University of Baghdad AL-Khwarizmi College of Engineering Automated Manufacturing Engineering Dept

Micrometer Screw-Gauge

Name: Murtadha Hadi Stage: First Year:2012-2013

Introduction to micrometer screw gauge reading:

A screw pitch gauge also known as a micrometer is a precision instrument. It is used for measuring diameter of circular objects mostly wires, with an accuracy of 0.001cm. It consists of a hollow cylinder mounted on a U frame. The hollow cylinder leads to a ratchet which is meant for fine adjustment. The U frame consists of a flat end known as stud and a screw on the other side. This screw can be moved inside the nut by fitted in the U frame by rotating the hollow cylinder called the thimble. This is called the main scale. The hollow cylinder or the thimble is graduated into 50 or 100 equal parts. This is called the circular scale. Micrometer screw-gauge is another instrument used for measuring accurately the diameter of a thin wire or the thickness of a sheet of metal. It consists of a U-shaped frame fitted with a screwed spindle which is attached to a thimble.

Screw-gauge The screw has a known pitch such as 0.5 mm. Pitch of the screw is the distance moved by the spindle per revolution. Hence in this case, for one revolution of the screw the spindle moves forward or backward 0.5 mm. This movement of the spindle is shown on an engraved linear millimeter scale on the sleeve. On the thimble there is a circular scale which is divided into 50 or 100 equal parts. When the anvil and spindle end are brought in contact, the edge of the circular scale should be at the zero of the sleeve (linear scale) and the zero of the circular scale should be opposite to the datum line of the sleeve. If the zero is not coinciding with the datum line, there will be a positive or negative zero error as shown in figure below.

Zero error in case of screw gauge

While taking a reading, the thimble is turned until the wire is held firmly between the anvil and the spindle. The least count of the micrometer screw can be calculated using the formula given below:

Least count

= 0.01 mm Types of error in micrometer screw gauge reading Every micrometer prior to its use should be thoroughly checked for backlash error or zero error.

Backlash error: Sometimes due to wear and tear of the screw threads, it is observed that reversing the direction of rotation of the thimble, the tip of the screw does not start moving in the opposite direction immediately, but remains stationary for a part of rotation. This is called back lash error. Zero error: If on bringing the flat end of the screw in contact with the stud, the zero mark of the circular scale coincides with the zero mark on base line of the main scale, the instrument is said to be free from zero error. Otherwise an error is said to be there. This can be both positive and negative zero error.

Calculating micrometer screw gauge reading:

Total observed reading = main scale reading + (circular scale division coinciding the base line of main scale) x least count True diameter = observed diameter zero error Example, main scale reading = 2mm or 0.2cm Circular scale reading = 56, so 56 x 0.001 = 0.056cm So observed reading = 0.2 + 0.056 = 0.256cm

Sub Topics

Determination of Diameter of a Wire Mass Measurement of Mass Common Balance How to use a balance?

Determination of Diameter of a Wire

Back to Top The wire whose thickness is to be determined is placed between the anvil and spindle end, the thimble is rotated till the wire is firmly held between the anvil and the spindle. The rachet is provided to avoid excessive pressure on the wire. It prevents the spindle from further movement. The thickness of the wire could be determined from the reading as shown in figure below.

Reading = Linear scale reading + (Coinciding circular scale x Least count) = 2.5 mm + (46 x 0.01)

= (2.5 + 0.46) mm = 2.96 mm Relationship in the Metric system of length 1 kilometer (km) = 103 m 1 centimeter (cm) = 10-2 m 1 millimeter (mm) = 10-3 m

Mass
Back to Top Mass is the quantity of matter contained in a body. If you push a book, it moves faster than if you push a car with the same force. This is because the car has more mass than the book. If you had two identical boxes, one containing iron and the other containing cotton we could identify them by pushing the boxes. We can say that the car and iron box are more reluctant to move than the book and the cotton box. We call this reluctance to move "inertia". Larger the mass of an object, larger is its inertia. Hence mass of a body is a measure of its inertia. Moving objects have inertia too. A moving object needs force to make it stop. A moving car has more inertia than a moving book. It needs more force to make it stop.

Measurement of Mass
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Mass of an object can be determined by comparing the mass of it with a standard mass. For this we can use a lever balance or a common balance.

Common Balance
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This balance consists of a beam and two scale pans (shown in figure below), the beam being balanced at its mid point on a knife-edge. The scale pans also hang on knife edges and rest on the base board. When the balance is not in use the beam rests on the beam support.

A Laboratory Balance

How to use a balance?

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Use the leveling screws, attached beneath the base board to make sure that the beam is horizontal. It can be verified with the help of the plumb- line provided shown in the diagram. Use the arrestment knob to raise the beam and the adjusting screw at the two ends of the beam, to bring the pointer to the middle or zero mark on the scale. Lower the beam using the arrestment knob again. Place the body to be weighed on the left scale pan and put weights on the

right hand scale pan to balance the beam (when pointer is at zero).