Measurement of Angles

Angle is defined as the opening between two lines

which meet at a point.
For engineering purpose, the angular units are
defined in sexagesimal system(base 60)* i-e
Degree, Minutes, Seconds
Only because of precise angular measurement,
ships and aero planes can navigate confidently
with out the help of sight of land.

Background

Babylonians

Base 60-For measuring time, angles, and geographic coordinates

The sexagesimal system of angular measurement

Aminute of arc (or) arc minute, is a unit ofangular measurement
equal to one sixtieth (160) of onedegree. In turn, asecond of
arc(or)arc secondis one sixtieth (160) of one arc minute.
Since one degree is defined as one three hundred and sixtieth ( 1360) of a
rotation, practical unit of angular measure is thedegree of which there
are360in a circle. There are 60minutes of arc in a degree, and 60arc
seconds in a minute.
Unit
Value
Symbol
Abbreviations
360circle

deg

60degree

(prime)

arcmin, amin,
am,, MOA

60arcminute

(double
prime)

arcsec, asec,
as

1,000arcsecon
d

mas

Microarcsecon 106arcsecon
d
d

as

Degree

Arcminute

Arcsecond
Milliarcsecond

The sexagesimal system of angular measurement Contd..

It is used in those fields which require a unit for the

expression of small angles, such asastronomy,optometry,
ophthalmology,optics,navigation
Radian is defined as the angle subtended at the centre
by an arc of a circle of length equal to its radius. It is more
widely used in mathematical investigation.
1 radian = 57.2958 degrees.

Line standard: Uniformly defined circles with the lines

engraved at regular intervals say one degree.
End standard: Angle gauges with the angle defined between
adjacent faces.

Angular measurement instruments:

1.Vernier bevel protractor (or) Universal bevel protractor
2.Optical bevel Protractor
3.Sine bar
4.Angle gauges
5.Clinometer
6.Angle dekkor
7.Auto collimator

r bevel protractor or Universal bevel protractor : 2 1/2 or 5 minutes a

l bevel protractor: 2 minutes
gh precision: Sine bar, angle gauges , optical instruments are used

Tool makers Square

The solid square or tool makers square is usually used to
check squareness of surfaces
The wide portion is referred to as the beam and the
slender upright portion is called the blade.
Beam

Blade

Protract
or between the two faces of a
It is to measure the angle

component.
The plate protractor is capable of measuring to within 1degree.
Consist of movable blade
Can be measured upto 30 min.

Bevel protractors:

As per IS practice, there are two bevel protractors, namely

1) Mechanical Bevel protractor
2) Optical Bevel protractor

(Base plate)

Bevel Protractor:
It is the simplest angle measuring instrument.
The base plate is attached to the main body, which
carries a main scale graduated in degrees and an
adjustable blade is attached to a circular plate (swivel
plate) containing vernier scale.
The adjustable blade which is capable of rotating freely
about the centre of the main scale engraved on the body
of the instrument and can be locked in any position.
Function
The Protractor disc is free to rotate at the pivot and can
be clamped with the nut in base in assembly.
Blade can slide both ways.
Vernier scale fitted with disc is to take readings during
measurement.

Universal Bevel Protractor

Also called Vernier Bevel Protractor

Used for measuring and testing
angles.
Accuracy of this instrument is
5minutes

An
acute
angle
attachment is provided at
the top of the base. The
acute angle attachment
can be readily fit into the
body and clamped in any
position.

ading Universal Bevel protractor

The protractors disc is graduated in Degrees.
It reads zero to 90 Degrees on both side of zero line on
main scale.
VSD has 12 Divisions on both sides of zero line. Each
division 5 min.

CASE 1

Do Your Self

Case-2

Optical bevel protractor:

Recent development of vernier bevel protractor
Readings upto approximately 2 minutes of an arc.
Readings are taken against vernier by means of optical
magnifying system which is integral with the instrument

NE BAR: Based on the laws of trignometry

Accuracy requirement of sine bar:

1. The axes of the rollers must be parallel to each other and
the centre distance L must be known.
2. The top surface of the bar must have a high degree of
flatness. It should be parallel to a plane connecting the
axes of the rollers
3. The rollers must be of identical diameters and round

Sine bar: It is a precision measuring instrument and is an

excellent example of combination of linear measurement
and angular measurement when used in conjunction with
gauge blocks (slip gauges). Used to measure external
taper angles.
It consists of a bar carrying a pair of rollers with known
centre distance.
It is made of high carbon, high chromium corrosion
resistant steel, suitably hardened, precision ground and
stabilised.
Relief holes are provided for easy handling of sine bar
and for reducing the weight of the sine bar.

distance
between
the axes
of the
rollers is exactly
The
It should
be used
on a grade
A surface
plate.
100mm, 200mm or 300mm.
Surface finish of 0.2 m Ra or better.

