CHAPTER

Angular Measurement
• Angular measurements are frequently necessary for the manufacture
of interchangeable parts.

• The ships and aero planes can navigate confidently without the help
of the sight of the land, only because of precise angular
measurement.
Precise angular measuring devices can be used in astronomy to
determine the relation of the stars and their approximate distances.
 Introduction
• The angle is defined as the opening between two lines which meet
at a point.
• Circle is divided into 360 parts, each part is called a degree ( º).
• Each degree is divided in 60 minutes ( ') and each minute into 60
Seconds ( “)
• Unit of angle derived from theoretical considerations is the radian,
defined as the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc
length equal to radius of circle.

• The general formula for converting from degrees to radians is to

π
simply multiply the number of degree by o
180
• The general formula for converting from radians to degrees to
180𝑜
simply multiply the number of degree by
𝜋
What are Radians?
What is Radian?
 Angle Measurement Instrument
 Line Standard Angular Measuring Devices
• Protractors
• Universal Bevel Protractors
 Face Standard Angular Measuring Devices
• Sine bar
• Sine Center
 Measurement of Inclines
• Spirit Level
• Clinometer
 Angle Comparators
• Autocollimators
 Vernier Bevel protractor
• The simplest instrument for measuring the angle between two faces of
component.
• Main scale on the protractor is divided into degrees from 0 to 90 each
way.
• The ordinary bevel protractor
with Vernier scale can read to
2.5 minutes accuracy and
optical protractor is accurate to
2 minutes.
• These are usually not adequate
for metrological work and for
high precision work to within a
few seconds.
Vernier Bevel protractor
Measuring AcuteAngles

Measuring Obtuse Angles

Vernier Bevel protractor

• As shown in the main scale is

graduated in degrees of arc.
• The Vernier scale has 12 Divisions
each side of the centre zero.
• These are marked 0-60 minutes of arc, so that each division equals 1/12 of
60, that is 5 minutes of arc.
• These 12 divisions occupy the same space as 23 degrees on the main scale.
Therefore, each division of the Vernier is equal to
Vernier Bevel protractor
Vernier Bevel protractor

32 Degrees 30 minutes
Vernier Bevel protractor
85 Degrees

30 Minutes

66 Degrees
 Optical bevel protractor
• A circle divided at 1.0 minutes intervals throughout the circle is
fitted inside the body.
• Small microscope is fitted through which the circle graduations
can be viewed.
• Adjustable blade is clamped to a rotating member which carries its
microscope.
Combination Set
Combination Set
Combination Set
 Sine Bars
A precision angle measuring instrument used along with slip gauges for the
measurement of angles.
Uses:
1. To measure angles very accurately
2. To locate the work piece to a given angle within very close limits.
• It consists of a steel bar and two rollers.
• The sine bar is made of High carbon, high
chromium corrosion resistant steel,
suitably hardened, precision ground and
stabilized.
• The rollers are of accurate and equal
diameters.
• The normal distance between the axes of
the rollers is exactly 100mm, 200 mm or
300 mm.

• For A grade type accuracy up to 0.01mm/m length of sine bar can be

obtained and for B grade, an accuracy of 0.02 mm/m of length can be
obtained.
 Types
It is most commonly used form in which the
rollers are so arranged that their outer
surfaces on one side are level with the plane
top surface of the sine bar.

It has hollow rollers whose outside diameter

is equal to width of sine bar and is used
where the width of the sine bar enters into
calculation of work height.

A sine bar with pins on both sides. It is

used where ordinary type can’t be used on
the top surface due to interruption.
• Figure shows a sine bar which is generally preferred as the distance
between rollers can be arranged exactly.
• The holes are drilled in the body of the sine bar to make it lighter
and to facilitate handling.
• Figure shows the nomenclature for sine bars as
recommended by IS: 5359 – 1969.
 Principle of Sine bar

ℎ
sin 𝜃 =
𝐿
The angle to be measured or to be set is
ℎ
∴ 𝜃 = sin−1 determined by indirect method as a
𝐿 function of sine. For this reason the
device is called a ‘sine bar’.
Accuracy requirements of a sine bar
 Use of Sine bar
1) Locating any work to a given angle.
2) Checking or measuring unknown angles.
a) When component is of small size
b) When the component is of large size/heavy.
1) Locating any work to a given angle.

• One roller of the sine bar is placed on the surface plate and a
combination of slip gauges is inserted under the second roller.

