How to Read a Micrometer

Because we don’t have any of these…

Parts of a Micrometer…

Ratchet

Reading a micrometer takes practice.

To learn to read the mike you need to understand the Thimble and the Sleeve: -The Sleeve does not move. It looks like a ruler with ten numbers. The space between each number is divided into quarters.-The Thimble rotates around this Sleeve it covers up, or reveals the numbers marked on the Sleeve.

It is easy to read a micrometer if you think of the markings on the Sleeve as dollars and quarters.

Here’s a few basic practice problems…

Number

Sleeve Graduations

Thimble Graduations

Total reading

2

0

0

=.200

=.000

=.000

=.200

Example 2:

2

1

0

Number

Sleeve Graduation

Thimble Graduations

Total reading

= .200

= .025

=.000

=.225

Example 3:

3

3

0

Number

Sleeve Graduations

Thimble Graduations

Total reading

= .300

= .075

= .000

= .375

If you think of the lines on the Sleeve as dollars and quarters, the lines on the Thimble represent "pennies" or cents.

As the thimble rotates, you add those pennies to the dollars and quarters

Here’s more practice…

4

3

12

Number

Sleeve Graduations

Thimble Graduations

Total reading

= .400

= .075

= .012

= .487

Example 2:

5

2

2

Number

Sleeve Graduations

Thimble Graduations

Total reading

= .500

= .050

=.002

= .552

Example 3:

0

0

23

Number

Sleeve Graduation

Thimble Graduations

Total reading

= .000

= .000

= .023

= .023

Last but not least…

8

1

6

Number

Sleeve Graduation

Thimble Graduations

= .800

= .025

= .006

Total

reading

= .831