METROLOGY LAB
DEDAN KIMATHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
PRIVATE BAG, DEDAN KIMATHI, 10143
METROLOGY LAB MANUAL
Objectives
The objectives of this experiment are to:
1. Determine the least possible number of gauge blocks that can give the
most precise base of a triangular test piece.
2. Determine the geometry of a stepped shaft through the use of a
Vernier calliper.
3. Determine the length of a stepped shaft by using a Vernier calliper,
gauge blocks and a digital metre rule.
EXPERIMENT NO. 1
Apparatus
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Gauge blocks
Set of gauge blocks
Vernier calliper
Stepped shaft
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Triangular work piece
PROCEDURE
A series of measurements are taken with the various measurement tools
mentioned in order to demonstrate their precision and accuracy.
Height of a triangular test piece
1. A triangular right angled work piece is provided (hypotenuse and
one angle known)
2. Measure the height and the base length of the work piece.
3. Arrange and determine the least number of gauge blocks needed to
form the height and the base lengths.
4. Determine the uncertainty in the measurements.
Results
• From trigonometric rules; calculate the two lengths and compare
with the measured values.
• Calculate the errors involved and accumulated in the measurements.
Calculate the uncertainties in the measurement using the
equation. Below is the general uncertainty propagation on which all
of the following uncertainties are based on. In general if f is a
function of a, b and z such that f = f(a,b,...,z) then the uncertainty in f
for any number of variables is:
(2) The equation is
tailored to the specific needs of each problem, as shown in the
following sections. For triangle
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• Record the gauge blocks combination in the table below;
Size of gauge (mm) Number of blocks
Stepped shaft dimensions
A stepped shaft of unknown geometry is given. A series of measurements
are required to describe the geometry of the shaft. Refer to fig: stepped
Shaft for a schematic of this component. Shaft 1 is the smaller diameter
section and 2 is the larger diameter as depicted below;
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Determine the ovality of shaft 1
1. Take two diameter measurements 90 degrees to each other with
external jaws of the Vernier calliper.
2. Record the measurements to 4 significant figures
3. Repeat the procedure for the second part of the shaft.
NB: All measurements must be taken by pushing the Vernier
jawsfirst onto the diameter that is being measured. The Vernier
must be removed in the same manner.
Results
• Record the measurements in the table below;
Measurement 1 Measurement 2
(mm) (mm)
Top
Middle
Bottom
• Calculate the ovality of the shaft as follows;
1. ovality = D – d
Where D is the largest diameter measurement and d is the smallest
diameter measurement
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Length of the sample
1. Take three different measurements of the length of the shaft at
three different random locations using the instruments provided.
2. Record the measurements taken.
Results
Record results in the table below;
Measurement number Length (mm)
Lengths of shaft 2 and shaft 1
1. Using Vernier callipers external jaws measure the length of
shaft
2. Take three random measurements.
3 Record the values
4 To find the length of shaft 1 subtract the length of shaft 2 from
the total length found earlier.
5 Record the three different values.
Results
Record data in the table below;
Shaft 1 (mm) Shaft 2 (mm)
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METROLOGY LAB
REPORT SUBMISSION TWO WEEKS FROM PRACTICAL DATE