Working principle of Sine bar:

The sine bar is first kept on the surface plate. The work
piece is then placed on the sine bar.
Place the set of slip gauges under one end of the roller of
sine bar such that the upper surface of the work piece is
approximately parallel with the table surface.
Place the plunger of the dial gauge on the upper surface
of the work piece. Take readings with the dial gauge at both
ends and note their difference, noting which end of the
work is low.
Where the end of the sine bar is low, slip gauges height
must be increased by an amount equal to the difference in
the dial gauge readings multiplied by the proportion of sine
bar length to work length.

For example, if one end of a workpiece is 0.01mm low,

the sine bar being 250 mm long and the work 100 mm
long, then the required increase in height of slip gauge set
will be 0.01 x 250/100 = 0.025 mm.
This will not give an immediately correct setting from a
first approximation, but it is much quicker than a trial and
If l method.
is the linear distance between the axes of the rollers
error
and h is the height of the slip gauges, then sin = h/l
For better results, both the rollers could also be placed
on slip gauges, of height h1and h2respectively.
Then sin = (h2-h1)/l

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Precautions in use of sine bars.

(i)The sine bar should not be used for angle greater than
45 degrees ,
because any possible error in construction will intensify at
this limit.
(ii) A compound angle should not be formed by misaligning
of workpiece with the sine bar. This can be avoided by
attaching the sine bar and work against an angle plate.
(iii) Accuracy of sine bar should be ensured.
(iv) As far as possible longer sine bar should be used since
many errors are reduced by using longer sine bars.

Differentiating the above equation,

d is error in angle measurement, dh is tolerance sink in slip gauge dimensional

or in center and center distance of slip gauge.

slip gauges are highly accurate dh can be neglected as compared to dl, so

Error in measurement is directly proportional

to Tan
The value of Tan increases suddenly and
approaches infinity when the angle increases
above 450

Checking of
component.

unknown

angles

of

heavy

If the components are heavy and cant be mounted on

the sine bar, then sine bar is mounted on the
component.
The height over the rollers can then be measured by a
vernier height gauge ; using a dial test gauge mounted
on the anvil of height gauge as the fiducial indicator to
ensure constant measuring pressure.
The anvil on height gauge is adjusted with probe of dial
test gauge showing same reading for the topmost
position of rollers of sine bar.
The difference of the two readings of height gauge
Sin distance
= (h1-h2)/
L bar gives the sine
divided by the centre
of sine
of the angle of the component to be measured.

height gauge for obtaining two readings for either of the

roller of sine bar.

Dia
l

The difference of the two readings of height gauge

divided by the centre distance of sine bar gives the sine
of the angle of the component to be measured.

Sine Centre

A special type of sine bar is sine centre which is used for

conical objects having male and female parts.
It cannot measure the angle more than 45 degrees.

Angle gauges
The selection of angular gauge blocks is similar to the
selection of linear gauge blocks, except that subtraction
may also be required.
There are also a number of angular gauge blocks for
the measurement of angles. The common angle gauges
are:
1,3,9,27 and 41 degrees
1,3,9,27 minutes
3,6,18 and 30 seconds
Each angle gauge is accurate to within one second and
is marked with engraved V which indicates the direction
of the inclined angle.
When the angles of individual angle gauges are to be
added up, then the V of all should be in line and when any
angle is to be subtracted, its engraved V should be in other
direction.

Devised by Dr. Tomlinson of N.P.L in 1939

Size: 75 x 16 mm

1. An angle of 330 - 9 15 is to be measured with the help

of the following standard angle gauges: [ 1, 3, 9, 27, 41
degree], [ 1, 3, 9, 27],
[ 3, 6, 18, 30]
Show the arrangement of angle gauges with a neat sketch
by selecting minimum number of gauges.
A: 270 + 90 30 + 9 + 18 - 3

2. An angle of 1020-8 -42

A: 900 + 90 + 30 + 9 1 + 30 + 18 6

3. A 100 mm sine bar is to be set up to an angle of 330,

determine the slip gauges needed from 87 pieces set.
Combination of slip gauges required to set up an angle is
given by h= L Sin
Where L= distance between roller centers= 100 mm
and = 330
Therefore h= 100 sin 330 = 54.464 mm
Minimum number of slip gauges needed to build up
54.464 mm is
1.004
1.460
2.000
50.000
----------54.464
------------

egrees 56 minutes 48 seconds

r: 9 Degree -1Degree -3Minutes-1Minutes +30Sec +18 Sec

Build an angle of 57o 34 9

Solution:
Degree = 41o +27o -9o +1o -3o =57
Minutes = 27+9-3+1 = 34
Seconds = 6+ 3 =9