• For better results,

both the rollers could
also be placed on slip
gauges of height h1
and h2 respectively.

ℎ1 − ℎ2
sin 𝜃 =
𝐿
2) Checking or measuring unknown angles.
a) When component is of small size

• For measuring unknown angle it is

necessary to first find the angle
approximately with the help of a bevel
protractor.
• The sine bar is then set up at that nominal
(approximate) angle on a surface plate by
suitable combination of slip gauges.
• The component to be checked is placed
over the surface of the sine bar (if
necessary the component may be clamped
with the angle plate).
• The perfect adjustment of slip gauge combination requires too much
time, so the variation in the parallelism of the upper surface of the
component and the surface plate indicated by the dial gauge is
converted into corresponding angular variation.
• If ‘dx’ is the variation in parallelism over a distance ‘x’ the
𝑑𝑥
corresponding variation in angle, 𝑑θ = sin−1
𝑥
ℎ
• And the approximate or nominal angle, 𝜃 = sin−1
𝐿
ℎ 𝑑𝑥
• Therefore, actual angle = 𝜃 ± 𝑑𝜃 = sin−1 ± sin−1
𝐿 𝑥

dx
• A 100 mm sine bar is to be set up to an angle of 33o, determine the
slip gauges needed from 87 pieces set.

𝐻 = 𝐿 sin 𝜃
Where L = distance between roller centers
= 100 mm
and 𝜃 = 33𝑜
Therefore, h = 100 sin 33o = 54.464 mm
 2) When the component is of large size/heavy

• Height over the rollers can be measured by a vernier height gauge; using a dial
test gauge mounted on the anvil of height gauge to ensure constant measuring
pressure.
• This is achieved by adjusting the height gauge until the dial gauge shows the
same zero reading each time
Another Method
Lathe Setting for Taper Turning
 Sine bars
• Advantages of sine bar
1. It is precise and accurate angle measuring device.
2. It is simple in design and construction.
3. It is easily available
• Limitations of Sine bar
1. It is fairly reliable at angles less than 15 but become
increasingly inaccurate as the angle increases. It is
impractical to use sine bar for angle above 45 .
2. It is difficult to handle and position the slip gauges.
3. The sine bar is physically clumsy to hold in position.
4. The application is limited for a fixed center distance
between two rollers.
5. Slight errors of the sine bar cause larger angular errors.
 Sources of error in Sine Bars
• The different sources of errors in angular measurement by a sine bar
are:
• Error in distance between roller centers.
• Error in slip gauge combination used for angle setting.
• Error in parallelism between the gauging surface and plane of roller
axes.
• Error in equality of size of rollers and cylindrical accuracy in the
form of rollers.
• Error in parallelism of roller axes with each other.
• Error in flatness of the upper surface of the bar.
 Sine Center
• Sine center is basically a sine bar with block holding centers which
can be adjusted and rigidly clamped in any position. used for the
testing of conical work, centered at each end as shown.
• Extremely useful since the alignment accuracy of the centers
ensures that the correct line of measurement is made along the
workpiece.
• The centers can also be adjusted depending on the length of the
conical work piece, to be hold between centers.
Sine Centre
 Sine Tables
The sine table is the most convenient and accurate design for heavy
work piece.
Heavy duty sine tables (plates) are rugged enough to hold parts for the
machining of angles as well as for the inspection of parts.
 Angle Gauge
• Angle gauges are made of hardened steel and seasoned carefully to
ensure permanence of angular accuracy, and the measuring faces are
lapped and polished to a high degree of accuracy and flatness like
slip gauges.

• Developed by Dr. Tomilson in 1941,

which enable any angle to be set to the
nearest 3’’.
 Angle Gauges
• Like linear gauge blocks, angle gauge blocks can also be
wrung together to build up a desired angle.
• In addition, they can also be subtracted to form a smaller angle
as a difference of two larger angles as shown in Figure.
• The plus and minus ends of each block are marked.
• Angle gauges are 75 mm long and 16 mm wide and are available in
two sets.
• One set consists of 12 pieces and a square block, in three series of
values of angle viz.
 Angle Gauge
Another set contains 13 pieces and square block
Angle Gauge
• An angle of 33o – 9’ – 15’’ is to be measured
with the help of the following standard angle
gauges:
• [1o, 3o,9o,27o,41o] , [1’, 3’,9’,27’],
[3’’,6’’,18’’,30’’]
 Spirit Level

low viscosity fluids

the vial is graduated in linear units
 Spirit Levels
Used for
1) Measuring small angle or inclinations
2) To determine the position of surface with respect to the
horizontal position and
3) To establish a horizontal datum

Consists of sealed glass tube mounted on a base

Inside surface of the tube is ground to a convex barrel shape having
large radius
Tube is nearly filled with
Either ether or alcohol,
Except a small air or vapour
In the form of bubble.
Principle
 Clinometers

A clinometer is a spirit level mounted on a rotary member.

