and wire specimcn.
THEORY
A measuring instrument is any device that may be used to obtain a lincar
(dimension) or angular measurement. Measurement systems are mainly
used in industries for quality control management. Often quality control
engineers are applying some the measuring systems such as Iinear and
angular measurements. These measurements are very much useful to
compare the actual measurements with already existing standard
measurements.
The linear msurement includes the measurement of lengths, width,
diameters, heights and thickness: The basic principle of linear
measurement is that of comparison with standard dimensions on a
suitably engraved instrument or device. The various devices used for
measuring the linear measurements are:
(A) Non-precision instruments
Steel rule
Calipers
Dividers
Telescopic gauge
Depth gauge
(B) Precision instruments
Micrometres (screw gauge)
Vernier calipers
Vernier depth gauges
Vernier height gauges
Slip gauges
(C) Comparators
(D)Coordinate measuring machines
MICROMETRE/ SCREW GAUGE

Description of the Micrometre/ Screw Gauge

With Vernier Callipers we are usually able to measure length accurately

up to 0.1 mm. More accurate measurement of length, up to 0.01 mm or
0.005mm, may be made by using a screw gauge. As such a Screw Gauge
isan instrument of higher precision than a Vernier Callipers.

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 Lakshmi Narain College of Technology (LNCT) Bhopal (MP)
arIN

Dimenskon Lock nut

to be neAsuted
Aarrei
-Rat:ho

10

Micromètre/
Serew
Gauge Anvil

Spindle
Thirnbie with auslary scale

Main scala

U- shape frame

Figure 3.IMicrometre/ Screw Gauge

A micrometre (Fig. 3.1) mainly consists of following parts:
U-shape frame: It is made of steel or cast iron and holds all parts of
micrometre. The gap between the two ends of U-shape frame allows
maximum size ofa component to be measured.
Anvil and spindle: The one end of spindle is attached to thimble and
another end constitutes the movable anvil. Anvil is rigidly fixed to the
one end of frame. As the spindle touch ihe anvil, thimble
cannot be
rotated further in forward direction. When anvil and spindle ends
are
brought together the micrometre reads zero.
Thimble: The movement of spindle in forward or
controlled by the rotation of thimble. It has 50 equalbackward direction is
circumference. divisions around its
Barrel: It is accurately divided and clearly
along its length which acts as a main scale. marked in 0.5 mm division
Ratchet: It is provided at the end of
applied on a component for accurate spindle. It controls the pressure
reaches near the component, the operatormeasurement. When the spindle
uses the ratchet screw to tighten
the thimble. When the correct pressure" is
automatically slips and prevents the applied, the ratchet
Lock nut: It is provided on the application_of much pressure.
too
at its correct spindle to lock it when the
reading. is micrometre
D
A B. 0.5 R

ST S 95
LS CS

U-FRAME
Figure 3.2 Micrometre/ serevw
gauge

Mechanical Engineering Department | Lab

Manu:al|Basie Mechanical
Engineering |BT-203| 24
 LNCT
ORKINe TOWARes BEING TE
Lakshmi Narain College of Technology(LNCT) Bhopal
(MP)

Fig. 3.2 shows a

advances forwarddifferent type of ascrew
or backward as one auge, It has a scrcw 'S which
R. There is alincar
scale LS' attachedrotates
to
the hcad C through
limb rachct
smallest division on the lincar scale is I D of the U frame.
Thc
There is a circular scale CS on mm (in one typc of screw
Micrometre/
Screw
Gauge 100 divisions on the
the surface A of the studcircular
thc head, which can be
scale.
circular Scale should coincideST,with
When the
rotatcd.
gauge)
There
end B of the screw are
the zero marks on the touches
main scale and thc
each other
Taking the linear
The mark on the scale reading
circular scale is thelinear scale which lies close to the
linear scale reading. For left cdge of the
reading as shown in Fig. 3.3, is 0.5 cm. example, the linear scale
Taking circular scale reading
The division of circular scale
the reading of circular scale. which
For
coincides with the main scale line is
scale reading is 2. example, in the Fig. 3.3, the circular
Wire

S 95 <
ST

Figure 3.3linear and circular scale reading

Total reading
· Total reading -linear scale reading +
circular scale reading x least Count
(according to the specification of the screw
gauge)
=0.5 + 2x 0.001
=0.502 cm

