COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
EXPERIMENT NO. 1
Accuracy of Linear dimension Measurement
Llorera, Jeshua B.
ME 5L/ BSME 4D
July 8, 2016
I. OBJECTIVES:
Measure and tabulate the dimensions of standard blocks using a Vernier caliper
and a micrometer.
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation (SD, also represented by the Greek letter sigma or the Latin
letter s) is a measure that is used to quantify the amount of variation or dispersion of
a set of data values.
Calculation
Standard Deviation Formula
The standard deviation formula is similar to the variance formula. It is given by:
= standard deviation
xi = each value of dataset
x (with a bar over it) = the arithmetic mean of the data (This symbol will be
indicated as mean from now)
N = the total number of data points
(xi - mean)^2 = The sum of (xi - mean)^2 for all data points
For simplicity, we will rewrite the formula:
= [ (x-mean)^2 / N ]
Vernier caliper
A. Description
The Vernier Caliper is a precision instrument that can be used to measure
internal and external distances extremely accurately. The example shown below
is a manual caliper. Measurements are interpreted from the scale by the user.
B. Function
The Vernier caliper is typically used in scientific labs and engineering schools
where precise measurements are a must. High precision instruments like the
Vernier caliper do not leave room for many errors. It is also a great addition to a
woodworkers tools since it comes in handy when working with different projects
that require careful and precise measurement. Below are the best uses for a
Vernier caliper.
If you are measuring something with a round cross section, make sure that the
axis of the object is perpendicular to the caliper. This is necessary to ensure that
you are measuring the full diameter and not merely a chord.
The tick marks on the fixed scale between the boldface numbers are millimeters.
There are ten tick marks on the sliding scale. The left-most tick mark on the
sliding scale will let you read from the fixed scale the number of whole millimeters
that the jaws are opened.
In the example above, the leftmost tick mark on the sliding scale is between 21
mm and 22 mm, so the number of whole millimeters is 21.
Next we find the tenths of millimeters. Notice that the ten tick marks on the sliding
scale are the same width as nine ticks marks on the fixed scale. This means that
at most one of the tick marks on the sliding scale will align with a tick mark on the
fixed scale; the others will miss.
The number of the aligned tick mark on the sliding scale tells you the number of
tenths of millimeters. In the example above, the 3rd tick mark on the sliding scale
is in coincidence with the one above it, so the caliper reading is (21.30 0.05)
mm.
If two adjacent tick marks on the sliding scale look equally aligned with their
counterparts on the fixed scale, then the reading is half way between the two
marks. In the example above, if the 3rd and 4th tick marks on the sliding scale
looked to be equally aligned, then the reading would be (21.35 0.05) mm.
On those rare occasions when the reading just happens to be a "nice" number
like 2 cm, don't forget to include the zero decimal places showing the precision of
the measurement and the reading error. So not 2 cm, but rather (2.000 0.005)
cm or (20.00 0.05) mm
Micrometer
D. Description
Micrometer a gauge that measures small distances or thicknesses between its
two faces, one of which can be moved away from or toward the other by turning
a screw with a fine thread.
E. Function
For measurement using an outside micrometer, an object is placed flush against
a micrometer caliper's anvil. The thimble is turned with the other hand, moving
the spindle closer to the anvil until it can move no further. When the object is
secure between the anvil and spindle, the micrometer is locked so that a
measurement can be read and recorded accurately. A standard, one-inch
micrometer has readout markings of .001 inch with an accuracy of +/- .0001 inch.
F. Measurement process
Using the micrometer
1. Read the scale on the sleeve.
2. Still reading the scale on the sleeve, a further mm (0.5) measurement can
be seen on the bottom half of the scale.
3. Finally, the thimble scale shows a full divisions (these are hundredths of a
mm).Then the final measurement is shown.
VII.
Trial Trial
5
6
13.95 14
14.5m
m
100mm
14.5
14.5
14.5
14.5
100
100
100
99.95 100
100
100
100
1.30m
m
0.5mm
`1.3
1.3
1.3
1.25
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
99.99
4
1.294
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.45
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.494
%error
0.05%
0.0%
0.00006%
0.004
%
0.012
%
For 14 mm
1413.993
X 100 =0.05
14
( Xi)
For 14.5 mm
k=1
14.514.5
X 100 =0.0
14.5
= 2.241X10-3
2.801 X 104
For 100 mm
= 0.017 Answer
10099.994
X 100 =0.00006
100
For 1.30 mm
1.31.294
X 100 =0.004
1.3
For 0.5 mm
0.50.494
X 100 =0.012
0.5
Trial 3 (14.5-14.5)2 = 0
Trial 4 (14.55-14.5)2 = 2.5X10-3
Trial 5 (14.45-14.5)2 = 2.5X10-3
Trial 6 (14.5-14.5)2 = 0
Trial 6 (14.5-14.5)2 = 0
Trial 8 (14.5-14.5)2 = 0
-5
( Xi)
k=1
= 5X10-3
2.801 X 104
= 0.025 Answer
( Xi)
k=1
= 2.146X10
-3
2.682 X 104
= 0.016 answer
( Xi)
k=1
= 2.188X10-3
2.735 X 104
= 0.017 answer
( Xi)
-5
k=1
= 2.188X10-3
2.735 X 104
= 0.017 answer
MICROMETER
Actual
size
59.5
mm
63.5
mm
74.5
mm
Trial
1
Trial
2
Trial
3
Trial
4
Trial
5
Trial
6
Trial
7
Trial
8
Ave.
%error
59.50
59.51
59.44
59.49
59.48
59.48
59.49
59.50
59.486
0.024%
63.5
63.45
63.5
63.48
63.47
63.51
63.5
63.49
63.488
0.082%
74.5
74.5
74.46
74.49
74.48
74.49
74.49
74.48
74.486
51.21mm
`51.21
65.5
51.20
65.5
51.20
65.5
51.19
65.49
51.21
65.49
51.20
65.49
51.20
65.49
51.21
65.49
51.203
65.494
0.00006
%
0.004%
0.009%
65.5mm
For 59.5 mm
59.559.486
X 100 =0.024
59.5
For 51.21 mm
51.2151.203
X 100 =0.014
51.21
For 63.5 mm
63.563.448
X 100 =0.082
63.5
For 63.5 mm
65.565.494
X 100 =0.009
65.5
For 74.5 mm
74.574.446
X 100 =0.072
74.5
Computation for standard deviation
-4
( Xi)
k=1
= 1.284X10-3
1.605 X 104
= 0.013 Answer
-5
( Xi)
k=1
= 2.460 X10-3
3.076 X 104
= 0.018 Answer
( Xi)
k=1
= 1.076 X10-3
( Xi)
-6
k=1
-5
5.013 X 105
-6
= 4.01 X10-4
= 0.007 Answer
( Xi)
-5
k=1
-5
-5
= 3.68 X10-4
4.6 X 105
= 0.006 Answer
VIII.
It is very important for us engineering to students to know how to use this linear
measuring instruments because an engineer should also know the practical and the
work shop in our field of work. An engineer is not just someone who knows the theory
but someone who also knows the actual way of doing things. This experiment helps us
in expanding our knowledge in the field of instruments being used in our industry.
My only recommendation is that I wish we could have used other measuring
instruments because I already know how to use the caliper and micrometer way back in
my days in the college of industrial technology. I was expecting that we will use hicaliber/hi-tech measuring instruments just like what I saw in the company which I used
to go in my supervised industrial training.