The angle of inclination of the rotary member relative to its base can be
measured by a circular scale.

The various types of clinometers are:

Vernier clinometer
micrometer clinometer
dial clinometer
optical clinometer
  The clinometers is a special
Clinometers case of the application of the
spirit level. It is an
instrument used for
measuring angle relative to
the horizontal plane.

• It consists of a spirit level mounted on a rotary

member carried in a housing.
• One face of the housing forms the base of the
instrument.
• A circular scale is provided on the housing. A
circular scale is used to measure the angle of
inclination of the rotary member relative to the
base.
• The scale may cover the whole circle or only part
of it.
• The base of the instrument is placed on the surface
and rotary member is adjusted till zero reading of
the bubble is obtained as shown in Fig.
The angle of rotation is then noted on the circular
•
scale against an index.
Clinometers
Clinometers
 Micro meter • Micrometer clinometers is shown
in Fig. In this type, one end of
Clinometers spirit level is attached at end of
the barrel of a micrometer

• The other end of the spirit level is

hinged on the base. The base is
placed on the surface whose
inclination is to be measured.

• The micrometer is adjusted till

the level is horizontal. This type of
clinometers is suitable for
measuring small angles.

• The most commonly used clinometers is of the Hilger and Walts type in
which circular, scale is totally enclosed and is divided from 0 to 360 at l0'
interval. For observation of 10‘-subdivision optical micrometer is
provided..
Clinometers
• Clinometers are used for checking included angles, relief
angles as well as angular faces on large cutting tools and
milling cutter inserts.

• Also be used for setting inclinable tables on jig boring

machines and angular work on grinding machines etc..
 Auto-Collimator
• It is an optical instrument used for the measurement of small angular
differences, changes of deflection, Plane surface inspection etc.
 Principle of Working
If a light source is placed in the focus of a collimating lens, it is
projected as a parallel beam of light.
 Applications of auto-collimator
These are used for
• The measurement of straightness and flatness of surfaces
• Precise angular indexing in conjunction with polygons
• Comparative measurement using master angles
• Assessment of squareness and parallelism of components
• The measurement of small linear dimensions, and
• For machine tool adjustment setting etc…
 Angle Dekkor
• It is a small variation of the auto-collimator.
• Essentially used as a comparator and measures the change in angular
position of the reflector in two planes.
• The scales usually measure up to an accuracy of 1’
 Applications of angle Dekkor

• Measurement of sloping angle of V-blocks

• Calibration of taper gauges

• Measurement of angles of conical parts

• Measurement of angles of work part surfaces, which are

simultaneously inclined in two planes

• Determination of a precise angular setting for machining operations,

for example, milling a slot at some precise angle to a previously
machined datum surface.
Taper Measurement
 Taper Measurement
• Precision balls and rollers are used for determining both linear and
angular dimensions in conjunction with gauge blocks.
• The length of roller is equal to the diameter.
• Made of good quality steel and are hardened.
• The balls and rollers are available in sizes ranging from 1 to 25
mm diameter.
 External Taper Measurement
Checking the angle of taper using rollers, micrometer and slip
gauges.
Taper Plug gauge
Micrometer
 To check the angle of a taper hole

𝜃 𝑟2 − 𝑟1
𝑠𝑖𝑛 =
2 ℎ2 − ℎ1 − 𝑟2 + 𝑟1
Internal Taper Measurement with unequal balls
Calculate the angle of taper and minimum diameter of an internal taper
from the following readings:
Diameter of bigger ball – 10.25 mm
Diameter of smaller ball – 6.07 mm
Height of top of bigger ball from datum – 30.13 mm
Height of top of smaller ball from datum = 10.08 mm

Angle = 13.3652 degrees

Minimum diameter of internal taper = 4.43 mm

Dove Tail Check
Dovetail check
Measuring external dovetail

𝐿2 − 𝐿1
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃 =
2ℎ