PRINCIPLE
Micrometre works on the principle of screw and nut. The linear distance
moved by the screw isdirectly propoftional to the rotation given to it. The
linear distance moved by the screw when it is rotated by one division of
the circular scale, is the least distance that can be measured
accurateiy by
the instrument. It is called the least count of the instrument.
Least count =pitch/No. of divisions on circular scale

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 Lalalhn Narain College of Technology (LNCT) Bhopal(MP)
sLNCT

diviSions ox
Iorenple, fo sCew gaugc witha pitch of Immand 100
Ihe ceular scale The east count is
Im/00 0.01 mm
SCrew gauge.
us Is he smallest length one can mcasure with thiS
arc 50 diytsune
In another type of scicw gauge, pitch is 0.5 mm and there
O) the cHcular scale. Thc lcast count of this screw gauge iS ),5 mmn/ 50 =
Micromnetre/
Serew
Gauge 0.0| m).
Note that here (wo rotations of the circular scale makc the screw to
advance through a distancc of I mn. Some screw gauge has a least count
of 0,001 mm (Lc. 10" m) and thereforc are called micrometre screw

PROCEDURE

Take the SCrew gauge and make sure that the rachet R On the head
of the screw functions properly.
2 Rotate the screw through, say, ten complete rotations and observe
distance is the
the distance through which it has receded. This
reading on the linear scale marked by the edge of the circular
scale. Then, find the pitch of the screw, i.e., the distance moved
n divisions on
by the screw in one complete rotation. If there are
the circular sçaie, then distance moved by the screw when it is
the
rotated through one division on the circular scale is called
least count of the screw gauge, that is,
Least count =pitch/N
the screw
3. Insert the given wire between the screw and the stud of
gauge. Move the screw forward by rotating the rachet tii the wire
is gently gripped between the screw and the stud as shown in Fig.
1.3. Stop rotating the rachet the moment you hear, aclick sound.
4. Take the readings on the linear scale and the circular scale.
S. From these two readings, obtain the diameter of the wire.
6, The wire may not have an exactly circular croSs-Section.
Therefore, it is necessary to measure the diameter of the wire for
two positions at right angles to each other. For this, fir_t record
the reading of diameter d1 [Fig. 1.4 (a)] and then rotate the wire
through 90° at the same cross-sectional position. Record the
reading for diameter dz in this position [Fig. 1.4 (b)]).
A B
B

d; d

(a)
(b)

Figure 3.4 Two magnified views (a) and (b) of awire showing its
perpendicular dianneters d1 andd2. d2 is obtained after the rotating,.
the wire in the clockwise direction through 90°

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LNCT Lakshmi Narain College of Technology (LNCT) Bhopal (MP)

1. The wirc may not be truly cylindrical. Thercfore, it is nccessary to

measure the diamcter at several different places and obtain the
average value of diameter. For this repcat the steps (3) to (6) for
three more positions of the wire.
8. Take the mean of the different values of diameter so obtaincd.

Micrometre/
Screw
Gauge OBSERVATIONS

The length of the smallest division on the linear scale

mm

Distance moved by the screw when it is rotated through x complete

rotations,
mm

Pitch of the screw gauge

=y/x=. ..mm
Number of divisions on the circular scale,

Least Count (L.C.) of screw gauge

=pitch/No. of divisions on the circular scale
.mm

OBSERI4TION LABLE

Reading along perpendicular

Reading along one direction direction
(d1) (d2)
Measured
S. Linear Cireular Diameter Linear Circular Diameter diameter
No d Scale Scale d D=(d1td:/2
Scale Scale
reading, =MtnxLC reading, reading, -M+nxLC
reading,
M (mm) (mm) M (mm) n (mm)

1D=

2D=

3D=

4D=

CALCUL.ATIONS
Mean measured diameter - [ID+2D+3D+4D]/4

..mm

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 Oahm Narun (ollge of Technoloy (LNGT) Bhopal (MPI

PRICWOXS

| Rachet atangement in screw gauge must be itilbsed to avid

nduc pressure on the wire as this may change the dianetcr
Move tlhe screw n one directon else the sCrew nay deveop
"play"
Micromnetre/
Screw
Gauge Rcadng should be takcn at least at four different points alongthe
4
3 Screw should nove freely without friction

length of the wire.

5. Vicw all the reading kecping the cye perpendicular to the scale to
avoiderror due to parallax.

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Mechanical Engineering |BT-203] 28