Use of Dividers

Use And Care Of Handtools And Measuring Tools
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The standard 3 inch slide caliper will measure from 0 to about 2 inches

outside, and from 1/8 inch to a little more than 2 inches inside.

The

caliper shown has a mark or graduation line on the fixed jaw, which enables

the user to read the inside measure, while the outside measure can be read

directly from the inner edge of the fixed jaw. If these marks were not on

the slide caliper, it would be necessary to add the thickness of the nibs to

the reading when using it as an inside caliper.

All slide calipers are

equipped with a locking device which makes it possible to hold the jaws in

any desired position. On the other side of the instrument is an ordinary

rule.

c. Use of Dividers. In setting a divider to a dimension on a scale,

the usual procedure is to locate one point in one of the inch graduations of

the rule and to adjust the nut or screw so that the other point falls easily

into the correct graduation (figure 179, view A, on the following page).

Make sure certain points of the divider are not blunt (figure 179, view B).

NOTE

Do not set to the end of a rule.

When transferring a dimension from a part or tool to the scale on a rule,

use the same care in adjusting the points of the dividers, making sure there

is no pressure tending to spring the points either in or out. Illustrated

in figure 179, view C, is a mechanic scribing a radius on a die block he is

laying out. It will be seen that no pressure is being applied to the legs

of the dividers.

d. Use of Calipers.

(1) Outside Calipers. A caliper is usually used in one of two ways.

Either the caliper is set to the dimension of the work and the dimension

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Index