Paavai Institutions Department of Mechanical

UNIT I - BASICS OF METROLOGY

TECHNICAL TERMS:

Measurement: Measurement is the act, or the result, of a quantitative comparison between a

predetermined standard and an unknown magnitude.
Range: It represents the highest possible value that can be measured by an instrument.
Scale sensitivity: It is defined as the ratio of a change in scale reading to the corresponding change in
pointer deflection. It actually denotes the smallest change in the measured variable to which an instrument
responds.
True or actual value: It is the actual magnitude of a signal input to a measuring system which can only
be approached and never evaluated.
Accuracy: It is defined as the closeness with which the reading approaches an accepted standard value or
true value.
Precision: It is the degree of reproducibility among several independent measurements of the same true
value
Repeatability: It is defined as the closeness of agreement among the number of consecutive measurement
of the output for the same value of input under the same operating conditions. It may be specified in terms
of units for a given period of time.
Reliability: It is the ability of a system to perform and maintain its function in routine circumstances.
Consistency of a set of measurements or measuring instrument often used to describe a test.
Systematic Errors: A constant uniform deviation of the operation of an instrument is known as
systematic error. Instrumentation error, environmental error, Systematic error and observation error are
systematic errors.
Random Errors: Some errors result through the systematic and instrument errors are reduced or at least
accounted for. The causes of such errors are unknown and hence, the errors are called random errors.
Calibration: Calibration is the process of determining and adjusting an instruments accuracy to make
sure its accuracy is within the manufacturers specifications.

Paavai College of Engineering Prepared by: J.Kumaravel, AP/ Mechanical Engg

Paavai Institutions Department of Mechanical

TECHNICAL TERMS-Literal Meaning

Measurement: System of measuring.

Range: The area of variation between upper and lower limits on a particular scale.
Scale sensitivity: The quality or condition of being sensitive.
True or actual value: Accurate or exact.
Precision: The quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate.
Accuracy: The quality or state of being correct or precise.
Repeatability: A number that is unlikely to be exceeded by the difference between two Measurements.
Reliability: Perform a required function without failure under stated conditions.
Systematic Errors: An error having a non-zero mean, so that its effect is not reduced when Observations
are averaged.
Random Errors: An error in measurement caused by factors which vary from one Measurement to
another.
Calibration: The action or process of calibrating something.

Paavai College of Engineering Prepared by: J.Kumaravel, AP/ Mechanical Engg

Paavai Institutions Department of Mechanical

UNIT II - LINEAR AND ANGULAR MEASUREMENTS

TECHNICAL TERMS:

Comparators: Comparators are one form of linear measurement device which is quick and more
convenient for checking large number of identical dimensions.
Least count: The least value that can be measured by using any measuring instrument known as least
count. Least count of a mechanical comparator is 0.0 1 mm.
Caliper: Caliper is an instrument used for measuring distance between or over surfaces comparing
dimensions of work pieces with such standards as plug gauges, graduated rules etc.
Interferometer: They are optical instruments used for measuring flatness and determining the length of
the slip gauges by direct reference to the wavelength of light.
Sine bar: Sine bars are always used along with slip gauges as a device for the measurement of angles
very precisely.
Auto-collimator: Auto-collimator is an optical instrument used for the measurement of small angular
differences, changes or deflection, plane surface inspection etc.

TECHNICAL TERMS-Literal Meaning

Comparators: A device for comparing something measurable with a reference or standard.

Least count: The smallest value.
Caliper: An instrument for measuring external or internal dimensions.
Interferometer: An instrument in which wave interference is employed to make precise
measurements
Sine bar: A sine bar consists of a hardened, precision ground body with two precision ground
cylinders fixed at the ends.
Auto-collimator: Uses light to measure angles.

Paavai College of Engineering Prepared by: J.Kumaravel, AP/ Mechanical Engg

Paavai Institutions Department of Mechanical

UNIT III - ADVANCES IN METROLOGY

TECHNICAL TERMS:

Interferometer: Interferometer is optical instruments used for measuring flatness and determining
the lengths of slip gauges by direct reference to the wavelength of light.
Machine Vision: Machine vision can be defined as a means of simulating the image recognition and
analysis capabilities of the human system with electronic and electromechanical techniques.
Inspection: It is the ability of an automated vision system to recognize well-defined pattern and if
these pattern match these stored in the system makes machine vision ideal for inspection of raw
materials, parts, assemblies etc.
CMM: It is a three dimensional measurements for various components. These machines have precise
movement is x, y, z coordinates which can be easily controlled and measured. Each slide in three
directions is equipped with a precision linear measurement transducer which gives digital display and
senses positive and negative direction.
Axial Length Measuring Accuracy: It is defined as difference between the reference length of
gauges aligned with a machine axis and the corresponding measurement results from the machine.

