How to use and read a vernier caliper？

An ordinary vernier caliper has jaws you can place around an object, and on the other side jaws made to fit
inside an object. These secondary jaws are for measuring the inside diameter of an object. Also, a stiff bar
extends from the caliper as you open it that can be used to measure depth.

The basic steps are as follows:

1. Preparation to take the measurement, loosen the locking screw and move the slider to check if the vernier
scale works properly. Before measuring, do make sure the caliper reads 0 when fully closed. If the reading is not
0, adjust the caliper’s jaws until you get a 0 reading. If you can’t adjust the caliper, you will have to remember to
add to subtract the correct offset from your final reading. Clean the measuring surfaces of both vernier caliper
and the object, then you can take the measurement.

2. Close the jaws lightly on the item which you want to measure. If you are measuring something round, be sure
the axis of the part is perpendicular to the caliper. Namely, make sure you are measuring the full diameter. An
ordinary caliper has jaws you can place around an object, and on the other side jaws made to fit inside an object.
These secondary jaws are for measuring the inside diameter of an object. Also, a stiff bar extends from the
caliper as you open it that can be used to measure depth.

3. How to read the measured value:

1), Read the centimeter mark on the fixed scale to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale. (10mm on the fixed
caliper)

2). Find the millimeter mark on the fixed scale that is just to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale. (6mm on
the fixed caliper)
3). Look along the ten marks on the vernier scale and the millimeter marks on the adjacent fixed scale, until you
find the two that most nearly line up. (0.25mm on the vernier scale)

4). To get the correct reading, simply add this found digit to your previous reading. (10mm + 6mm + 0.25mm=
16.25 mm)
Using the vernier calipers and micrometer screw gauge

The precision of length measurements may be increased by using a device that uses a sliding
vernier scale. Two such instruments that are based on a vernier scale which you will use in the
laboratory to measure lengths of objects are the vernier callipers and the micrometer screw
gauge. These instruments have a main scale (in millimetres) and a sliding or rotating vernier
scale. In figure 1 below, the vernier scale (below) is divided into 10 equal divisions and thus the
least count of the instrument is 0.1 mm. Both the main scale and the vernier scale readings are
taken into account while making a measurement. The main scale reading is the first reading on the
main scale immediately to the left of the zero of the vernier scale (3 mm), while the vernier scale
reading is the mark on the vernier scale which exactly coincides with a mark on the main scale
(0.7 mm). The reading is therefore 3.7 mm.
Figure 1 : The reading here is 3.7 mm.

Figure 1 : The reading here is 15.8 mm.

The vernier calipers

The vernier calipers found in the laboratory incorporates a main scale and a sliding vernier scale
which allows readings to the nearest 0.02 mm. This instrument may be used to measure outer
dimensions of objects (using the main jaws), inside dimensions (using the smaller jaws at the
top), and depths (using the stem).

Figure 3: The vernier calipers

To measure outer dimensions of an object, the object is placed between the jaws, which are then
moved together until they secure the object. The screw clamp may then be tightened to ensure
that the reading does not change while the scale is being read.

The first significant figures are read immediately to the left of the zero of the vernier scale and the
remaining digits are taken as the vernier scale division that lines up with any main scale division.

Some examples:
Note that the important region of the vernier scale is enlarged in the upper right hand corner of
each figure.
Figure 4: The reading is 37.46 mm.

In figure 4 above, the first significant figures are taken as the main scale reading to the left of the
vernier zero, i.e. 37 mm. The remaining two digits are taken from the vernier scale reading that
lines up with any main scale reading, i.e. 46 on the vernier scale. Thus the reading is 37.46 mm.

Figure 5: The reading is 34.60 mm.

In figure 5 above, the first significant figures are taken as the main scale reading to the left of the
vernier zero, i.e. 34 mm. The remaining two digits are taken from the vernier scale reading that
lines up with any main scale reading, i.e. 60 on the vernier scale. Note that the zero must be
included because the scale can differentiate between fiftieths of a millimetre. Therefore the reading
is 34.60 mm.
Figure 6: The reading is 40.00 mm.

