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Whitworth's Three Plates Method Explained

This document discusses reference planes and their importance in precision measurement. It provides background on how Sir Joseph Whitworth invented the first practical method for creating flat surfaces in 1830. Several key terms are defined, including flatness, which is the evenness of a surface compared to a perfect plane. Modern reference planes often use surface plates, and techniques like the three plate method are discussed for verifying flatness and perpendicularity. Factors like how precisely "flat" needs to be defined are also covered.

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191 views11 pages

Whitworth's Three Plates Method Explained

This document discusses reference planes and their importance in precision measurement. It provides background on how Sir Joseph Whitworth invented the first practical method for creating flat surfaces in 1830. Several key terms are defined, including flatness, which is the evenness of a surface compared to a perfect plane. Modern reference planes often use surface plates, and techniques like the three plate method are discussed for verifying flatness and perpendicularity. Factors like how precisely "flat" needs to be defined are also covered.

Uploaded by

itiseasy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Reference Planes

Alessandro Anzalone, Ph.D.

Hillsborough Community College, Brandon Campus

Reference Planes

Sections:
1. Background
2. Flatness
3 Perpendicularity
3.
4. Modem Reference Planes
5. How Flat Is Flat
6. References

1
Background

Sir Joseph Whitworth (1803-1887)

Joseph
J h Whit
Whitworth th invented
i t d th
the fi
firstt practical
ti l method
th d off making
ki and
d
polishing accurate flat surfaces in 1830. This used engineer's blue and
three trial surfaces. This led to an explosion of development of
precision instruments using his flat surfaces as a basis for further
construction of precise shapes.

Flatness

Flatness, the evenness or levelness of a surface, is the


degree to which the reference plane corresponds to the
theoretically perfect plane. These surfaces, whether large or
small,
ll are often
f called
ll d “d
“datum planes,”
l ” and
d the
h most
important one is the surface plate.

2
The Three Plate Method

The Three Plate Method

3
The Three Plate Method

The Three Plate Method

4
Perpendicularity

Perpendicularity

5
Perpendicularity

Modem Reference Planes

6
Modem Reference Planes

Modem Reference Planes

7
Modem Reference Planes

Modem Reference Planes

8
How Flat Is Flat

How Flat Is Flat

9
How Flat Is Flat

How Flat Is Flat

10
References

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11

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