Mesurements using Digital 2D height gauge

Sine Bar and Digital Angle Protractor

Prudhvi Sai.U
Aerospace Engineering, 5th Sem
(Dated: 19/08/2016)
The main aim of this exercise is to get familiarise with angle measuring devices i.e Sine Bar and
Digital Angle Protractor and Linear measurements using Digital 2D height gauge and to measure
the given dimension using them.The angle of the given wedge has been measured using digital angle
protractor and compared the measurement using SineBar in conjunction with slip gauges for precise
angular measurement.Also the Linear measurement and Pitch circle diameter of the given drawing
of the component has been done using Digital 2D height gauge as a second part of exercise.

I. INTRODUCTION 5 min. The name universal refers to the capacity of the

Metrology is the science of measurement and in-
cludes all theoretical and practical aspects of measure-
ment.There are a wide variety of geometric features that
are measured in angular units. These varieties include
angular separation of bounding planes, angular spac-
ing conditions related to circle, digression from a ba-
sic direction etc. Because of these diverse geometrical
forms, different types of methods and equipment are
available to measure angles in common angular units of
degree, minute and second.Several factors come into pic-
ture in selection of suitable angular measuring instru-
ments. These factors may be the size and general shape
of the part, the location and angular accessibilities of the
feature to be measured, expected range of angle varia-
tions, the required sensitivity and accuracy of measure-
ment etc.As in linear measurement, they can be catego-
rized in two groups. The first one is line standard instru-
ment. It includes divided scales like protractors, bevel
gauges. The second category of angular measuring in-
struments is called face standard instruments. Sine bars
and angle gauges falls in this category.[1]
A height gauge is a measuring device used either for de-
termining the height of objects, or for marking of items to
be worked on.The Linear 2D Height offers advanced per-
formance for reliable and simple 2D measurement with
high accuracy.
II. STATE OF ART AND INSTRUMENTS FOR
SIMILAR MEASUREMENT
Different angle measuring instruments have been used
based on shape of the part, accuracy of measurement,
the location and angular accessibilities of the feature to
be measured, range of angle variations. Some of them
include
Protractors :It is the simplest instrument for measuring
angles between two faces. It consists of two arms and an
engraved circular scale. The two arms can be set along
the faces between which the angle is to be measured.
Universal Bevel Protractors : It is an angular mea-
suring instrument capable of measuring angles to within
instrument to be adaptable to a great variety of work
configurations and angular interrelations.
Measurements of incline using
Spirit level : It is one of the most commonly used in-
struments for inspecting the horizontal position of sur-
faces and for evaluating the direction and magnitude of
minor deviation from that nominal condition.
Clinometer : A clinometer is a special case of applica-
tion of spirit level for measuring, in the vertical plane,
the incline of a surface in relation to the basic horizontal
plane, over an extended range. This is done by placing
the clinometer on each of the surface in turn, and taking
the readings with respect to the horizontal. The differ-
ence of both the readings will indicate the angular value
of the relative incline.
Angle comparators : They are the metrological instru-
ments used for finding the difference between two nearly
equal angles. The most widely used angle comparators
are Autocollimators. They are designed to measure small
angles by comparison. They are quite accurate and can
read up to 0.1 seconds, and may be used for distance up
to 30 meters.
Every day, new techniques and equipments are designed
to carry out linear and angular measurements with bet-
ter resolution, linearity and accuracy. Most of these de-
vices work on the principles of electro-magnetic induc-
tion or the variation of capacitance of dielectric medium
and are found to be quite sturdy and accurate for a
wide variety of measuring conditions.Other recent devel-
opments in the field of detection of angular position in-
cludes CMOS Rotary encoders with Magnetic sensors[2]
and other contact- less magnetic/capacitive type rotary
encoders[3].
III. MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
III.1. Sine Bar
Sine bar is used in conjunction with slip gauges for
precise angular measurement.Slip gauges are rectangu-
lar blocks of steel having a cross-section of about 30 by
10mm. These gauges are used to provide end standard
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of specific length by temporarily combining a number of

individual gauge by wringing, each representing a dimen-
sion (standard) into a single gauge bar.Wringing is done
by hand though sliding and twisting motions. One gauge
is placed perpendicular to other using standard gaug-
ing pressure and rotary motion is then applied until the
blocks are lined up. In this way air is expelled from be-
tween the gauge faces causing the blocks to adhere. This
adherence is caused partly by molecular attraction and
partly by atmospheric pressure.

FIG. 2. Measurement using Sine Bar

Therefore, the error in angle measurement d, due to

an error, dh in height h is proportional to sec. Now
sec increases very rapidly for angle greater than 450 .
Therefore, sine bars should not be used for measurement
of angles greater 450 , if higher accuracy is demanded and
if at all they have to be used, sine bars should measure
the complement of the angle rather than the angle itself.
FIG. 1. Slip guage set
III.2. Digital Angle Protractor
Sine bars are used either to measure angle very accu-
rately or for locating any work to a given angle. Sine Digital Angle Protractor is probably the simplest
bars are made from high chromium, corrosion resistant instrument for measuring the angle between two faces of
steel, hardened, ground and stabilized. Sine bar con- component.It is a device used for measuring and lying
sists of an accurate straight bar in which two cylinders of out angles accurately and precisely within 4 arc minutes.
equal diameter are attached at ends. The axes of these The protractor is slotted to hold a blade which can be
two cylinders are mutually parallel to each other and also rotated with dial to the required angle.The body of the
parallel to and at equal distance from the upper surfaces instrument is extended to form one of the arms, and
of the sine bar. This distance L is the centre to centre this is known as the stock. It is the fixed part of the
distance of plugs is which is generally 100, 200 and 300 protractor and should be perfectly straight. The other
mm and so on. arm is in the form of a blade that rotates in a turret
Table showing specifications of Sine Bar mounted on the body.[4]
Make Ultra Sine Bar
230L X 30W X 40H
Centre distance
between cylinders 200mm
Accuracy As per IS standards
Material and Hardness HighCarbonsteel,
Haredened and ground,60+/-2 RC

