Simple Calipers

Simple calipers are used in conjunction with a scale or rule to determine the thickness or the diameter of a
surface, or the distance between surfaces.
The adjustment for measuring is made by opening and closing the legs by means of turning an adjusting
nut/screw.

The calipers most commonly used are:

 Outside Calipers: used for measuring outside diameters. They are bow-legged.

 Inside Calipers: used for measuring internal diameters. They have straight legs with the feet turned
outward.

Measuring Diameter of Round Object or Thickness of a Flat Object using Outside Calipers:
 Outside Calipers are used to measure the diameter of round object or the thickness of a flat object.
 Open the calipers wide then set the caliper over the diameter being measured.
 Adjust the opening so that you feel a slight drag as you pass it over the object.
 Now, measure the setting of the caliper with a rule.
 In reading the measurement, make sure the caliper is set squarely with the face of the rule (avoid
parallax error).

Simple Calipers Prepared By: Ms. Urooj Fatima

Measuring Internal Diameter or Distance between Two Surfaces Using Internal Calipers:

 Inside Calipers are used to measure internal diameters and distances between two surfaces
 First set the caliper to the approximate distance being measured.
 Hold the caliper with one leg in contact with one end of the surface being measured. Then increase
the opening of the caliper, moving from left to right. Feel for the slight drag indicating the proper
setting of the caliper.
 Then, remove the caliper and measure the setting with a rule.

Simple Calipers Prepared By: Ms. Urooj Fatima