Height gauge

HEIGHT GAUGES: BASIC INTRODUCTION

• Height gauge, also called Vernier height gauge, is a widely used bench top tool.

• A height gauge is a measuring device used either for determining the height of something, or for repetitious marking of items.

• It is much more capable than calipers but not as complex as a coordinate measuring machine (CMM).

• Vernier height gauges, however, greatly rely on users’ skill.• The first electronic height gauge emerged during the mid-

1980s. • These measuring tools are used in metalworking or metrology

to either set or measure vertical distances.

BASIC CONSTRUCTION• A height gauge has a vertical column.• A unit is attached to this column which slides up and down. • An arm protrudes from the gauge coming into direct contact

with the part being measured.• Each height gauge features a solid base giving the vertical

column enough stability that it remains at a right angle to the table’s surface.

• The moving slide is engraved with vernier calibrations enabling setting to an accuracy of 0.02 mm

• The height of the scribe’s point can be finely adjusted with a thumbscrew .

SIMPLE DIAL HEIGHT GAUGE

SIMPLE VERNIER HEIGHT GAUGE

DIGITAL HEIGHT GAUGES

Applications

• These are used to mark out lines and widely used on surface plates and on machine tables.

• The height gauge with an indicator attachment is used for

checking of surface holes. • The height gauge with a scribe attachment is used to mark

reference lines and locations on castings and forgings.

Working• The work to be marked out with a vernier height gauge must be set

vertically on a surface plate.• The height of the scribe is set with the moving slide’s fine adjusting screw.• The marking out lines are then scribed onto the work’s surface by steadily

moving the vernier height gauge along the surface plate .• On some vernier height gauges, the height of the main scale can also be

finely adjusted.• This enables measurements to start from a convenient reading, which is

useful if the shape of the workpiece is such that it needs to be mounted on a parallel strip .

OTHER TYPES• Digital dial height gauge: It is like a dial height

gauge, but with a counter for more precise measurement.

• Electronic digital height gauge. A height gauge featuring a digital display of measurements. – These units can also include features such as instant inch-

to-millimeter conversion, a hold option that temporarily saves your measurements and the ability to set any position to zero.

DIGITAL / ELECTRONIC GAUGES High specification electronic height gauges can carry

out different measuring tasks including step heights, internal/external diameters and centre-line distances. The electronic height gauge is extremely precise up to 0.001in. and claims consistency of ±0.0001in.

The digital height gauge is made from high quality, hardened stainless steel. It comprises a solid cast iron base which is robust to ensure rigidity and stability of the instrument; and extending from the base up is the beam which includes a printed scale in both imperial and metric format.

ELECTRONIC HEIGHT GAUGE

• Usually, imperial digital scales range from 0 to 12 inches while the metric scale ranges from 0 mm to 300 mm. They can even measure up to 80 inches or 2000mm.

• An electronic measuring slider is mounted on the beam .• The slider comes with a carbide scriber tip on one of the jaws.

The slider together with the attached scriber can slide up and down along the scale and be locked in place.

• There is also a data output port where by the data can be sent to a computer or a printer via a special cable.

PREPATORY STEPS• To use and read the digital height gauge

correctly, follow these general steps below:• Step1: Clean the working platform and put

the digital height gauge on it.

PREPATORY STEPS contd. …

• Step 2: Dry the surface of the protective sticker of the digital height gauge.

PREPATORY STEPS contd. …

• Step3: Fix the measuring jaw of the digital height gauge

PREPATORY STEPS contd. …

• Step 4: Loosen the locking screw of the height gauge

.

PREPATORY STEPS contd. …

• Step 5: Move the slider to check if the LCD displays and all the buttons work properly.

TAKING MEASUREMENTS• Step 1: Usually the point of measurement is the working

surface of the platform. Make the measuring jaw and platform surface gently touch (measuring force: 3-5N), the value on the LCD should be 0, or press ON/OFF/ZERO button to make it 0.

TAKING MEASUREMENTS contd. …

• Step 2: Hold the rod against the surface plate and adjust the movable jaw to the nearest centimeter or inch.

TAKING MEASUREMENTS contd. …

• Step3: Get the reading from the large LCD screen directly. As shown, it is 13.52mm here.