Give the combination of angle gauges required to build

102o 8 42 Degree: 90o +9o +3o =102o
Minutes: 9-1 = 8
Seconds 30+ 18- 6 =42

Spirit Level(bubble level)

Spirit levels are used for:
1)
Measuring
small
angle
or
inclination
2) To establish a horizontal datum
3) To test straightness and flatness of
surfaces
Consists of a sealed glass tube mounted on a base.
The inside surface of the tube is ground to a convex
barrel shape having large radius.
The precision of the level depends on the accuracy of
this radius of the tube.
A scale is engraved on the top of the glass tube.
The tube is nearly filled with either ether or alcohol,
except a small air in the form of a bubble.

Principle:
The bubble is always tries to remain at the highest point
of the tube.
When the level is placed on a horizontal surface, the
bubble rests at the centre of the scale.
If the base of the level is tilted through a small angle,
the bubble will move relative to the tube a distance along
its radius corresponding to the angle.

Checking the angle of taper using rollers:

1. Method of checking the angle of a taper plug gauge using rollers.
2. Micrometer and slip gauges are illustrated by fig.
3. Taper plug is placed on a surface plate. First two rollers of equal
diameters are
placed touching on the opposite sides of the lower surface of the plug
on the slip
gauge combinations of equal heights (H) The distance (M) between the
ends of
the roller is measured with a micrometer.
4. Then the rollers are placed on slip .gauge combinations of height
touching on the
opposite sides of the top portion of the plug.
5. The distance between the ends of the rollers in this new position is
again
measured by means of micrometer.
6. The half of the taper angle of the plug is then calculated as follows:
7. If d= diameter of rollers, then

Measuring of included angle of an internal dovetail:

1. Dovetail slides are widely used in machine tools as a guide ways.
2.The sloping side of the dovetail slide act as guide and prevent the
lifting of the
female mating part during sliding operation.
3. This angle can be measured by using two rollers of equal size, slip
gauges and a
micrometer.
4. The two rollers of equal diameters are placed. One each at the two
corners and
distance i is measured across the rollers with a micrometer.
5. Then the rollers equal size slip gauge blocks and the distance is
measured. It
should be noted that the rollers do not extend above the top surface of
dovetail.
6. Let the height of slip gauges be h, then

Measuring external dovetail slide:

1. Figures shows an external dovetail slide with angle of dovetail .
2.To check the width of opening b as shown in fig., two rollers of
equal diameter d
are placed one each in the two corners.
3. Then the length L is obtained by trial and error with the help of slip
gauges or end
bars if L is greater than 250mm.
4. Then the width b can he calculated by the relation

b = l + d + d cot/2

b = l + d + d cot/2

To check the angle of a taper hole

we require two balls of different sizes, depth gauge, height gauge etc.
This method is particularly suitable for checking the angle of a tapered
ring gauge.
First a small ball of radius R1 is inserted in the hole in lower position and
depth H1 from upper surface of tapered hole to the top of the ball is
measured. Small ball must be of such size as to be seated somewhere in
between hole. Then bigger ball of radius R2 is placed in the hole and
distance H2 i.e. between the top of ball and tapered hole is measured with
height gauge. In Fig. 01 and 02 represent the centres of two balls. Draw O1S parallel to the XY of tapered hole in section and 02S perpendicular to
O1S. Then angle 02-O1-S = A/2 ;
(where A is the angle of tapered hole.)

Combination set
Consist of 4 parts located in the groove of the
blade

 Protractor Bevel can be adjusted only by direct

application to lines or surfaces having the proper
angular relation.
It often happens that such adjustment is not
feasible and, therefore, a registering device, in the
form of a graduated arc, is applied to the bevel,
making what is known as a protractor. This tool can
be used to find the angular relation in degrees

 Center Square: Center of a circle is found at the

intersection of any two diameters, an instrument for
readily finding that point is a great convenience.
This fig. shows a combination straightedge and
square, called a center square, which accomplishes
this result.
As one edge of the rule bisects the angle of the
square, it is evident that a line drawn by that edge
passes through the center of any circular piece to
which the square is applied.
Locating centers in the ends of round bars or circular
work of any kind is the principal use of this tool.