The angle to be measured is determined by an indirect

method as a function of sine so this device is called as
Sine Bar.
From the figure, FIG. 3. Digital Angle Protractor

h TABLE I. Specifications of Digital Angle Protractor

= sin1 (1)
l Make TESA
Now, differentiating h with respect to , we have Resolution 0.010
Maximum Permissible error 4 min of arc
1 dh d 1 sec
cos() = . = = (2) Scale length 200mm
L d dh Lcos L
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III.3. Digital 2D height gauge IV.2. Sine Bar

The Linear Height offers advanced performance for re- 1. The slip gauges are cleaned with a gel on mirror
liable and simple 2D measurement.It is used to measure finished faces. Build up slip gauges of a proper height
height measurements, Step measurement, Inside diame- by wringing.
ter, Outside diameter, Pitch circle diameter, Perpendic- 2. Place one of the cylinders of sine bar on surface plate
ularity, Straightness and other simple 1D and 2D mea- and other on slip gauges.
surements. Before taking any measurements the height 3. The work piece whose angle is to be measured is
gauge must be set to reference. placed on sine bar.
4. Set the dial gauge needle to zero.It is set at one end
of the component and moved to the other end.
5. Note the deviation in dial reading.
TABLE II. Specifications of TESA Micro-Hite 600
6. Again slip gauges are so adjusted that dial indicator
Make TESA, micro height 600 reads zero deviation across the work surface.
Drive Manual 7. Note down slip gauge height and perform calculation.
Range 0-600 mm
Accuracy (2+3L/1000)microns,L in mm
IV.3. Digital 2D height gauge
Perpendicularity 9 microns

1. Calibration :
a) The digital height guage has two modes for linear
measurements namely st1 and st2. In st1 mode the
lower part of the probe is active and is triggered when it
is touched to specimen where as in st2 mode, both the
lower part and the upper part of the probe are active so
that we can take readings in both directons(up and
down).
b) Before proceeding the probe is to be calibrated with
calibration block and set the reference zero by touching
it to the top of surface table.
2. Linear measurements for specimen 1:
a) The height of the specimen is measured using st1
mode with reference from surface table.
b) The internal linear dimension is measured in st2
mode by touching the probe between two extreme ends
of the internal feature to be measured and difference in
height of these two extreme ends is reported by the
instrument.
3. PCD and diameter mesurement for specimen
2:
a) PCD Measurement :
The instrument is set in 2D mode and the
FIG. 4. Digital 2D height gauge corresponding heights of holes in y-direction are
recorded by triggering the probe.
Then the workpiece is rotated by 90degrees and the
selection x-direction in menu of gauge to measure the x
IV. PROCEDURE co-ordinate of the holes.
Make sure the order of the holes in which the
measurement is taken is fixed.
IV.1. Digital Angle Protractor
Now the PCD can be obtained using a selection on
menu and PCD and the corresponding centers of the
1. The reading in the Digital Angle Protractor is to holes is displayed.
zero. b) Diameter measurement :
2. The workpiece whose angle is to be measured is St2 mode is used and select diameter in menu.
placed in between the blades of Angle Protractor. The probe is kept inside the hole and touched to the
3. Note down the reading and perform the calculation lowest portion of the hole after which the stylus is
for height in order to get an estimate of height of slip locked.
guages to be stacked. Then the specimen is moved slightly until the
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instrument detects the lowest point. FIG. 5. Measurement exercise:1

Similar procedure is repeated for the top portion of
the hole after which the difference in height is reported
as the diameter of the hole.
4. Angle measurement :
Two points on the slant surface are measured using
angle mode in menu and the distance between the two
points is obtained in such a way that the thickness of V.2. Angle measurements
block is equal to the distance moved along the tapered
surface.
5. Straightness : Using Digital Angle Protractor, the angle of the given
Straightness can be measured by selecting the option in wedge was found to be 14.840 .
the menu and touch the probe while it remains in With slip gauges of height 51.224 and L=200 mm of Sine
contact with surface and is locked.Then move the Bar the angle calculated was 14.8390 .
workpiece along the surface. Parallelism and flatness
can also be measured by using this instrument.
6. Perpendicularity :
Another stylus is fixed to measure the
perpendicularity.Procedure is same as in parallelism
expect the probe is moved in vertical direction along
the axis of the instrument and reading is noted.

V. RESULTS

V.1. Measurement with digital height gauge FIG. 6. Measurement exercise:2

The figure5 and figure6 shows dimensions measured

using digital height gauge
VI. CONCLUSION

It can thus be concluded that there are some errors in

measurement using Sine Bar and precautions in use of
sine bar :-
1) The sine bar should not be used for angle greater
than 600 .
2) A compound angle should not be formed by mis-
aligning the component with sine bar.
3) Accuracy of sine bar should be ensured.
4) As far as possible longer sine bar should be used since
many errors are reduced by using longer sine bars.

[1] www.ignou.ac.in/upload/Unit-6-62.pdf
[2] K. Nakano, T. Takahashi, and S. Kawahito, A cmos ro-
tary encoder using magnetic sensor arrays, IEEE Sensors
Journal, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 889894, 2005.
[3] M. Gasulla, X. Li, G. C. Meijer, L. Van der Ham, and
J. W. Spronck, A contactless capacitive angular-position
sensor, IEEE Sensors journal, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 607614,
2003.
[4] http://what-when-how.com/metrology/vernier-and-
optical-bevel-protractor-metrology