Vernier Calipers

A vernier caliper is a highly accurate measuring instrument. It has a reading accuracy

in hundredths of a millimeter and can measure outside dimensions, inside dimensions
and depth dimensions. Below is an example of the versatility of the vernier caliper when
making measurements for replacing a valve insert in the cylinder head.

The vernier caliper external jaws can measure outside diameters, thickness and length.

Figure 21: Measuring outside diameter

Internal jaws can be used to measure gaps and internal diameters.

Figure 22: Measuring inside diameter

The depth gauge measures steps, heights, and the depth of holes or recesses.

Figure 23: Measuring depth

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 Types of Calipers
1. Vernier scale calipers.
2. Dial type calipers.
3. Digital type calipers.

Shown following are the three types of calipers used in the automotive industry.

Figure 24: The vernier caliper

Figure 25: The dial type caliper

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 Figure 26: The digital type caliper

The vernier caliper

This type of caliper is called a vernier caliper because it makes use of a vernier scale,
The vernier scale is marked on the sliding jaw of the caliper.

The vernier scale is right beside the main scale, which is marked on the frame of
the caliper.

Inside jaws

Frames

Main scale

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

mm

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

.02mm

Vernier scale

Sliding jaw

Outside jaws

Figure 27: Parts of the vernier caliper

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 Main scale

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

mm

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

.02mm
Vernier scale

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

.02mm

Figure 28: Main scale and vernier scale

The main scale is marked in millimetres, just like an ordinary rule.

The vernier scale is marked to show fractions of a millimetre.

This vernier scale shows 50 divisions. Each division or graduation represents 0.02
millimetres.

This is the limit of accuracy for this vernier. Other verniers may measure to only 0.05mm.

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 Measuring with a vernier caliper

View the video/CD ‘Vernier Caliper’

Before using a vernier caliper note that when the jaws are closed, the main scale zero
marks lines up exactly with the vernier zero mark.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

mm

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

.02mm

Figure 29: Checking accuracy of a vernier caliper

Accurate measuring with a vernier caliper takes practice. It is important to get the right
“feel” when you measure something.

The jaws should not be too tight or too loose – sometimes it helps to gently “rock” the jaws
as you adjust them.

Lock the jaws after taking a measurement, so that the setting doesn’t change accidentally.
Then double check the setting.

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 Lock

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

.02mm

Figure 30: Measuring

As the jaws are opened, the vernier zero moves away from the main zero.

The size of the measurement is the distance between the two zero marks.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Figure 31: Measuring with a vernier caliper

The first step in reading the vernier caliper is to note the number of whole millimetres
between the two zero marks.

In the example below, the jaws are open just a little bit more than 27 millimetres. The
number of whole millimetres shown is 27.

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 0 10 20 30 40

0 1 2 3 4

.02mm

Figure 32: Reading whole millimetres

In the next diagram, the opening is between 13 and 14mm. The number of whole
millimetres shown is 13.

0 10 20 30 40

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

.02mm

Figure 33: Reading 13 whole millimetres

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 Reading fractions of a millimetre
After reading the whole millimetre scale, the next step in reading a vernier caliper is to
work out the measurement to the nearest 0.02 of a millimetre (0.02mm).

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

?
.02mm

Figure 34: Reading parts of a millimetre

To do this, you need to remember that the vernier scale:

•• is numbered from 0 to 10.
•• has 50 divisions
•• each division represents 0.02mm.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

.02mm

Figure 35: Each division equals .02mm

38 © Australian Automotive Centre of Excellence, 2015 Version 1/2015 AURTTK2001 | Use & Maintain Measuring Equipment
 Look at this example: the caliper opening is between 66 and 67 millimetres – the
measurement is ‘66 point something.”

You must be able to find out what that “point something” is, so that you can add it to the 66
whole millimetres.

Main scale

50 60 70 80

0 1 2 3
Vernier graduations

Figure 36: Reading parts of a millimetre

Lining up the graduations

Look very carefully along the graduations on the vernier scale until you find a vernier
graduation which lines up exactly with a main scale graduation.

Figure 37: Looking for graduation alignment

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 The following diagram shows graduation alignment. This lined-up vernier graduation will
tell you what fraction of a millimetre to add to the whole millimetre reading.

100 110

6 7 8 9 10

Figure 38: Alignment of graduations

Value of the vernier reading

To find the value of the lined-up vernier graduation, just imagine that the vernier scale
reads from 0 to 100, counting by two’s.

This allows you to read the exact measurement as a decimal fraction, straight off
the scale.

0 10
_ 20
_ 30
_ 40
_ 50
_ 60
_ 70
_ 80
_ 90
_ 100
_

.02mm

Figure 39: Reading vernier scale

In our example, the number of the lined-up graduation is 78. You should read this as
point 78 – that is, the vernier reading is 0.78mm.

100 110

60
_ 70
_ 80
_ 90
_ 100
_
78

Figure 40: Vernier scale reads .78mm

40 © Australian Automotive Centre of Excellence, 2015 Version 1/2015 AURTTK2001 | Use & Maintain Measuring Equipment
 66
60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

.78
.02mm

Figure 41: Vernier scale read 66.78mm

The total measurement is: 66mm plus 0.78mm or 66 + 0.78 = 66.78mm

The final measurement is 66.78mm

In the example below the whole millimetre reading on the main scale is 43mm.

The “lined-up” vernier graduation indicates 0.24mm.

So the total reading is: 43 + 0.24 = 43.24mm.

43
30 40 50 60 70

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
.24
.02mm

Figure 42: Vernier scale read 43.24mm

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