In figure 6 the zero and the ten on the vernier scale both line up with main scale readings,
therefore the reading is 40.00 cm.

Try the following for yourself.

Figure 7: The reading is 30.88 mm

Figure 8: The reading is 8.10 mm

Figure 9: The reading is 121.68 mm

The micrometer screw gauge

The micrometer screw gauge is used to measure even smaller dimensions than the vernier
callipers. The micrometer screw gauge also uses an auxiliary scale (measuring hundredths of a
millimetre) which is marked on a rotary thimble. Basically it is a screw with an accurately constant
pitch (the amount by which the thimble moves forward or backward for one complete revolution).
The micrometers in our laboratory have a pitch of 0.50 mm (two full turns are required to close
the jaws by 1.00 mm). The rotating thimble is subdivided into 50 equal divisions. The thimble
passes through a frame that carries a millimetre scale graduated to 0.5 mm. The jaws can be
adjusted by rotating the thimble using the small ratchet knob. This includes a friction clutch which
prevents too much tension being applied. The thimble must be rotated through two revolutions to
open the jaws by 1 mm.

Figure 10: The micrometer screw gauge

In order to measure an object, the object is placed between the jaws and the thimble is rotated
using the ratchet until the object is secured. Note that the ratchet knob must be used to secure
the object firmly between the jaws, otherwise the instrument could be damaged or give an
inconsistent reading. The manufacturer recommends 3 clicks of the ratchet before taking the
reading. The lock may be used to ensure that the thimble does not rotate while you take the
reading.
The first significant figure is taken from the last graduation showing on the sleeve directly to the
left of the revolving thimble. Note that an additional half scale division (0.5 mm) must be included
if the mark below the main scale is visible between the thimble and the main scale division on the
sleeve. The remaining two significant figures (hundredths of a millimetre) are taken directly from
the thimble opposite the main scale.

Figure 11: The reading is 7.38 mm.

In figure 11 the last graduation visible to the left of the thimble is 7 mm and the thimble lines up
with the main scale at 38 hundredths of a millimetre (0.38 mm); therefore the reading is 7.38
mm.

Figure 12: The reading is 7.72 mm.

In figure 12 the last graduation visible to the left of the thimble is 7.5 mm; therefore the reading is
7.5 mm plus the thimble reading of 0.22 mm, giving 7.72 mm.
Figure 13: The reading is 3.46 mm.

In figure 13 the main scale reading is 3 mm while the reading on the drum is 0.46 mm; therefore,
the reading is 3.46 mm.

Figure 14: The reading is 3.56 mm.

In figure 14 the 0.5 mm division is visible below the main scale; therefore the reading is 3.5 mm +
0.06 mm = 3.56 mm.

Try the following for yourself.

Figure 15: The reading is 5.80 mm

Figure 16: The reading is 3.09 mm

Figure 17: The reading is 0.29 mm

Taking a zero reading

Whenever you use a vernier calipers or a micrometer screw gauge you must always take a zero
reading i.e. a reading with the instrument closed. This is because when you close your calipers,
you will see that very often (not always) it does not read zero. Only then open the jaws and place
the object to be measured firmly between the jaws and take the open reading. Your actual
measurement will then be the difference between your open reading and your zero reading.

Recording the result of your vernier measurement

Let us say you take a reading with an object between the jaws of a vernier calipers and you see
the following:

Say that you decide that the best estimate of the reading l 1 is 37.46 mm.

What about the standard uncertainty u(l1) in this reading?

Using a triangular probability density function, you might decide that you are 100% sure that the
reading is not 37.42 mm and 100% sure that the reading is not 37.50 mm.

Then mm = 0.0163 mm

When you remove the object and read the vernier calipers with the jaws closed, you might decide
that the best estimate of the "closed" reading l0 = 0.04 mm with standard uncertianty u(l 0) =
0.0204 mm