Taps and Dies and Layout and Measuring Tools (Part Two)

Layout and Measuring Tools

Micrometer Calipers

There are four types of micrometer calipers, each designed for a specific use: outside micrometer, inside micrometer, depth micrometer, and thread micrometer.

Micrometers are available in a variety of sizes, either 0 to 1⁄2 inch, 0 to 1 inch, 1 to 2 inch, 2 to 3 inch, 3 to 4 inch, 4 to 5 inch, or 5 to 6 inch sizes. In addition to the micrometer inscribed with the measurement markings, micrometers equipped with electronic digital liquid crystal display (LCD) readouts are also in common use.

The AMT uses the outside micrometer more often than any other type. It may be used to measure the outside dimensions of shafts, thickness of sheet metal stock, the diameter of drills, and for many other applications. [Figure 11-35]

The smallest measurement that can be made with the use of the steel rule is one sixty-fourth of an inch in common fractions and one one-hundredth of an inch in decimal fractions. To measure more closely than this (in thousandths and ten-thousandths of an inch), a micrometer is used. If a dimension given in a common fraction is to be measured with the micrometer, the fraction must be converted to its decimal equivalent. All four types of micrometers are read in the same way. The method of reading an outside micrometer is discussed later in this chapter.

Micrometer Parts

The fixed parts of a micrometer are the frame, barrel, and anvil. The movable parts of a micrometer are the thimble and spindle. The thimble rotates the spindle, which moves in the threaded portion inside the barrel. Turning the thimble provides an opening between the anvil and the end of the spindle where the work is measured. The size of the work is indicated by the graduations on the barrel and thimble. [Figure 11-36]

Reading a Micrometer

The lines on the barrel marked 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth, indicate measurements of tenths, or 0.100 inch, 0.200 inch, 0.300 inch, 0.400 inch, respectively. [Figure 11-37]

Each of the sections between the tenths divisions (between 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth) is divided into four parts of 0.025 inch each. One complete revolution of the thimble (from zero on the thimble around to the same zero) moves it one of these divisions (0.025 inch) along the barrel.

The bevel edge of the thimble is divided into 25 equal parts. Each of these parts represents one twenty-fifth of the distance the thimble travels along the barrel in moving from one of the 0.025 inch divisions to another. Thus, each division on the thimble represents one one-thousandth (0.001) of an inch.

These divisions are marked for convenience at every five spaces by 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. When 25 of these graduations have passed the horizontal line on the barrel, the spindle (having made one revolution) has moved 0.025 inch.

The micrometer is read by first noting the last visible figure on the horizontal line of the barrel representing tenths of an inch. Add to this the length of barrel between the thimble and the previously noted number. (This is found by multiplying the number of graduations by 0.025 inch.) Add to this the number of divisions on the bevel edge of the thimble that coincides with the line of the graduation. The total of the three figures equals the measurement. [Figure 11-38]

Vernier Scale

Some micrometers are equipped with a vernier scale that makes it possible to directly read the fraction of a division that is indicated on the thimble scale. Typical examples of the vernier scale as it applies to the micrometer are shown in Figure 11-39.

All three scales on a micrometer are not fully visible without turning the micrometer, but the examples shown in Figure 11-38 are drawn as though the barrel and thimble of the micrometer were laid out flat so that all three scales can be seen at the same time. The barrel scale is the lower horizontal scale, the thimble scale is vertical on the right, and the long horizontal lines (0 through 9 and 0) make up the vernier scale.

In reading a micrometer, an excellent way to remember the relative scale values is to remember that the 0.025 inch barrel scale graduations are established by the lead screw (40 threads per inch). Next, the thimble graduations divide the 0.025 inch into 25 parts, each equal to 0.001 inch. Then, the vernier graduations divide the 0.001 inch into 10 equal parts, each equal to 0.0001 inch. Remembering the values of the various scale graduations, the barrel scale reading is noted. The thimble scale reading is added to it, then the vernier scale reading is added to get the final reading. The vernier scale line to be read is always the one aligned exactly with any thimble graduation.

In the first example in Figure 11-39, the barrel reads 0.275 inch and the thimble reads more than 0.019 inch. The number 1 graduation on the thimble is aligned exactly with the number 4 graduation on the vernier scale. Thus, the final reading is 0.2944 inch.

In the second example in Figure 11-39, the barrel reads 0.275 inch, and the thimble reads more than 0.019 inch and less than 0.020 inch. On the vernier scale, the number 7 graduation coincides with a line on the thimble. This means that the thimble reading would be 0.0197 inch. Adding this to the barrel reading of 0.275 inch gives a total measurement of 0.2947 inch.

The third and fourth examples in Figure 11-39 are additional readings that would require use of the Vernier scale for accurate readings to ten-thousandths of an inch.

Using a Micrometer

The micrometer must be handled carefully. If it is dropped, its accuracy may be permanently affected. Continually sliding work between the anvil and spindle may wear the surfaces. If the spindle is tightened too much, the frame may be sprung permanently and inaccurate readings will result.

To measure a piece of work with the micrometer, hold the frame of the micrometer in the palm of the hand with the little finger or third finger, whichever is more convenient. This allows the thumb and forefinger to be free to revolve the thimble for adjustment.

A variation of the micrometer is the dial indicator, which measures variations in a surface by using an accurately machined probe mechanically-linked to a circular hand whose movement indicates thousandths of an inch or is displayed on a LCD screen. [Figure 11-40]

A typical example would be using a dial indicator to measure the amount of runout, or bend, in a shaft. If a bend is suspected, the part can be rotated while resting between a pair of machined V-blocks. A dial indicator is then clamped to a machine table stand, and the probe of the indicator is positioned so it lightly contacts the surface. The outer portion of the dial is then rotated until the needle is pointed at zero. The part is then rotated, and the amount of bend, or run out, is displayed on the dial as the needle fluctuates. The total amount of the fluctuation is the runout.

Another common use for the dial indicator is to check for a warp in a rotating component, such as a brake disc. In some cases, this can be done with the brake disc installed on the airplane, with the base clamped to a stationary portion of the structure.

In either case, it is imperative that the dial indicator be securely fastened so that movement of the indicator itself induces no errors in measurement.

Slide Calipers

Often used to measure the length of an object, the slide caliper provides greater accuracy than the ruler. It can, by virtue of its specially formed jaws, measure both inside and outside dimensions. As the tool’s name implies, the slide caliper jaw is slid along a graduated scale, and its jaws then contact the inside or outside of the object to be measured. The measurement is then read on the scale located on the body of the caliper or on the LCD screen. [Figure 11-41] Some slide calipers also contain a depth gauge for measuring the depth of blind holes.

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