Measuring and Marking Tools

Layout and Measuring Tools

  • Precision devices that are carefully crafted and marked with measurements

  • Used to identify the measurements of work

  • Used to transfer and mark measurements to and from work and records

  • Come in variety of configurations to provide measurements and layout guides for a wide range of situations

  • Layout tools are used for transferring measurements to work material for cutting and shaping working

Types of Measuring and Marking Tools

-Rules are rigid or flexible steel, accurately marked with inches and fractions of inches along the length

-A combination set is a tool with multiple uses for measuring distances and angles, as well as scribing and checking levels

-A scriber is a pointed metal instrument used to scratch metal to mark where it is to be cut, like a pencil

-A divider is an instrument with two metal points, used for precisely transferring measurements to the work and to scribe arcs or circles

-A pencil compass is similar to a divider, but has one point for a clamp to hold a pencil or pencil lead, used for drawing arcs or circles on paper or work

Rules

  • Used to measure lengths or distances or used as a straight edge

  • Marked along the length, typically with whole inches along with fractions of inches

  • Marked with either fractions or decimal equivalents

  • Example: ½ in = 0.5 in

Combination Sets

  • Multi-use measuring tool that consists of a rule and various attachments that slie along and clamp to the rule

  • Can be used as:

    • Rule for straight and round objects

    • Tri-square

    • Level

    • Scriber

    • Protractor

    • Center Head

Figure 1

Scriber

  • Tool used by an AMT, just as a writer uses a pencil or pen to scribe or mark metal surfaces

  • Made of tool steel and consists of two needle points, one straight and one bent at a 90 degree angle

  • Should always be checked for sharpness

  • Only scribe what is going to be cut off

Dividers

  • Two-legged tool joined at the top by a pivot

  • Used to scribe circles or arcs as well as used to transfer measurements from the rule to work

  • Dividers have a tapered point on the end of both legs

Pencil Compass

  • Much like a divider, is a two-legged tool joined at the top by a pivot

  • Used to draw circles or arcs as well as used to transfer measurements from the rule to work but is not accurate as a divider

  • Pencil compasses have one tapered point on one leg and a pencil or pencil lead on the end of the other leg

Divider and Pencil Compass Use

  1. Inspect points for sharpness

  2. Place one point on one end of rule markings and turn adjustment knob until second point or pencil lead points to the desired mark on rule

  3. Draw arc or circle by holding top attachment and with pressure applied to both legs, swing one point or the pencil around the other point

  4. Tilt divider or compass in direction of movement to avoid having legs slip

-Metal Work

  • Divider is used to scribe arcs or circles that will be cut away

  • Compass should be used for all other metal work to avoid scratching the surface

-Paper Work

  • Pencil compass is used to draw circles of arcs

  • Dividers are used to transfer measurements