The Vernier Caliper
Reading the caliper and
parts of the caliper
Parts of the Caliper
The Vernier Caliper
• The vernier caliper has two
main parts which has the scales
that the measurements are read
from.
• The main beam:this is the non
moving part of the unit and
contains the main scales, and
sub scales
• This then is called the main
scale, as the main numbers are
read here first.
The main scale
• The main scale runs the entire length
of the vernier caliper
• The scale is similar to the
micrometer
• There are usually two scales on the
main beam. The imperial,and metric
scales
• The imperial scale runs from 0-6
inches or may be longer the scale is
divided into 1 inch segments
• The main beam allows for three
numbers to be read(1) the whole
number full inches( 2) major
divisions e.g. 0.400 and ( 3) minor
divisions e.g. 0.025 or .050 these are
all read on the main beam scale
The main Beam
• The imperial scale has 1 inch
divisions which is divided into
1/10 th or 0.100 inches
– This scale is also subdivided into
four other segments(¼) or 0.025
inches
• This main beam scale is then
accurate to 0.025 inches.
• On the metric scale the
segments are arranged into
segments of 1cm or 10 mm
The main beam (metric)
• The main beam segments 1cm
is broken down by dividing 1 by
10 =1mm or 0.1 cm
• This scale will run up to 150
mm or 15cm or longer
• The measurements read here are
called the base measurements
and is accurate to 1mm, 0.1 cm
.They are as follows,1mm or 0.1
cm unlike the imperial scale
accuracy is at 1 decimal place.
The vernier Scale
• The vernier scale is the moving scale
that slides back and forth along the
beam
• This moving or sliding scale is a
subdivision of the smallest scale on
the main beam scale which is either
0.025 inches or 0.1 cm or 1mm.
• This scale contains the focal point
(0) which is where the readings are
taken from.
• This scale now is broken down into
segments by dividing 0.025 inches
by 25
• 0.025/25=0.001inches
• The metric scale of 1mm or 0.1cm is
broken down by 10 and is usually
accurate to 0.02mm or 0.05mm
• 1mm/10=.1mm or 0.01cm
The vernier scale
• This scale on the scale on the metric
vernier is accurate to 0.02mm or
0.05 based on the number of
segments
• The total length of the vernier scale
represents 1mm on the on the main
beam scale
• On the imperial vernier the scale is
broken down to read accurate to
0.001 inches and therefore the total
length of the vernier represents 1
segment of the main beam scale this
may be a 0-25 or 0-50 scale.
Reading the vernier
caliper
• The base measurement is read on
the main beam left to right of the( 0)
on the main beam scale read the
main scale.Use the vernier Zero (0)
AS THE FOCUS
• Look at the graduations on the
vernier scale to see which lines up
exactly with one on the main scale
then read the number on the vernier
scale not the main scale
• Add these two readings together then
check the reading
• The total is the measurement of the
vernier caliper