UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

Mechanical & Production Engineering Department.

Metrology Laboratory Work

Expt No 4: To test a straight edge using an auto-collimator

Objective

To give the student a proper understanding of the straightness measurement process.

The student is exposed to the instruments used for the detection of small angular
deviation and instructed in their use.

Equipment

Straight edge, micro-optic VA 900 autocollimator, plane reflector and carriage, Surface
plate.

Procedure
1. The straight edge may be tested either with its edge uppermost or lying on its
side on the surface plate. If on edge, it must be properly supported.
2. Place the straight edge (lying on its side) on the surface plate.
3. Set the carriage against the straight edge, and set the auto-collimator in such a
way that its beam is reflected from the carriage.
4. Mark off the straight edge with a pencil or in some other suitable manner to
show the consecutive positions of the carriage along its length.
5. These marks should be pitched at the separation of the centres of the feet of the
carriage.
6. Note the exact distance over the span of the feet of the carriage.
7. Place the carriage in the end position, nearest to the auto-collimator.
8. Switch on the lamp, and set the auto-collimator in line with the straight edge and
at such a height or position that its axis is approximately in line with the centre
of the reflector.
9. The auto-collimator must now be adjusted in position to receive the reflected
rays. This can be achieved by moving the reflector around until the reflected
image is seen and then judging how much the auto-collimator has to be moved
to see the image when the carriage is in its normal position. The angular field of
view is very narrow. Thus try to use the instrument barrel as a line of sight, to
direct the beam into the barrel.

1 HR/ August 2009

 10. Having found the image it should be approximately centred in the eyepiece and
a reading taken.
11. Move the carriage to each of its subsequent positions, taking a reading at each.
12. Repeat each reading as the carriage is moved back along the straight edge.

Results & Analysis

1. Record and tabulate (Table 1) all the readings of the angular deviations in the
forward and backward directions of the carriage along the straight edge.
2. Using an appropriate scale plot a graph of the mean value of the angular
deviation with the position of the carriage. Analyse and interpret the graph.
3. What is the resolution and range of the auto-collimator?
4. Explain the various problems encountered when performing the experiment, and
discuss the limitation(s) (if any) of this method.
5. What is the resolution on the eyepiece graticule for the vertical axis?
6. What is the resolution of the micrometer knob?
7. Explain two (2) industrial applications where the VA900 autocollimator can be
used for angular measurement.
8. If the straight edge was tested with its edge uppermost, explain what specific
procedure and precautions should have been taken.
9. Explain an alternate method of testing the straight edge.

Table 1
Position Auto-collimator reading (sec) Difference Slope Cumulative
Forward Reverse Mean from first differences values
reading
(sec)

2 HR/ August 2009