TECHNICAL TERMS-Literal Meaning

Interferometer: Measurements of length of displacement in terms of the wavelength.

Machine Vision: Methods used to provide imaging-based automatic inspection.
Inspection: Careful examination or scrutiny.
CMM: Capability Maturity Model.
Axial Length Measuring Accuracy: Trueness refers to the closeness of the mean of axis.

Paavai College of Engineering Prepared by: J.Kumaravel, AP/ Mechanical Engg

Paavai Institutions Department of Mechanical

UNIT IV FORM MEASUREMENT

TECHNICAL TERMS:

Pitch: It is the distance measured parallel to the screw threads axis between the corresponding points
on two adjacent threads in the same axial plane. The basic pitch is equal to the lead divided by the
number of thread starts.
Lead: The axial distance advanced by the screw in one revolution is the lead.
Addendum: Radial distance between the major and pitch cylinders for external thread. Radial
distance between the minor and pitch cylinder for internal thread.
Dedendum: It is the radial distance between the pitch and minor cylinders for external thread. Also
radial distance between the major and pitch cylinders for internal thread.
Pressure angle (a): It is the angle making by the line of action with the common tangent to the pitch
circles of mating gears.
Module (m): It is the ratio of pitch circle diameter to the total number of teeth
Lead angle: It is the angle between the tangent to the helix and plane perpendicular to the axis of
cylinder.
Straightness: A line is said to be straight over a given length, if the variation of the distance of its
from two planes perpendicular to each other and parallel to the general direction of the line remains
within the specified tolerance limits
Roundness: It is defined as a condition of a surface of revolution. Where all points of the surface
intersected by any plane perpendicular to a common axis in case of cylinder and cone.

TECHNICAL TERMS-Literal Meaning

Pitch: The steepness of a slope, especially of a roof.

Lead: Be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction.
Addendum: An item of additional material added at the end of a book or other publication.
Dedendum: The radial distance from the pitch circle of a cogwheel

Paavai College of Engineering Prepared by: J.Kumaravel, AP/ Mechanical Engg

Paavai Institutions Department of Mechanical

Pressure Angle: The angle formed by the radial line and the line tangent to the profile at the pitch
point.
Module: Independent units that can be used to construct a more complex structure
Lead Angle: The angle between the helix and a plane of rotation.
Straightness: Lack of a tendency to curl.
Roundness: Measure of how closely the shape of an object approaches that of a circle.

Paavai College of Engineering Prepared by: J.Kumaravel, AP/ Mechanical Engg

Paavai Institutions Department of Mechanical

UNIT V - MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL PARAMETERS

TECHNICAL TERMS:

Force: The mechanical quantity which changes or tends to change the motion or shape of a body to
which it is applied
Load Cells: Load cells are devices for the force measurement through indirect methods
Torque: Torque can be defined as a measure of the tendency of a force to rotate the body on which it
acts about an axis.
Thermocouple: When two dissimilar metals are joined together, it will create an emf. It is primarily
a function of the junction temperature.
Flow meter: Flow meter is a device that measures the rate of flow or quantity of a moving fluid in an
open or closed conduit.
Thermometry: Thermometry is the science and practice of temperature measurement. Any
measurable change in a thermometric probe can be used to mark temperature levels that should later
be calibrated against an internationally agreed unit if the measure is to be related to other
thermodynamic variables.
Resistance Temperature Detectors: RTD as the name implies, are sensors used to measure
temperature by correlating the resistance of the RTD element with temperature.
Dynamometer: A dynamometer or "dyno" for short is a device used to measure power and torque
produced by an engine.

TECHNICAL TERMS-Literal Meaning

Force: Strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.

Load Cells: A transducer that is used to convert a force into an electrical signal
Torque: A force that tends to cause rotation.
Thermocouple: Device for measuring temperature,
Flow meter: An instrument used to measure linear, nonlinear, mass or volumetric flow rate of a
liquid or a gas.
Thermometry: A tool that measures temperature.
RTD: Amount of resistance change of the sensor per degree of temperature change.

Paavai College of Engineering Prepared by: J.Kumaravel, AP/ Mechanical Engg