The Sine Principle and Circular Division

ME 6225: Metrology & Measurement Systems

Dividing the Circle vs. the Sine Principle

Proof of any angle can be traced to

dividing the circle
the sine principle

Sine principle uses the ratio of two sides of a right
triangle in deriving a given angle
any scale may be employed, as the ratio of the sides is used

Dividing the circle is based upon the fact that the
circle can be divided into any equal number of parts
the accuracy of the circular division is proven when the circle is
closed.

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1
The Sine Bar

h
h

h
= sin 1

L
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Using A Sine Bar

Set-up sine bar

Identify low end of surface with indicators

Adjust gage block height by an amount equal to the
distance in the indicator readings multiplied by the
proportion of sine bar length to work length

Note this is only an approximation

Indicate this surface

h
h

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2
Using A Sine Bar

For example assume:

if end of work piece is 0.01 mm low
sine bar is 250 mm long
work piece is 100 mm long
gage block height increase is given by:

250 mm
0.01 mm = 0.25 mm
100 mm

h
h

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Sine Bar Limitations

Do not use sine bars for angles greater than 45

Large angles should be off-set by 90
set to the complement rather than the angle
datum to and angle plate known to be square to the table
surface.

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3
Other Sine Devices

Sine table

Sine center

h
h

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Taper Plug Gage

M2

DM

h H

M1

Ds
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4
 Sexagesimal System

Sexagesimal - units of 6

Credited to the ancient Babylonians

A circle has 360

1has 60

1 has 60

Special Triangles
30-60-90(proportion of 1-2-3)
equilateral 60-60-60

Factors for the number 360 are
1,2,3,4,6,8,9,10,12,15,18,20,24,30,36,40,45,60,90,120,180,360

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Dividing the Circle

Set dividers to nominal value

March around the circle
dividing it into N sectors

Determine the amount of error
generated after the circle is
closed

Change the span of the
dividers by the error divided
by N

Repeat marching procedure.

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5
 Circular Division for Mapping

Pick a master sector

Set the dividers to that
sectors arc length L A

March around the circle K B

Track the error of each
individual sector as well as J C
the cumulative sector

Determine the error of the D
I
master sector by dividing the
overall error by the number of
sectors H E

Determine the error of the G F
other sectors by using the
master sector error in
conjunction with the individual
errors recorded per sector.
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