EXERCISE 6

STUDY OF STRAIGHTNESS ERROR MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

Aim:

To conduct a detailed study of two straightness error measuring instruments: (i) spirit level, (ii)
autocollimator

Apparatusrequired:

Spirit level andautocollimator

Introduction:

Tests for straightness can be carried out by using spirit level or auto-collimator. The
straightness of any surface could be determined by either of these instruments by measuring
the relative angular positions of number of adjacent sections of the surface to be tested. So first
a straight line is drawn on the surface whose straightness is to be tested.

Spirit level:

Fig.1. Spirit level

A spirit level, bubble level or simply a level is an instrument designed to indicate whether a
surface is horizontal or vertical. A spirit level consists of a sealed glass tube, ground on its inside
surface to a convex formwith a large radius of curvature R. A scale is engraved on the glass at
the top of the tube. The tubeis nearly filled with ether such that only a small volume remains at
the top part of the tube whichcontains ether vapours in the form of a bubble.The spirit level can
beused only for the measurement of straightness of horizontal surfaces
Auto collimator:

An autocollimator is a precession optical instrument for measuring very small angular

displacement over a significant distance. They can be used for evaluating alignment of machine
surface, surface plate flatness, square ness of one surface to another, straightness, and a variety
of other orientation measurements.

A bright light source is condensed through a lens. The light then goes through a graticule with an
etched image. This is then projected through a beam splitter, which projects the image on the
graticule through the collimating lenses of the autocollimator. The collimated image goes to a
precision mirror at the surface to be evaluated. The mirror reflects the image back through the
collimating lenses of the interferometer.

If the mirror is precisely perpendicular to the collimated light path, the image will be perfectly
aligned with the viewing optic graticule. Otherwise, it will appear as an offset image. The
distance (or angle) of, deviation, can be determined by graduations on the graticule or by
adjusting the cross hairs of the graticule to coincide with the image. In the latter type, the amount
of movement is tracked by graduations on the adjusting screws that move the cross hairs.

The autocollimator is basically a telescope, permanently focused at infinity. The Autocollimator

tube is mounted horizontally on a stand provided with leveling screws. It consists of an
achromatic objective lens, Beam Splitter & Eyepiece Graticule. It also incorporates an
illuminated target Graticule. The image of the transmitted type target cross line Graticule is
projected along line of sight with the help of a 6V, 2W, bulb, and condensing lens from the side
of the tube with the help of the beam Splitter. Every point of the target Graticule produces a
parallel beam of light from the Objective lens. A plane reflector is positioned with its plane
normal to the axis of the Autocollimator. The instrument uses one of the basic principles of
reflection that a parallel beam of light, projected on to a plane reflector square to the beam, is
reflected along the same path.

Fig.2. Auto collimator

The reflected parallel beam of light entering the lens is brought to the focus in a focal plane
perpendicular to the plane of the target Graticule by the beam splitter. At this focal plane position
the Eyepiece Graticule is mounted. The eyepiece Graticule and the reflected image of the target
Graticule are both viewed simultaneously through the eyepiece.

Whenever reflector is tilted with respect to the incident beam, the return angle of the reflected
beam is twice the angular displacement of the reflector. The amount of this displacement can be
read off directly through the instrument eyepiece or by micrometer.

Result:

A detailed study of two straightness error measuring instruments has been conducted.
 CALIBRATION OF LVDT

AIM

To calibrate the given LVDT and to find the thickness of the test specimen

APPARATUS

LVDT, Micrometer, Digital reading amplifier

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

Electro magnetic induction:- Whenever a flux linkage through an electric conductor changes, a voltage is
induced in the conductor. In case of LVDT, an object of ferromagnetic material is moved within the flux
path which in effect changes the reluctance of the flux path and brings out the changes in flux linkage.
Thus mechanical displacement in moving the ferromagnetic material is directly converted into electric
voltage. The induced voltage is used as a measure of motion.

CONSTRUCTION

LVDT consists of a cylindrical, insulating, non magnetic body that has primary coil in the segment and a
secondary coil is symmetrically wound in the two end segments. The two secondary coils are connected
in series position, so that the potential induced in two coils segment oppose each other. A core of
ferromagnetic material is inserted co axially in the cylindrical form without actually touching it.
WORKING

The primary coil is engaged by AC supply voltage as a result AC voltage of same frequency is induced in
the secondary windings. When the core moves the reluctance of the flux path changes and hence the
flux linkage with two secondary windings changes.

An error known as zero error is present in some differential transformer i.e. a non zero reading in the
null position. The main reason for the zero error are non uniformities in the windings, hysterisis etc.

PROCEDURE

Connect the digital reading amplifier to the power supply. Make the reading to zero (0.00) with the help
of zero knob without connecting the LVDT. Now connect the LVDT to digital reading amplifier and again
make the reading to zero (0.00) with the help of zero knob. Now make a displacement of 1mm with the
help of micrometer of the LVDT and calibrate the reading using the calibration key. This is called null
balancing. Now make deflections on the micrometer in steps of 1mm and note the readings in the digital
amplifier. Place the specimen on the LVDT and note down the readings. Also find the thickness of the
specimen from the graph (Micrometer reading vs. amplifier reading)

RESULT